Local Gymnasts Headed to National Competition

For members of the Level 6 team at the Midwest Elite Gymnastics Academy, the hours of training and conditioning they do suddenly has become even more important. 

The 11 girls on the team learned last week that they qualified to compete at the 2012 USA Gymnastics Open Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The competition runs May 31 through June 3.

Members of the team include: Maggie Close of Lake Zurich; Jessica Flatland of Hampshire; Makenzie Fletcher of Gilberts; Christa Halter of Algonquin; Tanjae Lugo of Elgin; Jane Merczel of Streamwood; Tara Nelson of Lakewood; Hannah Oliveros of Streamwood; Jane Richards of Elgin; Sarah Ruesch of Hoffman Estates; and Ashley Suchyta of South Barrington.

"It's a major meet," said Suchyta. She said team members are now trying to build themselves up to get stronger for the big competition.

"We're doing a lot of conditioning," said Close.

Maggie's mother, Anne, said the team from the South Barrington-based facility will represent Illinois after it won the Illinois state championship for Level 6. She said gymnasts start competing at Level 4 and can advance up to Level 10. 

"It's huge," Anne said of making it to the national competition. "Truly, it's a big deal for the girls to get to go."

Anne said that at competitions, the Level 6 team gymnasts all perform the same routines for four skill areas: vault, balance beam, uneven bars and floor. Judges, Anne said, evaluate the same routines performed by different gymnasts. The Level 6 team will perform those same routines at the competition in Florida.

Suchyta said she loves going to competitions. She's been taking gymnastics classes since she was just 4 years old. Her favorite event is the beam.

"When I first started out, I was a little scared," she said of the beam. She became more confident and eager to learn after watching the older girls on the beam. 

A gymnast for just three years, Lugo loves the uneven bars.

"At this level, it's not that scary," said Lugo. "I like learning new tricks for competitions."

Maggie started taking gymnastics classes at 2 years old and is in her fourth year of competing.

"I just think it's fun," she said. Along with being with her friends at Midwest Elite Gymnastics Academy, she said it is "fun to go to competitions."

The fruits of their labor — and of other gymnasts from Midwest Elite Gymnastics Academy — can be seen around the facility. State championship award banners hang from the ceiling throughout the gym.

Anne said the girls typically practice for about 16 hours a week.

"These girls are so strong," said Anne. She added that the girls all show a lot of poise when they compete. "They're so calm, cool and collected."