MONROE - Four gymnasts on the Green County YMCA Gems youth gymnastics team will leave Tuesday for the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships in Long Beach, California.
All 55 gymnasts on the Gems gymnastics team qualified for nationals but four are making the trip. The four making the journey are Annabelle Wortman, 12; Kaylyn Albert, 11; Desirae Signer, 10 and Lizzie Snider, 13. All four will compete Saturday.
"They have been in the gym year-round," said Dawn Lederman, Gems program director and coach. "Everyone has been working for next season, but they have to perform last season's routine one more time."
Wortman is making her first trip to nationals. In the state meet last season, Wortman was a champion on the floor and took second on the uneven bars.
"I'm pretty excited," she said. "It scares me that I qualified for this. It makes me feel happy, like I have accomplished something."
Wortman said her favorite event is the uneven bars.
"I feel free on the bars," she said. "I feel like I can do anything. I trust the bars."
Albert is making her second trip to nationals.
"It's really awesome because it's nationals," Albert said. "I want to do the best I can and make my mount on the beam. It's been a while since I have done it."
The balance beam is Albert's favorite event.
"It's just fun doing things a few feet in the air on the beam that is only four inches wide," Albert said. "It's really a fun sport and something unique."
Signer is the youngest gymnast for the Green County Gems making the trip to nationals. She is in her second year on the gymnastics team and is making her second trip to nationals.
Signer was a state champion on the balance beam and is looking to win a medal at nationals.
"I want to get all 9s," Signer said of her goal on the beam. "I think I will be more nervous so that will make it harder."
Snider will compete in the Xcel Silver division. She is making her second national championship appearance.
"I just want to beat my highest score of the season and try to medal at least once," Snider said.
Snider is coming off a state championship in the vault and took second all-around and third on the balance beam.
She enjoys her time on the Gems gymnastics team. She will complete her routine from last season one more time before she continues focusing on a new routine.
"I like to compete, and I have met a lot of new friends through it," Snider said. "It's exciting to go to new places and experience new things."
All 55 gymnasts on the Gems gymnastics team qualified for nationals but four are making the trip. The four making the journey are Annabelle Wortman, 12; Kaylyn Albert, 11; Desirae Signer, 10 and Lizzie Snider, 13. All four will compete Saturday.
"They have been in the gym year-round," said Dawn Lederman, Gems program director and coach. "Everyone has been working for next season, but they have to perform last season's routine one more time."
Wortman is making her first trip to nationals. In the state meet last season, Wortman was a champion on the floor and took second on the uneven bars.
"I'm pretty excited," she said. "It scares me that I qualified for this. It makes me feel happy, like I have accomplished something."
Wortman said her favorite event is the uneven bars.
"I feel free on the bars," she said. "I feel like I can do anything. I trust the bars."
Albert is making her second trip to nationals.
"It's really awesome because it's nationals," Albert said. "I want to do the best I can and make my mount on the beam. It's been a while since I have done it."
The balance beam is Albert's favorite event.
"It's just fun doing things a few feet in the air on the beam that is only four inches wide," Albert said. "It's really a fun sport and something unique."
Signer is the youngest gymnast for the Green County Gems making the trip to nationals. She is in her second year on the gymnastics team and is making her second trip to nationals.
Signer was a state champion on the balance beam and is looking to win a medal at nationals.
"I want to get all 9s," Signer said of her goal on the beam. "I think I will be more nervous so that will make it harder."
Snider will compete in the Xcel Silver division. She is making her second national championship appearance.
"I just want to beat my highest score of the season and try to medal at least once," Snider said.
Snider is coming off a state championship in the vault and took second all-around and third on the balance beam.
She enjoys her time on the Gems gymnastics team. She will complete her routine from last season one more time before she continues focusing on a new routine.
"I like to compete, and I have met a lot of new friends through it," Snider said. "It's exciting to go to new places and experience new things."
