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05/25/2011 12:00 AMGuilford doesn't field a gymnastics team, but it does boast a short list of decorated gymnasts. Dana Colonese and Alicia Rinaldi represented Guilford this year as individuals both going on to marked postseason success. But one name remains omitted from that list: Austin Anderson.
Austin, a sophomore at Guilford, is arguably one of the best gymnasts in school. She doesn't compete with the likes of Colonese or Rinaldi, instead choosing to continue her gymnastics career where it began, with USA Gymnastics. Her decision to stay the course and not jump aboard the Indians' team appears to be paying off.
"It is more of a matter of choice. I really like my coach, program, and teammates," Austin says. "I've kind of stuck with them and obviously high school [gymnastics] would be a change."
In April Anderson competed with the USAG Level 9 regional meet, in the process qualifying for the national meet. In regionals, Austin placed second on beam with a score of 9.0, fourth on floor with a score of 8.9, and fifth all-around. With the top six in the all-around, Austin went on to compete at the Eastern Nationals Junior Olympics. Austin earned a national medal by placing fifth on the beam with a score of 9.05.
"[Winning a medal at nationals] didn't sink in right away," says Austin. "Moreso the day after. It is just really exciting, I still can't really believe it sometimes. I was competing with the whole eastern side of the country, the best of the best."
The skill set between high school gymnastics and USAG is essentially what swayed Austin to stay where she began gymnastics as a three-year-old. At the high school level, gymnasts are judged based on the trick they perform. A gymnast performing a simple roll is scored against a gymnast performing a more difficult variation. However, in USAG, gymnasts compete within a level system. All the gymnasts in one level are doing the same difficulty of tricks, not just an open forum for the novice to expert.
Austin is in Level 9 but hopes that a summer of workouts will have her ready to take on Level 10 come next competitive season. Following Level 10 is the elite class, the nation's best gymnast.
"Hopefully this summer I learn lots of new skills and with those maybe I'll be able to move up to Level 10," she says. "My goal then is to have a good season in Level 10."
Austin's national medal came on the beam, usually an area of weakness for most young gymnasts, but ever since Austin has been competing, the beam has been her go-to event.
"I think I've always had a knack for the beam. When I was first starting out with the beam in Level 5, I got first in the state," Austin says. "It is a lot about focus and believing in the tricks you've done for a while. You have to have the confidence to do them well."
That is not to say Austin doesn't have areas she isn't still trying to perfect.
"Leading up to this season [my weakness] was definitely bars," says Austin. "It was my weakest event this season. I want to focus on that more for the next competitive season."
Unlike the high school team, Austin's season never really ends. She will continue to train four times a week for four hours a day throughout the summer. It is a lot of work, especially with all of the other things high school sophomores have on their plates.
"It is definitely tiring, especially in the middle of the competitive season with school, workouts, and meets on the weekends," she says. "It does get tiring, but after having a season like I had, it is exciting. It makes me want to keep going and do well in these major competitions."
Austin already has her eyes set on the next Eastern National Junior Olympics in 2012.
"There is always room for improvement, but I'm very happy with my performance and medaling. I wasn't really expecting to medal and to get that medal was very exciting and uplifting for me," Austin says.