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08/10/2011 12:00 AMAddison Marchese doesn't just want to be like her older cousin Katie Frese-a three-time state champion, team MVP, All-Shoreline Conference, and All-State Valley Regional gymnast. Actually, she wants to be better than her. The two are a decade apart in age, but the eight-year-old Addison is well on her way to emulating the success of her older cousin.
"I really want to get to her level and be as good as her," Addison says.
Addison, an Essex resident who trains at Shoreline Gymnastics in Old Saybrook, recently had huge success in her early gymnastics career. Addison won the all-around for her age group in the Nutmeg State Games, qualifying for the Regional Finals in the process-an impressive start for the youngster trying to match the success of Frese.
"Having her cousin as her a role model definitely has had an influence," said Addison's coach, Maureen Pokorny.
Addison was introduced to gymnastics by her parents-who are the owners of Shoreline Gymnastics-and by Frese. As a little girl she watched her cousin tumble, balance, and vault, immediately realizing the mats were going to be her new playground.
"When I was little she [Frese] was on the gymnastics team and I saw her and I just got interested in it so I said 'mom, I want to do gymnastics,'" says Addison.
It is hard to believe the majority of the scores she received at the Nutmeg Games were higher than Addison's own age. She took home first place in the vault event (9.0) and on the floor with a 9.45, also taking third on the beam (9.3) and bars (7.7). Addison's scores were good enough to capture the all-around title and earn her a spot on the Connecticut East team.
"Addison has some natural ability; she is a petite little girl who is very strong," said Pokorny. "I'm not surprised at all that she is excelling because she has a great physique, she listens well, and I see her continuing to be successful in gymnastics."
Two gymnasts from each age group were selected to represent one of four regions of Connecticut. Unfortunately for Addison, even though she posted near identical scores in regionals, the East team finished in fourth.
"I was probably excited and nervous, but I'm used to it," Addison says. "It took me by surprise by a lot-that was the first time of doing that well and I've been working so hard and it paid off right there."
The gymnast in Addison was pumped to get a chance to represent her corner of the state, but the competitor in her wanted to win.
"I just felt so special and honored to [make the East team]. I was a little disappointed, but overall I was really happy to be there and to be competing with all of these really good gymnasts," says Addison.
While Addison is clearly well-rounded and capable in all four gymnastic events, she says her favorite is the free-wheeling creativity of the floor routine.
"The floor is kind of easy; I feel very calmed down and safe," she says.
Addison even has success on the beam, the event most high schoolers still have trouble mastering.
"I take it from my mom; she was very good at beam," Addison says. "I am just rock steady and concentrate very hard."
But this youngster isn't completely without some fears. Though she placed well on the vault and the bars at the Nutmeg Games, Addison admits that torpedoing herself through the air or trying to fling her body from one bar to another still makes her a little uneasy.
"On vault I get a little nervous, but I just run fast and jump hard and I usually get over it," says Addison. "Bars are the only scary thing because you are jumping on the high bar and it is so high I'm afraid I'm not going to make it [to the lower bar]. I really need to work on bars a lot because it is easy to slip off the bars, but I'm working on getting stronger."
Addison will continue to work on her craft at Shoreline Gymnastics, a home away from home for the up-and-coming athlete.
"My mom owns it so I get to go there all time and get to play around and just work on stuff that I need to work on," Addison says. "The [older] girls are so awesome; I just want to watch them all day and I want to learn a lot from them. I'm really comfortable there. The coaches are awesome and my own family is there."
Addison says she also has a passion for theater and was even in a production at the Ivoryton Playhouse. Though what she wants to be when she grows up may flip many times just like a dismount from the bars, Addison knows that carrying on her family's gymnastics name is definitely a high priority.
"I really want to get there [to Frese's level] and it is going to take a very long time," says Addison. "But I'm confident I can be as good or even better than her."