Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 19, 1990 TAG: 9006190195
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Scott Blanchard Sportswriter
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Timidity holds no quarter with Kristy Snow.
An 11-year-old gymnast, Snow favors the balance beam. She likes the prerequisite.
"You have to be daring," said Snow, one of nearly 300 gymnasts who will compete in the Virginia CorEast State Games.
Snow is from Lynchburg, but trains at the Roanoke Academy of Gymnastics and is a Level 8 Open performer - the fourth-highest level as determined by the United States Gymnastics Federation. A former state champion in the 9-11 age group, she is expected to be among the favorites in her level at the State Games.
There is one main difference between the State Games and USGF competition: At the State Games, gymnasts will compete against others in their level, regardless of age.
"It'll be exciting to try to beat all ages," Snow said. "[But] it doesn't scare me."
Competition will be held in the four standard Olympic events: vaulting, floor exercise, balance beam and uneven bars.
Gymnasts age 9-18 and from eight levels - ranging from Level 5 (beginner) to Elite (the top level) - will compete for medals in each of the four events and an all-round competition. Gymnastics coordinator Barb Jirka of the Roanoke Academy said the games will include a team competition, which will feature the top 24 gymnasts from levels 9, 10 and Elite split into four six-person teams.
Prominent participants will include Elite gymnasts Jenna Karadbil, Kari Ragans and Kati Jennings from Karon Gymnastics Team in Burke; Level 10 performers Kate Zauner from Karon and Tammy Antoskow from Ocean Tumblers in Chesapeake; and Level 9 gymnasts Carrie Schneider and Kim Woo, both from Karon, and Kirsten Gutgesell from Classics Gymnastics Team in Charlottesville.
Snow's hopes include reaching Elite level and beyond. In her six years in gymnastics, she has advanced through four levels, and she said she hopes her ascension doesn't end until she reaches the Olympics. To help her, she has at least two role models from Virginia: Tammi Elliott, a former Elite from Newport News and the reigning Miss Virginia, who reached the 1988 Olympic Trials before suffering a career-ending broken neck; and Hope Spivey, a 1988 Olympian from Newport News who will attend the University of Georgia on a full scholarship. Both will make appearances at the State Games.
Jirka said those kinds of role models are important for young gymnasts. Jirka said gymnasts in her organization train 12-15 hours per week.
"I think sometimes little kids, they can't see beyond a year," Jirka said. "Sometimes they get to a point where they've been doing this for a while, and they'll think, `Is it really worth it? I could be goofing around with my friends.' But it helps them just with their poise and their elegance, just the way they discipline themselves and the things they can do and handle."
Next year, Snow said, she'll be a Level 9, which will mean five days a week of practice instead of four.
"Sometimes when you have a couple of bad days, it really gets on your nerves," Snow said. "Sometimes you just want to quit all of a sudden. But you just go in and try to keep going."
Snow has little doubt she will have a shot at being an Olympian.
"I have a lot of confidence, and I'm willing to work," she said.
Snow can relax on the first day of competition, though. The Level 9-10-Elite optional competition is 10 a.m. July 6 and the compulsory Level 7 follows at 1:45 p.m. The optional Level 8 Open is 10 a.m. July 7, followed at 2:15 p.m. by the optional Level 8 Closed, followed at 7:30 p.m. by the optional team finals. The compulsory Level 6 is 10 a.m. July 8, followed at 1:15 by the compulsory Level 5 at 1:15 p.m. All competition is at the Cave Spring High School gym.
by CNB