Southeastern gymnast competes as a team of one

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By Kermit Rowe, Staff Writer 10:54 PM Saturday, January 28, 2012

SOUTH CHARLESTON — Southeastern High School freshman Katy Clark recently took a tumble while representing the Trojans during an athletic competition ... and it was a good thing.

You see, Clark is a gymnast — the only high school gymnast in Clark County. And if she tumbles well, she scores well. And she does score well — well enough that she represents her high school as a one-girl team.

“I’ve been doing it for seven years,” said the 14-year-old Trojan. “When I was little, I always liked doing cartwheels and was flexible. So when I turned 7, my mom put me in gymnastics.

“I’ve always enjoyed doing it, and kept progressing in levels.”

Clark has placed first all-around in competitions between girls aged 13-18, all high schoolers. Her best events are floor and beam.

“She’s very good,” said Susan Holloway, who is head coach for the Miami Trace and Washington Court House high school teams and also co-owns the Tric’s Gymnastic Academy. Clark practices and competes at their meets representing Southeastern.

“Gymnastics has various levels of performance and skill, going from 1 to 10, then elites and Olympians,” Holloway said. “Katy is a Level 8. She is very good, very coachable. She has the body and the talent.”

And the courage.

“She’s definitely a daredevil,” said Holloway, who has been coaching youth gymnastics for 28 years. “We can give her a challenge, and she’ll go for it. And she’ll crash and burn and crash and burn. But by the seventh or eighth time, she’s got it down pat.”

All of which has Holloway and the Clarks excited about Katy’s chances of advancing to the state tournament out of districts on Feb. 25.

“I’m very, very excited about her potential,” said Holloway. “She’s only a freshman. This year, we’re really focusing in on the balance beam.

“We’ve added an aerial cartwheel into her routine, which has two backhand springs and standing back tuck. The fact that she’s doing it is tremendous. At state, you are going to see maybe two gymnasts perform a standing tuck.”

It’s hoped Clark will be one of them, and that the sport will catch on at her high school.

Clark travels an hour to practice three hours a day three to four days per week — just one of many sacrifices.

But tumbling for the Trojans has been a bonus.

“We never thought she’d compete in high school gymnastics,” Sherry said. “At her old gym, they didn’t want you to do it. But when we switched to new team, her coach spoke to her about doing high school.”

And the rest is Southeastern High School history.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364.

Kermit Rowe

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