2008 Maryland Outstanding Gymnasts

 

Level 10

Lilly Siems, Docksiders

BACKGROUND:  

Lilly is a graduating senior with a 4.0 GPA, and will be attending Brown University in the fall. She is also a member of the swim team, audition dance team, Glee club, and debutant.

 Coaches Comments:  

  Lilly came to Docksiders Gymnastics a few years ago and brought with her a new life to our team. Her hard work, her work ethic, and her determination made a great impact on the club, the coaches, and especially her fellow teammates. She has aspired to be a high level athlete and to achieve the recognition that accompanies it. She has proven herself as someone that others would most want to emulate. Lilly’s thirst for success was most evident through the recruiting process when she chose Brown University (an Ivy League school) without financial scholarships over others that promised her scholarships and remuneration to cover her collegiate career. Her education was first as is her future. Lilly is a truly outstanding gymnast and individual.

What does your involvement in usa gymnastics mean to you:

Being in the USA Gymnastics program has been an amazing experience for me. I started competing at age 11 and in those 8 years I have learned many life lessons that I know I never would have achieved in any other sport. Competitive gymnastics has taught me to be a strong individual as well as a strong teammate. Through gymnastics I have gained some of the most important relationships and friendships in my life. But most importantly through competing with USAG I have learned how strong my love for gymnastics is. Pushing through hard practices and injuries has taught me to fight to do anything I want or love to do.

 

Level 9

Christine Greaney, Hill’s

BACKGROUND:  

Christine is in 10th grade at Gaithersburg High School, with an unweighted GPA of 4.0 (weighted 4.2) while taking honors and AP classes. At school, she is on the Swimming and Diving team, where she took 1st place at divisionals. She is also a member of Students Against Drunk Driving and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has been on the Montgomery Country Club Swim Team for 8 years, volunteers with the Laytonsville Lions Club, and attends St. Martins church.

 Coaches Comments:  

  Christine Greaney is without a doubt one of the hardest working gymnasts we have ever had the privilege of working with. She comes in every day with the mindset that she will give 100%, even though she has been through more in one year than most gymnast’s go through in their entire career. Soon Christine will be going through her second wrist surgery within one season. Yet everyday, she comes in dedicated to better herself and encourage her teammates. Even though she knows she is having to give up her hopes of making National’s this season. With this in mind, Christine shows up every day, works harder than ever, and pushes herself through the 2 events she is able to work out on. Christine Greaney is every coaches ideal athlete and a dream to work with.

What does your involvement in usa gymnastics mean to you:

Being involved in the USA Gymnastics program has helped to make me the person I am today. Being a gymnast has given me many positive qualities. It has taught me discipline, punctuality, and perseverance. I never get in trouble, I always complete my homework, and I never talk back to adults. These traits have been learned in the gym. That discipline that has been installed in me by my coaches has stayed with me in my everyday life. To me, on time is 15 or 20 minutes early. Gymnastics has taught me punctuality, and that you need to be prepared and ready before you start. Another quality gymnastics has taught me is perseverance. I have learned to never give up. The sport has taught me that you have to work hard to achieve what you want. Through the sport, I have made lifelong friends that are very important to me. The experiences and memories I have had and will have through the sport of gymnastics will stay with me throughout my life.

 

Level 8

Christine Niles, Carroll

BACKGROUND:  

Christine is a graduating senior with a 4.0 GPA. She is also a member of the Biology Club, Environmental Club, and Spirit Committee. She is a volunteer at Maryland Sportscare & Rehab, Student aide with Special Olympics, and is the Head Coach of the Carroll Gymnastics Pre-Team.

 Coaches Comments:  

  Christine has been a part of Carroll Gymnastics Center for many years. As a competitive gymnast and class instructor, Christine is a great motivator. Through the years, Christine has encouraged and supported not only her teammates, but the young children in this sport. Christine is also the pre-team coach at Carroll Gymnastics and is also willing to lend an extra hand. I feel Christine’s hard work and dedication to gymnastics, combined with her sportsmanship and selflessness, make her an excellent candidate for this award.

What does your involvement in usa gymnastics mean to you:

At age 5, I eagerly walked into a place I would soon call my home. It was love at first cartwheel and I was hooked. Despite many injuries, USA Gymnastics has taught me to stick to my goals and follow my dreams until they become a reality. Now, thirteen years later, I have learned that this sport is not just about the skills and myself, but about a team and everlasting friendships. My team means everything to me and I love to see them succeed. Gymnasts are such amazingly well-rounded athletes, gaining confidence, determination, and body awareness, and I am proud to be one of them. I’ve reached goals and obtained a skill level that I once believed to be unthinkable! I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and learned that I can fly without wings. From that first basic class to my last State Championship, gymnastics has, and always will be, an important part of my life.

 

 

Level 7

Michelle Earle, ACPR

BACKGROUND:  

Michelle is an 11th grader with a 4.28 GPA. She is a member of Spanish National Honor Society, Student Government Association, and Spanish Student Teaching. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Young Life.

 Coaches Comments:  

  Michelle is one of those young people, you sometimes get in a program, who does the sport of gymnastics primarily for the love of the sport. Michelle has had numerous trials in the sport for years and has, not once in my hearing, blamed gymnastics, her teammates, or her coaches for those struggles. She has always kept a positive attitude, moved forward and asked for help, not sympathy, even if she is struggling with something. She is now in 11th grade and is continuing to love her chosen sport, be tremendously supportive of all the other girls on the team, and works hard every day to be the best she can be.  As gar as helpfulness to other gymnasts, Michelle has a special place in our program. Not only is she a mentor of some of the girls, with her positive attitude always in the forefront, Michelle pretty much helps all the girls get ready for their competitions by being the one they all go to fix their hair and so on. I have many times watched Michelle spending literally hours prior to an important meet making sure each girl has her hair just right. It is perhaps a small thing, but it typifies Michelle’s support of her teammates and her place in the program. Michelle is always there for ACPR meets, even if she isn’t competing, helping wherever she can to support her program. She works well with all of her coaches and has for many years. She is one of those girls who makes you WANT to be in the gym coaching.

What does your involvement in usa gymnastics mean to you:

USA Gymnastics has been a way of life for the past 9 years. The years of practice meets, perseverance, and determination have created fond memories. USA Gymnastics means a second family. The friendships I have made at the gym will last a lifetime. Gymnastics has taught me skills which will benefit me in years to come. The teamwork and sportsmanship that I have learned will prove helpful in other sports and in the workplace. Gymnastics is my passion and the sport that I love. The experience will remain special for years to come.

 

 

Level 6

Alyssa Giansanti, Twisters

BACKGROUND:  

Alyssa is an 8th grade honors student with a 3.75 GPA. Alyssa is a member of the Junior National Honor Society, and provides tutoring in reading 2-3 times per week to special needs students. She also recently won 3rd place in an art show

 Coaches Comments:  

  Alyssa has the eye of the tiger! Alyssa comes to the gym every day ready to work. Alyssa has been a hard worker for the past 4 years at every practice and at every meet. Alyssa is very determined and very focused in trying to meet the goals that she has set for herself. Alyssa is a self-starter and incredibly mature for her age. Alyssa tries to understand the mechanics of the gymnastics skills and movements that are expected of her. To Alyssa, gymnastics is not just a sport but an art. She takes each skill and perfects it one by one always putting her all into it. She is a joy to coach. Gymnasts like Alyssa make gymnastics fun!

What does your involvement in usa gymnastics mean to you:

I am proud to be a USAG gymnast. To know when I hear my name called, to step on the podium and receive a medal, I know I have just made my coach proud, my parents proud, and my team proud. At that point I feel that all of the time and hard work spent at the gym has all paid off. When I get a new skill in practice, or when I know I just did the best performance I can do, I feel proud to be a USA Gymnast. Pride is what USA Gymnastics means to me!