Gymnasts from Dream Chasers in Durango have been flying high this season, reaching the podium all over the region as they prepare for the upcoming state championships.
One of the team’s athletes, Jeanne Campbell, is one of only 1,684 Level 10 gymnasts in the country, compared with almost 100,000 gymnasts that are registered with USA Gymnastics.
“Level 10 is college level,” said Carrye Campbell, the team’s head coach, and Jeanne’s mom. “She’s not as perfect, but shes doing the same (moves).”
Jeanne, 16, is a sophomore at DHS and has been doing gymnastics for about eight years. Her front and side aerials look effortless while she floats through the air and she can do double back flips on, or off, every apparatus.
“I like the feeling of being successful in gymnastics,” she said. “It feels really rewarding when I do a move (in a meet) like I do in practice.”
Some of the moves can take years to learn.
Sticking with it, she said, is a big reason why she’s been able to reach Level 10.
“Mentally it’s one the hardest sports,” she said. “You have to work your mind and your body.”
Jeanne, and many of the team’s younger gymnasts, hope to compete in gymnastics in college.
At a recent meet in Santa Fe, Jeanne scored a 35.00 all-around to finish second to a girl who has already committed to Ohio State University. She also placed second on beam, second on floor and third on bars. She’ll need to score a 34.00 all-around at the state meet to qualify for regionals.
“I want to qualify for regionals and possibly nationals,” Jeanne said. “Long term, I want to go (Division 1); they’re always having so much fun out there.”
“You get one shot (to qualify for regionals), and it’s at state,” coach Campbell said. “You have to be on.”
Many of the team’s Xcel gold gymnasts have also been performing well.
Jia Li Turgeon, 11, is usually the team’s highest scorer. At a recent meet, she scored a 38.175 all-around, which the coach called “almost impossible.”
“I really like the sport and all of the people I train with,” Turgeon said.
The difference between Junior Olympic Levels 2-10 and Xcel bronze through gold levels is the routine requirements. In the Junior Olympics, the routines are compulsory, meaning every gymnast has to do the same routines, and whoever does it the best wins.
In Xcel, they create every routine specifically for the gymnasts, they just have to include certain skills.
The skills are also ranked. For instance, a hand stand is an A-level move while a double back flip is D-level.
Gold team members Ansley Webb, 11, Aiko Holland, 9, Claire Trentini, 13, Esme McManus, 14, Ellie Rice, 10, and Hattie Barrett, 9, are also having good years, as have the team’s lower level athletes.
“Everyone (on gold) is going to state,” coach Campbell said. “That’s a big deal for us.”
The coach has been running Dream Chasers out of Durango’s city gym for the past four years.
“I’m doing this because it’s my passion, and Durango needs a path for these kids to go to college (for gymnastics) if that’s what they want to do,” coach Campbell said.
Winning, however, isn’t the focus.
“Being part of the team is great, everyone is really supportive,” Trentini said.
“That’s really important,” McManus said. “It’s encouraging to hear people (cheer for you).”
“The safety and well being of the gymnasts always comes first,” the coach said. “I would never want to put them in jeopardy.”
