Gymnastics is a very complex sport involving the performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, power, agility, coordination, grace, balance and control. It typically involves the women’s events of uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault.

As a sophomore at SJV, Kristen Politz, a gymnast at Rebound Gymnastics, already had a future planned out for herself. She is verbally committed to Penn State University, counting down her days to becoming a Nittany Lion.

She first started gymnastics when she was just four years old when her mom put her into a recreation class at a gymnastics facility near her house, and has been dedicated to the sport ever since. Training six days a week from 1:30 in the afternoon to 7:00 at night is the definition of dedication.

“The one thing I like about gymnastics is gaining new skills and working towards adding my new skills into my routines, being able to use them when I compete in my meets.” Politz competes in meets every other week or every other two weeks starting in December and continuing through May. “The one thing I don’t like about gymnastics is that there is no off season for me, meaning training all year round, including five days a week in summer.” Politz had her first meet of the season on December 13 in Maryland with a special visit from her Penn State coaches, “I do get a little nervous when my coaches attend but I always try to do my best and put out a great performance for others.

Penn State has an outstanding gymnastics team, and are currently ranked as one of the top 20 schools in the country. They also placed 12th last year at NCAA Nationals. “I wanted to go to Penn State because they had the strongest gymnastics program that was close to home. I love the coaches and I can’t wait to be a part of the team. The campus is beautiful and the school is very strong academically, not to mention my dad went to Penn state as well.” Other schools were extremely interested in Politz’s gymnastic abilities, but the commitment was made before looking further into her other options. Politz had a for the love of the school and being a perfect fit for the team she would soon be a part of.

The question that usually enters the mind of a gymnast from time to time is having the honor of being a part of the Olympian team. “I have given the Olympics a thought at one point, but right now my commitment is 100% towards Penn State.”

The gymnast that truly inspires Politz was a member of the U.S. Olympian senior team in 2007, who also won a gold medal for the balance beam and a silver medal for all-around and floor exercise, Shawn Johnson. “She taught me to work hard but also enjoy what you do. The little gymnasts at my gym who are always telling me they look up to me and inspire me each and every day to become the best gymnast I can be.”

Politz says after graduating from Penn State, she would like to go back to her home gym and help coach the gymnasts there. “I really enjoy coaching. It would be interesting to be the one teaching gymnastics as opposed to the one doing it.”