Local gymnast earns state title

By Staff
Scot Beard
PHIL CAMPBELL – Several years ago Lauren Swinney grew tired of her dance classes and decided to try something new.
Now the Phil Campbell eighth grader is a state champion gymnast.
"This is the first time I've made it (to state)," Swinney said. "I was really excited because it was my first time to win state."
She won the overall title for her age group and placed in each of the individual disciplines.
Swinney finished first on the vault and uneven bars, second on the balance beam and third on the floor exercise.
She was happy to finish first on the bars since it is her favorite discipline.
"They are really hard and I am really good at them," Swinney said.
She said she has been involved in gymnastics for about seven years and began when she traded her dancing for tumbling.
Swinney progressed through the tumbling program at an exceptional rate and was soon told by the instructors they could not teach her anything new. That is when she found a gymnastics program.
She is currently taking classes at Calvin's Twisters in Decatur.
She said she has enjoyed gymnastics, but acknowledged it might not be for everybody.
"Gymnastics is fun," Swinney said. "But if you don't want to be serious about it take tumbling."
Swinney does take it seriously, spending several hours each week at the gym. She does not mind the training schedule required because she wants to compete as long as possible.
"I want to go to college and do it," Swinney said.