Gymnastics

The Waynesboro Area High School gymnastics team has been recognized as an All-American Team by the National High School Gymnastics Association. "This is the first time that Waynesboro has had the honor of having a team recognized as All-American," said coach Amy Dennis. "We were so excited when we learned our scores were high enough to gain this national honor. " A full list of schools receiving this honor has not yet been released, but it is usually awarded to 15 to 20 schools from across the country.

The 4-Star Gymnastics Team from 4-Star Athletic Complex, 30 Milestone Drive,  competed at the Penn State Nittany Invitational in State College, Pa., on Jan. 21 and 22. Approximated 45 girls, ranging in age from 7 to 12, competed for the 4-Star team in six age levels. Levels 4, 5 and 6 each placed as a team and had several event champions and all-around champions. The team is coached by Sandi VanCleave, Tammie Jackson and Nica Sutch.   Winter Praise and Jam to be held at church Friday Calvary Temple, 147 S. Conococheague St., will hold its Winter Praise and Jam Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. The event will feature the worship groups KalledOut and The Living Stones.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Kerri Strug vaulted into the international spotlight on an injured ankle in the 1996 Olympic Games. In September - 18 years and three Summer Olympics later - Strug will land in Waynesboro for a special event at Rainbow Gymnastics. "She's going to take part in a clinic for children," said Leslie Vickery, office manager with Rainbow Gymnastics on Pa. 16. Strug will work with students on the floor, then join them for lunch on Sept. 13. She'll deliver a motivational speech during that time and answer questions, too, Vickery said.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- A financial crunch has left the Waynesboro Area School District's gymnastics team teetering as if it's on a balance beam. At least one school board member says the gymnastics program costs too much for too few participants, potentially placing it on the chopping block for the 2009-10 budget. That $50 million budget is scheduled to be adopted in its final form next Tuesday. Pat Heefner said she appreciates the success of the gymnastics team, but she said the $3,095 per-pupil cost jumps out at her from budget documents.

WILLIAMSPORT Mary Meroney was determined not to let her intravenous treatment for cystic fibrosis keep her from showing up for gymnastics practice a couple of months ago at the 4 Star Athletic Complex. "She wanted to participate anyway," said her coach, Deanna Kline, who was so inspired by the 16-year-old's courage that she began organizing a benefit performance that drew a large and enthusiastic crowd Saturday night. The money collected from the performance was donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which Kline said spends 91 percent of its funds on research to find a cure for the inherited disease, which attacks the lungs and other organs of the body.

BEIJING (AP) -- Nerves. The Americans' supposedly were made of steel. The Chinese? They were going to succumb to the stress. Maybe on another day, in another venue, that scenario would have played out, as it has many times before. On Wednesday, as the home team in the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese kept their wits and the top three U.S. women bumbled just when gold was within reach. If there were two team gold medals the Chinese absolutely had to win, they were in gymnastics.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Six-year-old Kerri Strug found herself mesmerized by Mary Lou Retton's triumphs in the 1984 Summer Olympics, but it was during face-to-face training in the gym that Strug most felt the Olympian's influence. "It had a profound effect on me," Strug said Saturday, 12 years after her own gold medal performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics. All the while remembering the importance of her personal time with Retton, Strug spends her summer months visiting young gymnasts across the country.

TNT Gymnastics and Cheer, 930 Eldridge Drive, Hagerstown is hosting an open house from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. There will be free classes and team demonstrations. For more information, call TNT at 301-766-4411.

WILLIAMSPORT - The team from 4-Star Gymnastics of Williamsport took first place at a recent state event. Champions in different levels of competition include Mariana Greco, first place, floor; Peyton Rowe, first place, all around; Erika Abbruzzese, first place, all around, vault and balance beam; Kaydee Lesher, first place, bars and floor; Bethany Lohman, first place, beam; Madeline Blash, first place, vault, balance beam and all around; Carly...