Sports
10-year-old Kulevich Takes National Gymnastics Championship
This column features a YMCA gymnast, Carly Kulevich, and her recent YMCA national win.
Ten-year-old Carly Kulevich, who has been training at the local YMCA since she was 3 years old, won the title of 2011 YMCA Junior National Balance Beam Champion at the June 22-26 national meet in Toledo, Ohio.
Kulevich is the youngest competitor ever to receive this national title. She competed in the 15 years and under age category.
In addition to Junior National Balance Beam Champion, Kulevich took 5th in the All Around Competition making her the youngest All American National Champion. She also Placed 5th in Vault and 8th on bars.
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When Kulevich was asked what her favorite part of the competition was, she said, “It was awesome to go there and try my hardest, and win! I loved spending time with my family too.”
The Balance Beam has always been her favorite of the gymnastics apparatus, and when asked if she was scared at all during the meet, she assured us she was not! (Though the young gymnast does recite the Russian alphabet to calm her nerves and focus.)
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Kulevich’s coaches, Danielle Walker and Alexandra (Sasha) Mishenina could not have been more pleased with her fantastic performance.
“I knew she had the ability,” said Walker. “She handled the pressure very well and did her routines perfectly 3 days in a row. She has stayed so modest even after her win; Carly is such a wonderful girl.”
“I have coached Carly for two years now, and she deserves her win, she was the best,” said Coach Mishenina. “She is confident and a great kid with the potential to compete at a much higher level next year.”
Kulevich, of Marblehead, has been competing for the Y since kindergarten. She is the daughter of Patty and Tom Kulevich.
The meet was held at the SeaGate Convention Centre. Over 1700 gymnasts competed in the meet ranging from Level 2 to National Championship level 10. Carly was coached by Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA's coaches Danielle Walker and Alexandra (Sasha) Mishenina.
The Lynch van Otterloo YMCA serves North Shore residents, many of whom are from Swampscott, Marblehead and Salem.
