By Lauren Cullen
Managing Editor

Running full speed ahead towards a stationary vaulting table and throwing your body spinning into the air, and ultimately landing on your feet sounds insane to most people. For senior Ashley Craig, this is just a normal gymnastics practice.

Craig first started gymnastics when she was a toddler, in “mom and me” classes. Soon Craig was taking gymnastics classes regularly and in third grade started competitive gymnastics.

Craig’s long gymnastics career has clearly paid off as she has qualified for the Massachusetts senior gymnastics team. Though she was not originally chosen for the team, her hard work and determination ultimately secured her spot.

Craig explained that the selection committee watches senior gymnasts throughout the season and takes notice of their overall attitude and sportsmanship. Craig’s coach Stephanie Anderson had to tell the Massachusetts Gymnastics Association at the beginning of their season which seniors on the team to watch for, and she said she is extremely proud that Craig made the team. The team was picked at  the MIAA Gymnastics State Competition.

After finding out she did not make the team, Craig and her coaches contacted the selection committee and asked if they would be willing to watch Craig compete again. Fortunately for Craig, the committee agreed to come to the North Sectionals state meet the following weekend.

“When they didn’t put me on the team the first weekend, I was completely devastated,” said Craig. “But I knew it had to be motivation to work harder for the next weekend.”

That was exactly what Craig did. She did double workouts and practiced her skills over and over to prepare for her next competition.

“She practiced harder than she ever has to show the association that she deserved to make the National team,” said  Anderson.

Anderson has been coaching Craig since her freshman year, and said she has seen Craig grow as a gymnast over the years. Craig has gone from rarely placing at some competitions to consistently placing at most competitions. Most recently, Craig has qualified first in the state for vaulting, which helped her win more attention from the selection committee.

Towards the end of the North Sectional meet, the Massachusetts Gymnastics Association’s president approached Craig to tell her the good news.

“When they told me I was on the team, I cried. I was just super happy and it was something I wanted so badly and worked hard for since freshman year,” said Craig.

Craig said she hopes to make close connections with the other girls on the team when they travel to Florida in May. As far as training goes, Craig said she will try to schedule as much gym time as possible to practice her routines. However, Craig also pole vaults for WA’s track and field team and, with the season already in full swing, training may be hard to fit in her schedule.

“At this point, it’s really just maintaining my skills, and making sure I don’t lose any,” said Craig. “It’s muscle memory for me.”

Craig hopes to stay athletic in college, but that will most likely not include gymnastics. Because she has been participating in gymnastics competitively since the third grade, she believes it has taken a toll on her body, and does not want any more longterm affects on herself as she enters college.

However, Craig said she is looking forward to her upcoming competition and will make the best out of her final meet.

“It’s super exciting,” Craig said. “I can’t wait to go to Nationals.”