Andy Kimball
Opinion Columnist
Sophomore Meredith Loui started gymnastics by going to a friend’s birthday party at the Saint Louis Gymnastics Center. Now she is a back-to-back State champion.
Loui won the all-around title in the Level 9 skill level and the Sr. 5, Sr. 6 age group for the second year in a row on March 22, at the Eagles Gymnastics and Dance Center in Kansas City, MO. She won with a combined score of 36.325 out of 40 in her four events: the parallel bars, vault, balance beam and the floor exercise.
The second place score was 34.000.
Each event is given a score out of 10, and all four scores are added together for a total out of 40.
The Sr.5 Sr.6 age group ranges from 16-17 year olds.
Loui received scores higher than a nine out of 10 in three of the four events, bars, vault and floor exercise. No other competitor in her age group scored above an 8.85 in any event.
About what got Loui to start gymnastics, Loui said, “One of my best friends when I was in preschool had a birthday party at the gym, and (the people at the party) just ran on an obstacle course and had cake, but I just remember having a lot of fun, and I kept asking my parents if I could come back.”
About her favorite part of gymnastics, Loui said, “The team, we are all really close, and if you don’t have the support of your team, then it’s just not good. You depend a lot on your teammates.”
Loui practices around 20 hours a week for SLGC (Saint Louis Gym Center) and won the Region 4 Regionals in Green Bay, WI on April 11 in the Sr. 6 age group with a score of 36.150 out of 40. Region 4 consisted of Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Missouri. Loui finished first of eleven in her age group.
After her regional victory, Loui qualified for the Western Championships in Spokane, WA, on May 8-10.
Loui has now qualified for the Western championship in three straight years.
Last season Loui finished third in Region 4 Regionals and 22nd in the Western Championships.
