THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407020175
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISSIE TAYLOR, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
High school gymnastics competition is normally a cold weather sport, but Western Branch's girls of winter are holding ``spring training'' in the summer.
Caren Davis, the Bruins' gymnastics coach, is opening two camps at the school's gymnasium July 11-15 and 18-22,. They are open to all comers, from beginning to advanced levels at any age.
The only restriction is that the candidate be in school. Cost is $75 per week and includes a camp shirt, snacks each day and a Friday exhibition for parents and friends.
Proceeds from the camps will go toward sending a local group of girls to an international camp in Woodward, Pa., which will feature gymnasts from all over the world, on July 24-30.
``At this international camp, the major faculty will be former Olympic gymnasts,'' Davis said. ``The girls will be exposed to more advanced gymnastics and will hopefully acquire new skills.''
Davis, director of the local camps, participated in gymnastics for 13 years and even went to Berlin, Germany as an exchange student to compete in the sport during her senior year in high school.
``The purpose of these camps is to draw bigger interest to gymnastics as a sport and to get the kids involved at a younger age,'' she said. ``If they start at a younger age, they can get more gymnastic years in and can build their strength.''
Training focus will be on dance, conditioning, stretching techniques and beginning skills on the equipment.
``My goal is that each child will learn a new skill by the end of the week,'' Davis said.
Assisting Davis will be 13 young women who are either members of last season's Western Branch gymnastics team or are interested in trying out for next season's squad. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Caren Davis, center front, is raising funds to send gymnasts, left
to right, Ann Marie Stanley, 15; Kim Sykes, 15, and Stacey Butt, 14,
to camp.
by CNB