Two local gymnasts head to national competition
Two local gymnasts are heading to nationals!
Fifteen-year-olds Sadie Rose Joachim and Brooke Perkins from Lanier’s Gymnastics fought hard through the state and regional competitions to earn a spot in the Level 9 Eastern National Championship in Orlando, Florida.
Both girls leaving regional’s quite decorated, Joachim, from Biloxi, placing second all-around and Perkins, from Biloxi, taking home third all-around.
Excelling in bars, beam, floor, and more, both the girls compete over three hours four days a week to ensure they are prepared for the big meet May 5th through 7th.
Last year, Joachim was the only girl from Mississippi who competed in nationals and she’s more than happy to have Perkins by her side! “Less lonely…it’s more fun when Brooke’s around. Brooke lights up the room. I feel less nervous because it’s a good experience to go there and just perform, and when you see videos, you’re like proud of yourself.”
Perkins said, “It shows you that you have to work for stuff…like not everything comes so easily, and nothing is as easy as it looks, like some people make it look easy but it’s not.”
“There’s a lot of sweat and tears and you have to fight yourself mentally and physically.”
