Gymnastic teammates medal in Western Nationals

McKenzie Jones sailed across the mat at Dynamic Gymnastics in north Spokane – spinning, twisting, flipping, her radiant smile never wavering.

The 18-year-old Deer Park senior recently returned from competing in the Western Nationals in Boise, where she earned first place in the floor exercise.

“For her to go and do what she did and pull out a win was remarkable,” said coach, Melanie Bixby.

Bixby wasn’t referring to Jones’ skill; she was referring to the teen’s emotional grit which enabled her to compete without the family support she’s always enjoyed.

Jones’ nephew, Logan, 18, had recently died and her family was in Arizona for the funeral and couldn’t attend the competition.

“I was surprised I did so well. Logan and I were very close,” Jones said. “We spent our summers together. I had to stay strong. I thought about him the entire time.”

Taking first place at the Western Nationals represented a lifetime of hard work for the teen. In order to compete at this level, she first had to qualify at the state level, and then at regionals.

Jones started gymnastics at age 4.

“It was my idea,” she said. “I fell asleep watching the Olympics and woke up when the floor exercise was on. I said, ‘I want to do that!’ ”

She laughed. “I love tumbling. I grew up on the trampoline.”

Jones wasn’t the only Dynamic Gymnastics teen to place at Western Nationals.

Teammate, Gina Twenge, 13, finished fourth all around, earning third on balance beam and seventh on the floor.

The Mountainside Middle School student started her gymnastics career at age 2, and by age 6 had earned a spot on the team.

Though she placed third on balance, it’s actually her least favorite event. The beam is 4 feet high, 4 inches wide and 16 feet long.

“It’s stressful being that high,” she said.

Bixby nodded and said, “This year Gina’s grown by leaps and bounds. She wasn’t willing to let the fear overcome her.”

What Twenge truly enjoys is the uneven bars.

“I like swinging around,” she said. “It’s fun.”

Being sandwiched between an older brother and a younger brother has fueled the fiery teen’s competitive streak.

“Our Wiffle ball games get intense,” she said, grinning.

When traveling to Western Nationals she admitted she was a bit nervous, but her nerves fled when she stepped onto the floor.

“I was fine. I was ready.”

Bixby said, “She was the No. 1-ranked athlete going in – it gave her confidence. This has been her most successful year.”

The two teens practice an average of 20 hours a week at the state-of-the-art facility, built two years ago, by Adana Harris, who also coaches the girls.

“For us to bring back medals is exceptional,” Bixby said. “It’s not something that happens every day.”

She explained that the Eastern Washington area is traditionally weak in higher-level competitive gymnastics.

It’s also unusual to have an older teen do so well.

“To live your life in this sport, to stay competitive as a Junior Olympic athlete and to be a graduating senior is phenomenal,” Bixby said of Jones.

Soon, the teen will be replacing her gymnastic training with martial arts and parkour training to get in shape for her next challenge and her dream job.

“I’m working on becoming a stunt double in Hollywood,” she said. “I like the thrill of going off high things.”

A trip to visit a movie set this summer is in the works.

She said what she’ll miss most about gymnastics is the competition.

“I’m going to miss performing. I love smiling at the crowd.”

However, she’s not abandoning Dynamic Gymnastics entirely. She’ll return this fall in a new capacity.

As a flood of small girls and boys spilled across the floor, she smiled.

“I’m going to coach,” she said.