Jenks 7th Grader Colwell Scoring A's in Gymnastics

By John A. Ferguson World Sports Writer
5/18/97

Five years ago Lauren Colwell accepted Mallory Hamsher's invitation to participate in gymnastics.
That was the start of a new sporting career for Colwell, an 8-year-old at the time.
"I learned gymnastics came very naturally for me," said Colwell. "Still, I had to work very hard."
Colwell has just returned from the Junior Olympic Championships in Orlando, Fla., where she finished eighth.
Even more amazing to the seventh grader at Jenks East Middle School is that it was her first national tournament. She scored 37.5 all-around points.
Her high finish earned a berth of first alternate on the National Junior Olympic Gymnastics team. She also qualified for the Region 3 (comprised of seven states) gymnastics team which finished first. The 4-11 gymnast said she is strongest "on the (balance) beam, but I have to work hard at it."
Colwell, dedicated and determined to make things happen in her sport, works out four hours each day Monday through Saturday.
Not only is she mastering her gymnastics skills, but she has a 4.0 grade point average in the classroom. She aspires to study marine biology in college.
The USA Gymnastics Foundation offers athletic scholarship programs to its field of outstanding gymnasts. Colwell has demonstrated early she has the gymnastics talent and the academic ability. Hence five years in the future she may be able to compete in such NCAA gymnastics programs as the ones at Utah or Alabama.
Colwell has other hobbies when she isn't working the beam and vault and doing floor exercises. She likes to bike and rollerblade with her school friends.
She'd like to qualify for the nationals again and raise her sights in becoming the best her sport can offer.