Bland County youngster does well in gymnastics meet

By JERRY SCOTT/Correspondent

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are now a thing of the past but for one Bland County youngster, the winter months have provided him the opportunity to experience receiving medals just like the Olympians. Competing for the first time in a major organized gymnastics meet, 10-year old Keagan Morgan of Bastian brought home the gold—and a little silver, too.
Keagan, the son of Jack and Lora Morgan, competed on Jan. 23 in the 2010 Damian Herr Invitational Boys’ Gymnastics Meet at the West Virginia Gymnastics Training Center in Morgantown. Involved in the sport for several years, this was Keagan’s first competition in a major meet.
While there, Keagan won five gold medals and one silver medal in the six events he competed in. He captured the gold in pommel horse with a score of 9.3, rings (15.6), vault (15.1), parallel bars (12.7), and high bar (14.0). He won silver in floor with a 14.2 score and a sixth gold medal in all-around, scoring 80.9. His rings score of 15.6 was the highest score in any event of the entire meet.
Keagan has been training in gymnastics for about five years. His parents felt like it was something their son was born to do.
“He was rolling and flipping almost before he was walking,” his dad stated. “We knew we needed to find something for him to do with all his energy so we found him a tumbling class when he was about five,” his mom said in an email interview. “He really didn’t get serious about it for a couple of more years.”
Keagan’s take on it was much more childlike. He noted that he always enjoyed watching the athletes on TV, doing their stunts and flips.
“I was always interested in doing different flips,” he said. “When I first heard about gymnastics, I knew it was something I’d like to try.”
His involvement has certainly gone beyond ‘just something to try.’ Keagan trains at Princeton Gymnastics in Princeton (WV) under the coaching of Manny Lopez. Training for gymnastics can be just as grueling and tiresome as with any other sport.
“It’s very cool and I really like it,” Keagan stated. “It is harder and more challenging than a lot of sports and not many boys can do it. When you’re being judged, you are responsible for no one but yourself.”
The fifth-grader is home schooled and attends Real Life Ministries in Wytheville. His parents are the children’s pastors there and are very involved in the Wytheville area. Keagan is a typical 10-year old boy whose life is chocked full of a variety of interests.
“I like playing video games,” Keagan stated. “I also like animals, hunting, fishing, traveling, roller coasters, 4-wheelers, and being with family.”
Keagan hopes for a future in the sport and plans to work hard to perfect his skills. Getting a taste of competition and the achievement of receiving rewards for his work has the youngster hungry for more. His next scheduled competition is set for March 21 at the West Virginia State Meet in Morgantown.
“I want to go to higher levels and compete in more meets,” he stated. “When I get older, I would like to start my own gymnastic class and teach other kids.”