Great Bridge gymnast isn't resting on her laurels

CHESAPEAKE

Courtney Adams flashes a wide, toothpaste-commercial-worthy smile and her eyes twinkle as she talks about gymnastics.

"Gymnastics has been my whole life since, like, forever," the Great Bridge High sophomore said. "My mom put me in a class when I was 2.

"I just really love it."

Adams played an intricate role in the most successful season in school history last year, when the Wildcats won their first Eastern Region and Group AAA championships.

At the region and state meets, Adams finished third in the individual all-around competitions.

She has since spent considerable time and hard work to make some noticeable improvements.

Adams has recorded nothing but four-event totals topping 38 points this season - the highest all-around scores in the region - leaving her poised as the favorite to sweep the all-around titles in the postseason. The gymnasts who finished ahead of her in region and state last year are not competing this season.

"It's always in the back of my mind that it could happen," Adams said. "I know I can finish better."

More important, however, is her influence on her teammates.

"She has become more of a team leader," Great Bridge coach Virginia Petree said. "She leads emotionally and by example."

Over the summer and fall, Adams spent time ramping up her floor and uneven bars routines - two things both athlete and coach say have contributed heavily to her higher scores.

"Last year what was holding her back was her bars scores," Petree said. "You can see the improvement in her difficulty and her scores this season."

Another area of improvement came on floor, where the Hurricane Gymnastics Level 9 private clubber has infused more dance.

"Dance is what intrigues the judges," Adams said. "Good dance in a floor routine makes everything else look so much better. It's kind of a lost art in gymnastics, but I'm working on it."

Even though the 16-year-old has plenty of time to think about it, Adams already is looking past high school. She is considering elevating her club training and trying to reach Level 10, which would greatly improve her chances of getting a college scholarship.

"I think (collegiate gymnastics) would be a really cool thing to do," said Adams, who hopes to one day be a veterinarian. "I'd really like to go to Ohio State... or maybe Virginia Tech.

Lee Tolliver, 757-222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com