July 11, 2008

Airborne gymnast in Evergreen

By Helen Hong
Staff Writer

Though summer may be a time of relaxation for some, it is also a time of rigorous training and preparation for others. Camisha Casimere, an upcoming senior at Silver Creek High, trains for more than five hours a day, five days a week, to prepare for the 2009 season in gymnastics.

Camisha Casimere, an upcoming senior at Silver Creek High, trains for more than five hours a day, five days a week, to prepare for the 2009 season in gymnastics.

Casimere began gymnastics when she was seven years old, an age considered late for gymnasts. Despite the late start, she is currently the state champion on vault, bars, beam, and the all-around, as well as the regional champion on floor and beam. Furthermore, she took home the gold at the Western National Champion-ships with a 9.5 on beam.

In addition to her successes as an individual, she also excels with her gymnastics team. Casimere’s team emerged undefeated the entire 2008 season, winning them a bet made with their head coach Justin Howell to cut his hair in a Mohawk.

Due to an injury in 2007, Casimere did not compete at the state level. Nevertheless, she brought home the first place title at the national level for the all around shortly after recovering from her injury. In the 2008 season, her numerous championships have given her an exceptional reputation in the gymnastic world.

Casimere is coached by Justin Howell, Donna Craig, Tim Goetz, and Liz Crandall at Airborne Gymnastics Training Center in Santa Clara. For eleven consecutive years, the center has been a recipient of the Perpetual Trophy, an award presented to the most successful gymnastics club in all of Northern California based on the performances and results of the teams in the Junior Olympic Program.

Through her performances, Casimere hopes to earn a college scholarship for gymnastics. Amidst her busy academic and gymnastic schedules, she tells herself, “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement and about being better than you were the day before.”