Watertown’s Bridget Sullivan, 14, competed against the best gymnasts of her age at the Junior Olympic Competition Eastern Nationals in Michigan.
Watertown’s Bridget Sullivan recently traveled to Michigan to compete against the top gymnasts of her age at Junior Olympic Competition.
The 14-year-old has had a successful season. She qualified for Level 9 Junior Olympic Competition Eastern Nationals – the highest level for her age – for the first time. During the competition she placed seventh place in the vault with a score of 9.475 out of 10, said her coach, Jen Scannell. The competition was held at the Summit Sports and Ice Complex in Lansing, Mich.
“It was cool to see how the different gymnasts from around the country were competing different skills,” Sullivan said. “It was a lot of fun to meet girls from other regions.”
Sullivan, who will be a freshman at Watertown High School next year, competes in all four event, but said her favorite event is the vault. Before Eastern Nationals, she placed second in the vault in the Massachusetts Level 9 Championships with a 9.35 and then placing first in the vault at the Region VI Level 9 Regional Championships with a score of 9.475. At the same competition she finished second in the bars, third on the floor and second in the all-around competition with a total score of 36.125.
Sullivan was introduced to gymnastics at a very young age.
“My grandmother started taking me to a Mommy and me class when I was 18 months to get out some of my energy while she was watching me, and I never left!” Sullivan said.
She started at TumbleKids USA in Watertown, where she competed until she was 10. When her coach, with whom she had worked with since the Mommy and Me class, went to Gymnastics and More in Woburn Sullivan followed.
Next year, Sullivan will compete as a Level 10 and plans to attend the USA Gymnastics Region VI Rising Stars Clinic/Working Together For Nationals. She also has long term goals.
“I would love to compete in college level gymnastics,” Sullivan said.
To get to the level on which Sullivan competes she spends a lot of time practicing. During the year she practices 24 hours over six days each week, but this summer practice time is cut down to five days a week so she has some more free time.
“I have afternoons and weekends off, so I enjoys spending time with my friends, hanging out, going to the Cape, and fun things like that,” Sullivan said.