Herb launches into gymnastics competition

WICONISCO - With this being the first year the Williams Valley School District has added gymnastics to its sports offerings, one Viking sophomore has already been proving herself a worthy competitor in the sport.

Natalie Herb, daughter of Paul and Lori Herb of Wiconisco, will be competing in an invitational competition on Saturday, Feb. 4 in Binghampton, NY. She competes as a member of the Gymettes at Central Pa. Academy of Gymnastics (CPAG), Mechanicsburg.

The high school meets will start later in the competition season, and the Williams Valley School Board named Natalie's father as the district's volunteer gymnastics coach.

Herb, 16, has won many trophies, awards and ribbons over the years, but there are three meets that are among her most memorable, including events with the USAIGC, United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs, Inc.

"In 2007 and 2008 I won third place in the all-around at Nationals for USAIGC and in 2009 I won the USGA Pennsylvania state all-around championship."

"My favorite event is beam. I feel most comfortable competing beam and I definitely enjoy this event the most. I feel confident enough in my beam routines that even if I fall, I get back up and continue like nothing happened," she said.

Balancing her school demands and other activities has been a challenge, but Herb said she's learned how to make it all work. She's also a Viking cheerleader.

"I have been doing gymnastics since I have been 7-years-old and have learned when I have time to get my school work done, and know I have to get it done," she said.

"I have learned to also manage my time wisely. I go to the gym five times a week right after school, so I have time when I get home in the evenings to get some things done. I also do some of my school work in school during study halls and just when I have extra time to do so."

Her latest gymnastics meet on Sunday, Jan. 29 at AJS Pancott Gym in West Chester was not high school related, but was an ESGA league competition, according to her father.

Herb scored well during that event, earning the following: Vault 8.5, Bars 8.55 (3rd place), Beam 8.85 (2nd place), Floor 8.325 (4th place), All Around score of 34.225 (3rd place). She is currently qualified for 2012 states for USGA. (Athletes need a 32.0 or better all around score to qualify and Herb has done that in the last two meets).

Paul Herb explained why his family requested the Williams Valley School Board to consider allowing gymnastics as a high school sport and was glad the board voted on January 12 to do so.

"This is the first year that her gym is getting involved in high school gymnastics," Mr. Herb said. "Up until this year competitive high school gymnastics was only in Western Pennsylvania, however several gyms from Central Pennsylvania are working to bring high school gymnastics to this area.

"We brought this to our local school board's attention to get it recognized locally by Williams Valley. It is at no cost to the district, since all practices take place at the gym in Mechanicsburg and competitions at various gyms throughout Pennsylvania," he said.

"My wife and I provide transportation and support, but the actual gymnastics skills are taught by the CPAG staff. We thought it would be appropriate to have her efforts recognized in our school district and be able to list this on her school transcripts and activities."

Gymnastics is a PIAA sanctioned sport. Natalie's gymnastics coaches at CPAG will enter her and coach her in about five high school events this season, in addition to their normal league and USGA competitions, according to her father.

Her team belongs to the Eastern States Gymnastics Association (ESGA) League with six gyms throughout central and eastern PA, but also participates in some USAG and USAIGC competitions (which are national gymnastics associations).

Currently, they are active in the league competition part of the season. Paul Herb said he's waiting to get more information as to when the high school competitions will begin.

"High school gymnastics is open to all levels of gymnasts, however instead of the 10 level USGA, PIAA gymnastics only has four levels. Natalie is currently a level 8 in USGA and a level 4 in PIAA gymnastics. Natalie does all of her practice at this gym in Mechanicsburg and competes at events throughout Pennsylvania and the eastern United States. Her gymnastics coaches asked each girl on the team which high school they attend so they can be recognized as participating for that school district for these high school events," he said.

Natalie plans to attend college, and may continue either as a collegiate gymnast or cheerleader.

More information about the Gymettes can be found at http://www.cpagymnastics.com/.

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