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3 Olympic Dreams gymnasts qualify for nationals
By Greg Gulas
LIBERTY
Olympic Dreams Gymnastics is noted for developing young, talented competitors.
Sending boys and girls to national competition has been the norm for the organization.
This spring there are three national qualifiers for Olympic Dreams, including Claire Gagliardi of Hubbard who qualified to last week’s Women’s Jr. Olympic Nationals in Indianapolis where she placed ninth overall in the uneven bars.
As for the boys, Austintown’s Fitch’s Dylan Colangelo and Shane Lindstrom of South Range Middle School will compete in the USAG Jr. Olympic Nationals today through Sunday in Kissimmee, Fla.
“We’re obviously very proud of all three qualifiers. This is the big show, what you train for and where you want to be,” said Dawn Toussaint, Olympic Dreams owner. “For Claire, this is her fourth time qualifying for nationals and it’s still as exciting as her first time.
“For Dylan and Shane, it’s their first trip and you always remember that very first of anything,” Toussaint said.
“There will be plenty of college coaches in attendance so everyone wants to perform their very best,” she said. “We’ve been very fortunate in that during our 24 years of existence, we’ve had national qualifiers [almost] every year.”
Gagliardi, who started gymnastics at age 3, is 16 years old, a level 10 participant and an honor roll student at Hubbard High School.
A two-time national runner-up on the uneven bars, she competed in four events this past weekend including vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor.
She has already given her verbal commitment to Ohio State University.
“This is a very exciting time because every year you want to qualify, and when you do it’s just so special,” Gagliardi said. “My coach, Carol King, was instrumental in getting me into the team setting and Valerie Harper, who recently came to Olympic Dreams, is a great mental coach.
“Dawn and Gary [Toussaint] taught me the Ejova and for that I am so very grateful as well,” she said. “We call it ‘Air Claire’ and so it’s special to be one of just a handful in the nation to be able to do that.”
The boys will compete against the top-200 boys in the country in their respective age and competition levels.
Their events are floor, high bar, parallel bars, vault, still rings and pommel horse with their first day similar to that of the Olympics. The goal is to advance to finals in all events for the all-around competition, or the individual events.
Colangelo, who has been competing since age 4, is 15 years old and a level 10 competitor. He placed first at state in parallel bars and high bars, placing 13th overall in regional competition in Frankenmuth, Mich. The region consists Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
He is also slated to receive high school academic All-American honors for his academic excellence and gymnastics commitment.
“It’s going to be fun yet serious at the same time,” Colangelo said. “My strength and best event is still rings, but I am ready for the other events as well.
“My coaches are Gary Toussaint and Chris Tollon and they push me to be the best that I can be, so I am ready,” he said. “At first I didn’t think that I qualified, but here I am and I want to make the best of this opportunity.”
Lindstrom, also an honor roll student, is 12 years old and a level 8. That’s the level that is the earliest in which a gymnast can qualify and compete at nationals. Only level 8-10 competitors can advance qualifying top in their age and level.
At state, he placed second on floor and was third on parallel bars.
A multiple sport athlete, he is the youngest of the group and no stranger to “nationals” and Kissimmee. Earlier in the year and during the NFL’s Pro Bowl Weekend, he played in the city on the 11-12 year old flag football team from the Youngstown Youth Flag Football Association that was one of eight teams nationally to qualify for the USA Flag Nationals.
He started participating in gymnastics at age 6 and is one of four Ohio qualifiers.
“I cannot wait to compete against the nation and see where I stand,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting and a great feeling to qualify for nationals in both sports.
“Football helps me in gymnastics and gymnastics helps me when I am playing football,” Lindstrom said. “My coaches always stress that this is a team event, but do my best individually. Each coach has a particular strength and that’s really great for all of us.”
Each gymnast spends a minimum of 20 hours per week training, all year long with a one week break at Christmas and during the summer.
They train five days a week, four hours sessions each and according to Lindstrom’s mother, Kathy, all of the gymnasts miss many outside activities due to their commitment.
“Homework and meals often are completed in the car or on the way to or from practice,” she said. “This commitment often means that they often miss out on activities typical to their age group, like sleepovers, party invites and family spring breaks.
“Their coaches however, have done a magnificent job in preparing them for the upcoming nationals and are ready to get started.”