Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Born For This...Kelsey Morris

I met Kelsey Morris early in 2007, I housed with her during a summer gymnastics camp at Leading Edge Gymnastics Academy. At the time I hadn't any idea who this dynamo was or what she would accomplish in the next few years. I just recall her being very friendly, energetic and an extremely powerful gymnast in the gym. Although she was a couple of years younger, we would both began our first level 9 seasons that year.

She would come away with many wins that year, to top it off, she ended up finishing her prestigious season with two event titles during the Western Nationals and would just miss taking the all around spot by .05. She would instead settle with a second place finish.

It would not surprise many when she headed into her next season as a level 10 competitor. However, finishing in the top 10 at her first nationals might've turned a few heads in her direction. Not to mention, she was also competing in the same session as Kayla Williams, who would later be named to the 2009 Worlds team and would capture the vault title; but Kayla Willaims would not win vault during JO nationals in 2008, Kelsey Morris took that title.




It seemed there was much in store for this talented athlete. Going into her second year as a level 10 she would capture vault and floor titles at regionals but would come up short during nationals, placing two spots lower than she had the prior year and placing on only one unlikely event. A 6th place finish on her weakest apparatus, the balance beam.

Nonetheless, she headed into 2010 with high hopes. She would win both state and regional all around titles, going into Nationals she seemed poised to finish in the top three but on her final event, the balance beam, she had an uncharastic fall that would prevent her from even finishing in the top 10.

Late in 2010, however, Kelsey Morris would sign to Boise State University with a full ride scholarship.

Her gymnastics career has been filled with ups and downs, but gymnasts, judges and coaches of Region II would argue that she is possibly the best gymnast in the region. She is a gymnast with a talent and drive few can compare to in this addictive yet unforgiving sport, and at 17 years old, she still has a few more years in gymnastics to impact us all!


http://www.broncosports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9900&ATCLID=205040442

http://www.gymdivas.us/profile_morris.htm

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20101123/SPORTS/711239848/1004



Kelsey trains at one of the top level gyms of Region II with some of the top coaches in the nation.

I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for this gymnast!
Good luck Buff!