Local gymnast part of state champion squad
To be any type of successful athlete, it takes hard work and a desire to win.
And for 9-year-old Lauren Crothers, competing in gymnastics has been a dream for many years.
Crothers started taking gymnastics in McMinnville at the age of 4, and has worked her way on to the Elite Energy team based out of Murfressboro.
Crothers travels to Murfressboro three days a week to work out and practice her routines on the uneven bars, beam, floor exercise and vault, while maintaining an A average in the school.
Crothers traveled to Chattanooga on Dec. 4 with her Elite Energy teammates, to compete in the Tennessee State Gymnastic Championships.
She helped her team win the first-place trophy, going undefeated as she placed second in the uneven bars and fifth all-around in her age category.
She has been a member of the Elite Energy team for two years and has competed in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. She was selected to the team after a mini-competition held by Elite Energy.
Lauren is the daughter of Melany and Michael Crothers of McMinnville.