High Score

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Nine-year-old Taylor Folkers sits in the corner of the gymnastics floor, bobbing her head to music.

In a matter of seconds, the Gene Witt Elementary fourth-grader springs to action and bounds across the floor for her first tumbling pass. She completes the roundoff back handspring back tuck before showing off her dance moves as the “I Dream of Jeannie” theme song plays through the sound system.

After completing her second tumbling pass, Taylor turns and smiles at her Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics coach, Laura Parraga, before running off to complete another set of warmup drills.

The state champion gymnast is in the middle of preparing for the USAG Level 6 state meet March 22 in Clearwater.

Taylor won the state title as a Level 4 gymnast on floor exercise, her favorite apparatus, in December.
Following the Level 4 state meet, Taylor, along with five of her teammates, received the necessary scores to move up and compete at either XCEL or Level 6. Rian Hanson, 9, advanced to Level 7.

“It’s a huge jump,” Parraga says. “It’s a testament to their work ethic, ability and talent.”

Along with a higher skill set comes the opportunity for the girls to perform their own individual floor routines.

“It’s just awesome because you get to move to the rhythm of the music and do what you feel,” Taylor says. “I like shaking my booty and doing head bumps.”

Taylor, who won floor exercise and finished second in the all-around, will defend her title. Rian, who posted a personal best 9.9 on her way to a gold medal on high bars, along with state titles on floor and the all-around, will compete in the Level 7 state meet March 28.

“It’s a higher level, so you get a better title,” Rian says. “It’s new and harder, so to win it would be amazing. My parents would be so proud of me, and I would be so proud of myself.”

It’ll be the girls’ second state competition in three months.

As Level 4 gymnasts, Taylor and Rian, along with teammates Morgan Denofa, Kacy Bua, Sienna Pezzella, Kelsey McLeod, Leah Crowley and Brittney Grice, captured the team state championship for the small division. The team posted a 116.025 — its highest score to date — to cap off an undefeated compulsory season.

“I was very surprised because we usually only get 114,” Taylor says. “That’s always been our best. So, to get a 116 was amazing.”

Every girl on the Level 4 team won at least one individual state title, in addition to the team title.

“We knew they were going to be pretty good, but we didn’t realize how great,” says Parraga, who coaches the girls with her husband, David. “They went into the state meet and just rocked it. They’re great dancers and performers, and that’s what sets them apart.”

Since moving up at least two levels, the girls, who are ranked No. 5 in the nation, have increased their training to five days a week. They hope the change will earn them another state title.

“We have high hopes for these kids,” Parraga says. “They’re a joy to coach, and they have come a long way in a short amount of time. We want them to continue that drive, but also to enjoy the journey.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].