Templeman beaming with top honors
Makenzie Templeman is jumping for joy, and for good reasons.
The Elliot Christian High freshman recently competed at Region 1 Gymnastics Championships, where she took first place all-around in four events in her age division; the vault, bars, bean and floor. The championships were held at the RenoSparks Convention Center in Reno, Nev. Templeman, a Level 8 competitive gymnast, competed against other gymnast from California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.
This was her second year in competing at the tournament, but her first time winning her age division.
“I was nervous,” admitted Templeman, “but it worked out.”
Prior to competing at the championships, Templeman, 15, competed at the NorCal State Gymnastics Championships. That is where she took first place on the floor exercise.
Templeman doesn’t have a preference over one of the exercises she performs.
“I love the dance part of it, the floor,” Templeman said. “I love that.”
Templeman takes her gymnastics very seriously, practicing five times a week and yearround at the Champion Gymnastics Academy in Stockton.
The gymnastics season runs from January through this month. But Templeman is not taking any breaks this summer. That is because she’s eyeing greater success when the 2019 season starts in seven months.
“Practices will continue,” Templeman said. “It’s more intense. More conditioning and getting stronger.”
Most of the summer workouts, Templeman explained, is mostly cardio and agility.
“More like (sporadic) conditioning,” Templeman said.
At age 3, Templeman took up gymnastics. At that time, she just wanted to stay busy like most children at that age.
“I was just doing it for fun,” recalled Templeman.
Now she’s taking gymnastics seriously. To the point that after she graduates from Elliot in 2021, she hopes to land a scholarship and attend a college in Washington state or Oregon to further her education and continue to compete.
“Gymnastics or active in tumbling,” Templeman said. “That’s the goal. I’d like to be somewhere in Seattle or Oregon.”
Gymnastics seems to be catching on in the Templeman household. Makenzie’s younger sister, Julienne, 13, is also competing.