by Sabrina Sanford
Since eighth grade, senior Alison Tobin has been competing on the varsity gymnastics team. Her hard work and determination have allowed Tobin to push her limits, giving her higher scores on all four events. When Tobin competes, she gives her routine her all.
Tobin has been a gymnast since she was only three years old. Since then, her passion and drive to succeed in the sport have only grown stronger.
“Gymnastics is a sport that tests your mental strength”, says Tobin. “I’ve had struggles on all four of the events.” Bars has always been a struggle for Tobin, especially after she received a neck injury at a young age while dismounting the bars with a “fly-away.” Tobin would continue to try and do the dismount but found herself failing to complete the routine due to this painful experience.
This year, Tobin replaced her dismount with a different move with the equivalent point value as a “fly-away.” “Sometimes when you have a long term, irrational fear, you just have to move on and work on something new,” Tobin says. The mental aspect of gymnastics is not her only struggle.
“This season I specifically struggled with my back tuck on beam. I had a hard time figuring out how to land on the beam and get the same rotation and height I had last year.” Tobin did not compete for the first four meets because she could not master the skills she needed to get her a high score.
“This was frustrating,” Tobin admits. “I couldn’t figure out what my issue was, since I’ve never had problems with landing this skill.” It wasn’t until after the fourth meet that Tobin’s technique was perfected. “It finally clicked, and I’ve been landing it since.”
But Tobin could not always do the skills that she has now perfected as a senior. “I think I have improved drastically since eighth grade especially on floor,” states Tobin. “This year I’ve been trying new front and back tumbling passes, both of which I need to step out of my comfort zone.” Tobin’s scores have improved on floor overall because of her new confidence.
“I remember thinking that it could be hard to improve (my skills), since most gymnasts peak with their skills at a young age. But within these five years I have felt stronger, more powerful and more advanced than I did.”
In addition to perfecting her skills, Tobin maintains healthy habits and exercises on her own time. Being a part of the soccer team and the outdoor track team has also added to Tobin’s strength.
This year she says that she has “become more interested in what I do, and I push myself to improve because I know my experience as a gymnast will be over before I know it. I use these thoughts along with knowing I want to do the best for my team to push myself. These thoughts have been my motivation this entire season.”
Working hard at every practice and meet is important for Tobin. “On occasion, I work out on new skills at gyms with pits and better equipment than the high school provides. I would work out a few weeks in the off season to keep my skills up to date.” This hard work has paid off for Tobin and even rewarded her the title as captain her junior and senior years.
“(It) came as a shock to me being a captain my junior year and then being the only captain this season. It is a big responsibility that requires my full attention, but I love every second of it!”
As captain, Tobin is responsible for ordering team warm-ups and organizing pasta dinners, but her work doesn’t just stop there.
“I would say the greatest responsibility (as captain) is to be the single leader of this large group of girls. I have to recognize that the younger girls are observing my attitude, and I have to try my best to be a good role model, even on days that I might not be in a great mood.”
Sophomore gymnast Olivia Holverson respects Tobin. “Ali is a phenomenal leader,” states Holverson. “She always encourages the team to try new events and skills.”
Holverson noticed that Tobin “always tells (the team) to go out there and do our best and whatever happens, happens.”
Tobin can not always control the scores that she receives on her events, but her hard work surely pays off at the end of the regular season. “Since my sophomore year, I have made it to states for beam, and both years I placed within the top twenty places. Last year I got sixth in the state, which led me to New Englands.”
Gymnastics is not an easy sport. Like any, Tobin knows that it takes “practice, determination and concentration.” She continues to perform her best and hopes that her skills can land her yet another spot at New Englands.
