Senior Liz Calamari has participated in gymnastics  for all four years of her high school career. She began at a  young age and learned very quickly that it would be a sport that she loved. 

“I started gymnastics when I was 2 years old. My mom worked at a YMCA that also had a gymnastics program, and I tried it out, and it turned out I loved it. I really just knew that I had passion and that I could go so far with this sport when I got older,” Calamari reflected.

Although gymnastics could be seen as an individual sport, she believes that the team dynamic is a huge part as well. Calamari praises her teammates for a lot of her memories she has made throughout her gymnastics career. 

“Without my teammates, I could do gymnastics, but I would end up not having as much fun as I do because of them. It’s cool to have medals and trophies hanging and sitting on shelves, but I would say that within those medals and trophies are memories. Even on my roughest days, when it feels like practice is too much to go to, they’re always there for me and there to listen to me,” Calamari stated.

Throughout her gymnastics career Calamari has accomplished many things, but she has one achievement that will stick with her forever. 

“I would say that my proudest moment would be when I got a perfect 10 on bars when I was in elementary school [but]  beyond scores,[it] would be being able to represent myself as a role model [to younger gymnasts], just like how I looked up to older girls in the gym when I was little”, Calamari stated. 

Gymnastics has not only shaped who Calamari is as an athlete, but it also has shaped her life outside of the gym as well.

“Outside the gym, gymnastics has taught me how to not give up when things get challenging, or seem too hard to achieve. It also has taught me what it means to be a captain and a leader of a team. At the beginning of the season, I was nervous about becoming a captain, for I didn’t know what it really meant, but now, as the season is over, I learned how to use my voice more often, I learned how to stand up for myself, I learned how to represent myself in a positive and professional manner. I have learned most of all that it’s okay to not get it the first time, or even the hundredth time I do something. When it is time, it will happen, and it will feel so good when it finally clicks,” Calamari reflected.