When Hinsdale Central sophomore Amanda Leon was 5 years old, she played box soccer.
The sport didn’t go well and she lost interest.
“I was out there doing cartwheels and was the worst player on the team,” Leon said. “My mom said I was in the wrong sport and put me in gymnastics and I’ve been doing it ever since. I love it.”
Leon honed her gymnastics talents at Premier Gymnastics Academy before switching to Action Gymnastics in Darien. She made the Hinsdale Central varsity team as a freshman and is poised for even more success this season.
Leon placed fifth and earned all-conference honors in all-around with a score of 35.250 at the West Suburban Silver Meet Saturday, Jan. 31 at Hinsdale Central to help the Red Devils place third at the meet and third overall.
“She’s a good all-around competitor,” Hinsdale Central coach Kim Estoque said. “She tries her hardest in meets and is just very solid in all events.”
The Willowbrook resident introduced a new skill to her beam routine to increase the difficulty for regionals, but wasn’t able to land it. Leon tied for sixth (8.750), with a fall. She feels confident she can hit the back tuck in the postseason.
“It was a new learning experience,” Leon said. “I just added it two days (before conference), so I just need to be more consistent with it in practice and it will be all good. I really just want to stick my beam routine because I’ve really been working hard.”
Sophomore Jessica Sprong, who placed second in vault (9.450) despite possibly breaking her toe during a bar mishap, said Leon is a very supportive classmate.
“Amanda is an amazing teammate,” Sprong said. “She’s always there for us. She’s never been cocky or said anything that would make you think she’s better than any of us. She’s obviously better than we are, but she’s a team player and we love that about her. I love to see her do well. She has so much natural talent.”
The camaraderie of the sport is one of the aspects that most appeals to Leon.
“I love meeting new people and being with teammates,” Leon said. “It’s really fun to go out there and flip around. Everyone thinks gymnastics is so easy but it’s really not. They think it’s a cartwheel and you’re done, but I think it’s awesome.”
Hinsdale Central will host a regional Thursday, Feb. 4. The Red Devils won their regional last year with 138.35.
“We should make it to sectionals as a team,” Estoque said. “It would be nice to win regionals.”
Ken Ryan is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
