By Amanda Velasco, Staff Writer
Gymnastics is an incredible and difficult sport. Indian Trail High School & Academy has two remarkably talented gymnasts in Grace Corcoran and Maggie Losch, both General Studies freshmen.
What makes them so special, so unique?
“They’re both hard working, but what makes Grace unique is her beam, and what makes Maggie unique is her ability to throw hard skills that you don’t see often from high schoolers,” said Melissa Olson, Kenosha Combined Gymnastic’s head coach.
Both IT gymnasts have been recognized as all conference and for first team all state. Corcoran made first team all state on bars, while Losch earned all state for the all around.
“Grace also has won many invitations on bars, floor and beam,” said Olson. “Maggie has won many invitations on floor, vault, bars and all around. The biggest win for Maggie was her first place on floor at sectionals.”
What impresses Coach Olson most about the pair?
“With Grace, it is how well she was able to bounce back after taking time off gymnastics,” Olson said. “What impresses me about Maggie is how coachable she is. Maggie comes into the gym every day, ready to work, and she applies the corrections given to her.”
Losch was 4 years old when she started gymnastics. She is motivated by her teammates and the possibility of someday being able to advance to the college level, she said.
Corcoran started gymnastics when she was 3 years old.
“Which feels like forever ago. What motivates me was my first coach, Mrs. Laura. She helped my love for the sport grow,” said Corcoran.
There are so many benefits to being in gymnastics, the teens say, such as developing physical and mental strength and meeting new people.
“Some of the cons are the injuries and the amount of time it takes to recover,’’ said Losch.
“Definitely the fear factor and risk of injury, but that’s gymnastics, and the friends I’ve made and the places I’ve gotten to go to definitely outshine any setbacks I’ve had,” said Corcoran.
What do they love most about the sport?
“I love the environment, the people you meet, and how you can show off your personality on the floor,” said Losch.
“I love the challenge and the risk taking. It’s a mental sport more than anything and that’s not easy, but it also makes it so much more fun,” said Corcoran.
Balancing gymnastics and school has helped both young women learn responsibility.
“For me personally when it comes to gymnastics it doesn’t really get in the way of school. I’ve learned how to balance school and gymnastics while still doing my best and trying my hardest in both,” said Losch.
Being a gymnast for 12 years, Losch said balancing school and sports has always been something she has had to do as well.
“Time management is definitely a skill I’ve learned because of gymnastics and it’s made me a better student. So, no, I don’t think gymnastics would be considered a distraction from school, it just pushes me to be better,” said Losch.
Both teens plan to continue gymnastics through high school and perhaps even longer.
“Gymnastics is something I do plan on doing in college because I have grown to love the sport very much. Whether it is a D1 school or a D3 school I would just be happy that I have even made it to the college level,” said Losch.
“College gymnastics has always been a dream for me,” Corcoran added. “But that’s still something I’m unsure about. I was also on the dive team in the fall and will be trying out for softball in the spring, so I’ll be staying busy.”