By Theresa De Lay and Kevin Hanson
Staff Writers
After a shaky start in the world of collegiate gymnastics, Randi Schorzman can call herself an All-American.
A Buckley resident and 2012 graduate of White Riv-er High, Schorzman earned All-America honors during the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships, staged two weekends ago at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Schorzman placed ninth on the balance beam to earn second team All-America honors with a score of 9.050.
For Schorzman, it is her first All-America laurel in her first trip to the national stage.
Because White River does not field a gymnastics team, Schorzman went the club route. She turned out at Enumclaw Gymnastics from the age of 6 to 13 and, from there, moved on to the Auburn Gymnastics Center. In 2011 she qualified for nationals but didn’t place.
When it came time for college, she picked the University of Wisconsin-Stout, a smallish institution in Menomonie, Wis., about 70 miles east of Minneapolis.
Schorzman did not make a strong adjustment to college gymnastics, but eventually calmed her freshman jitters, according to her coach, Becky Beaulieu.
“Randi had a slower start to the season but her eyes were opened up at the first couple of meets,” Beaulieu said. “Things weren’t what they used to be for her, but she put the fire back in her eyes.”
Schorzman started off doing three events, but settled into the vault and the balance beam, the two events she qualified to nationals in.
“Randi went from three to two events, and when she did that, she took off,” Beaulieu said. “But in her career, she could easily be a three- or four-event competitor.”
While the team did not qualify for nationals, five Blue Devils earned trips on their own. The period immediately before nationals found Schorzman feverishly gearing up to compete in her two events. She was practicing at least four times a week for about four hours a day.
The hard work paid off, as Schorzman scored a 9.45 on the balance beam during the first day of competition, earning a spot in the individual finals and garnering All-America status.
The 5 foot, 5 inch freshman scored a 9.375 in the vault to place 48th.
Schorzman admits there isn’t much to do in Menomonie, but that’s OK with the freshman. The lack of excitement ensures that she stays focused on school and gymnastics. Still, it’s a college community and Schorzman finds time for favorite activities like shopping, playing Frisbee and hanging out with friends.
