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CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. Last year, gymnast Jennifer DeMaria performed on the uneven bars as she had done so many times before.
She attempted a shoot over, a maneuver in which the gymnast swings from the higher bar to the lower bar and reverses direction. But this time, something went wrong, and the senior broke two bones in her hand. She broke another bone in her hand in September.
Despite the injuries to such a crucial appendage, DeMaria returned to the mats, beams and bars this year for the combined team of Lakeland High School and Walter Panas High School.
I was a little nervous, but I know when you put your mind to it, you basically do what you are meant to do, DeMaria said. So you are careful when you put your mind to it.
The injuries have forced DeMaria, who has performed gymnastics since she was four years old, to adjust her routines by removing certain skills or swapping them for other skills.
But DeMaria looked as though the injury was well behind her on Monday when she took first place in every event against Ossining. She won the vault event with a score of 8.3, the uneven bars with an 8.6, the balance beam with an 8.4, the floor exercise with an 8.1 and all-around with a 33.4.
DeMaria, along with her Lakeland/Panas teammates, participates in club gymnastics throughout the year. Ossining coach Sandra Mitchell, who called DeMaria fabulous after the competition on Monday, said that her level of dedication elevates her performances.
As for the future, DeMaria said she does not plan to pursue gymnastics when she graduates high school. She simply wants to make the most of the rest of her senior year.
I just plan to, right here, just do my best and have fun with it, too, DeMaria said. The same with Lakeland/Panas as a team.
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