Lee Trawick: Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
On Thursday, June 29, more than 3,000 competitors invaded Orlando, Fla., to bid for the AAU Gymnastic National Championship. Among the competitors was Suwannee High School student Cheyenne Rhaine Hart-Vasey; She is a member of Bard Gymnastics in Lake City, where she trains under Denise Kirby. She began her journey at 10-years-old, competing at the local level before advancing to the state level over the years. Then, as her career progressed, she found herself on bigger and bigger stages. Today, Hart-Vasey is 17-years-old and is a veteran of the sport. Her very foundation is built on dedication and self-discipline. Over the years, she has faced many mental and physical obstacles. However, she would not be tested as she has been before. On her 17th birthday, her grandmother passed away. Then, two weeks later, she suffered a fractured left hand and wrist in her next competition. Through the emotional and physical pain, she still managed to place second. She credits her strength to her faith in God and gives Him the glory for her success. Therefore, while she is proud of her accomplishments in gymnastics, she is even more proud of the platform she has been provided through gymnastics; she views her platform as an opportunity to promote God's love for everyone. In 2019, she began a give-back project called “Socks for Seniors” in Suwannee County. Today, she serves the tri-county area and has delivered more than 1,000 gift bags to seniors for Christmas. She understands the responsibility given to her through her success on the mat, and therefore, does not plan on wasting it. She is a member of the Pinemount Baptist Church in McAlpin, where she prepares food baskets for many throughout Suwannee County during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. She is also a member of the McAlpin Community Club; there, she offers a helping hand, whether it is putting up a fences, cleaning yards, painting and many other things, in hopes of promoting community togetherness and awareness of God's love. While she loves gymnastics and the competition, she realizes it is only a vehicle that allows her to continue serving God by spreading His message of love on a grander stage. While many see the competitive nature of gymnastics as life or death, Hart-Vasey does not lose sight of the real purpose. So, while competing at the State Championships, she did not let the moment become too big for her; she remained focused on the task and accepted her fate no matter where her scores placed. Fortunately for Hart-Vasey, she found herself positioned to advance through State and into the Regional Championships. There, she approached the competition as she always has, which she accredits to her relationship with God, understanding gymnastics is just a platform. Such a mindset is what allowed her to be so successful. Standing at the top of the podium, she had positioned herself to qualify for the AAU National Championships. On the national stage, Hart-Vasey competed in four events: the vault, the uneven bars, the floor and the beam. She took home first place in the Vault and uneven bars, then placed third on the floor and fifth place on the beam. Together, she accumulated the highest total score in her age division, earning her the title of National Champion. With the National Championship title, she has qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Junior Olympics in Paris, France, from June 27 through July 5.