When she’s not in school, you’re apt to find Kylie M. running through a floor routine or working on a balance beam skill at Bright Raven Gymnastics in Gates.
Kylie, a freshman at Avon High School, is a standout gymnast with the club and recently returned from USA Gymnastics’ New York State Championships at Dominican College in Orangeburg, Rockland County, as a three-time, level 8 state champion. She earned first place finishes in the uneven bars, vault and all-around competitions as well as a second place finish in floor.
Kylie’s head coach at Bright Raven, Jody Micoli, described Kylie as “a hard worker” and said her performance at states was “outstanding.” It was so good, added Micoli, that it qualified Kylie for USA Gymnastics’ upcoming Regional Championships in Massachusetts, where she’ll compete against hundreds of the best young gymnasts the Northeast has to offer.
“Kylie has moved through the developmental program quickly including skipping level 6. At level 7, she qualified for a national competition and regional championships,” said Micoli. “It’s been a tough two years for everyone but she has pushed through and has worked hard to get where she is today. She also has an amazing attitude and work ethic - she really doesn't let too much get her down!”
Kylie first got into gymnastics when she was “very young.”
“My mom and dad put me in ‘Mommy and Me’ classes because I would throw myself around the house and they didn’t want me to hurt myself,” Kylie recalled. “My first competition, I was seven years old and it was the Candy Cane Classic and my gym hosted it and I remember having a fever and strep throat and I still competed and walked away with a metal on bars.”
Ever since that first competition, Kylie’s been hooked. While her favorite event may shift from year to year - “This year it’s floor because… I’ve been able to do more advanced skills,” - Kylie’s love of the sport has remained constant.
She also values all the friendships she’s made with other gymnasts while traveling across the country for competitions and the life lessons the sport has taught her.
“I have been able to get many cool and different experiences,” said Kylie. “One life lesson I have been able to learn is to never give up and that hard work pays off. As a gymnast I have taken rough falls and experienced setbacks but I did not let that slow me down and I have been able to accomplish so much more than I imagined.”
After her success at states, Kylie’s now setting her sights on USA Gymnastics’ Regional Championships, which will be held in Springfield, Mass., at the end of April. At regionals, Kylie will compete in the uneven bars, balance beam, floor and vault against hundreds of other gymnasts from USA Gymnastics’ Region 6, which encompasses the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Kylie admitted she’s “a little nervous” about regionals, but is more excited “to show everyone what I can do.”
Kylie hopes to continue competing in gymnastics throughout her time in high school - hopefully at level 10, the highest skill level offered by USA Gymnastics.
“I also want to do gymnastics in college,” she said. “I’d like to get a scholarship even if it’s not D-1.”
Kylie M, a freshman at Avon, recently returned from USA Gymnastics’ New York State Championships at Dominican College in Orangeburg, Rockland County, as a three-time, level 8 state champion. She earned first place finishes in the uneven bars, vault and all-around competitions as well as a second place finish in floor. Kylie is pictured above following a meet earlier this year.
Kylie M. poses for a photo at USA Gymnastics’ New York State Championships at Dominican College with her Bright Raven Gymnastics coaches, from left, Bill Costner, Garrison Clark and Jody Micoli.
Kylie M. stands atop the podium after taking first place in the level 8 all-around competition at USA Gymnastics’ New York State Championships at Dominican College at the end of March.
Kylie M. poses for a photo with her Bright Raven teammates and coaches Jody Micoli and Bill Costner during USA Gymnastics’ New York State Championships at Dominican College at the end of March.
Kylie M., center, poses for a photo with her Bright Raven teammates at USA Gymnastics’ New York State Championships at Dominican College at the end of March.