Hitting his mark

Mike Sciacca

One year ago, Jimmy Kerry came oh-so-close to realizing his dream of

earning a spot on the USA Gymnastics Men’s Junior National Team.

Twelve months later, a bit stronger and more mature in his sport,

Kerry saw that dream finally reach fruition.

The 13-year-old, who graduates next week from Dwyer Middle School,

placed 11th, overall, in the 12-13 age division at the four-day Jr.

Olympic National competition in San Diego.

The top 14 finishers earned a spot on the Jr. National Team.

Kerry’s teammate at New Hope Academy of Gymnastics in Fountain

Valley, Joe Truong, also earned a spot on the national team by

placing 13th.

Four members of the New Hope boys’ team had qualified for the Jr.

Olympic National competition.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Kerry who, last year, just missed a

spot on the Jr. National Team with a 22nd-place finish. “I was

excited to place so high, and I’m happy that Joe made it, too.”

Both gymnasts will train in August and again in October at the USA

Olympic Training Camp in Colorado Springs.

As a member of the Junior National Team, Kerry’s expenses relating

to team travel and housing will be covered by the National Men’s

Gymnastics Program.

“That will be a great experience because I will be training with

the best,” Kerry said of his upcoming visits to the Olympic Training

Center.

Kerry, who will enter Huntington Beach High in the fall, has been

in gymnastics since the age of 3. He said he trains up to 26 hours at

week at New Hope.

“Being a member of the Junior Olympic National Team means putting

in a tremendous amount of hours, but aside from that, Jimmy has found

the time and commitment to really be a positive influence on our

student body, both academically and athletically,” Dwyer Middle

School Principal Duane Cox said. “He’s involved in several

extracurricular activities and groups on campus, is well-liked and is

just an all-around, amazing young man.”

Kerry said he admires U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm, who won the World

All-Around Championship in 2003.

He also said he wouldn’t be where he is today without the guidance

of his coaches at New Hope, Eduard Azarian and Alexander Tkatchev.

Azarian is an Olympic gold medalist who competed for the Soviet

Union in the 1980s.

Tkatchev, a teammate of Azarian’s, also is a gold medal-winning

Olympian.

“They have taught me everything,” Kerry said. “They have brought

me up to the level I’m at now. I love the challenge of learning new

things.”

Kerry, who said his favorite routine is the high bar, because, “I

get to fly,” said that his hours in the gym have paid off.

“My routines have gotten stronger this year,” he said. “Last year

was my first time at the Jr. Olympic National competition, and I felt

nervous. This year, I wasn’t nervous at all. I was just ready to

compete.”

Kerry said he will be keeping a keen eye on the Summer Olympic

Games in Athens, continuing to dream another dream.

“My two big goals are to get a gymnastics scholarship for college

and make the Olympics,” he added. “Those are the two things I’m

after.”