During the school year, members of Rebounders Gymnastics in Timonium work out 20 hours per week.

In the summer, they turn up the heat by adding five more hours to their regimens. Compared to some other sports, that makes gymnasts workout warriors.

Rebounders coach Karen Kalivoda said that sometimes she finds herself in meetings with youth soccer and lacrosse coaches who "are telling me how they have a really hard two-hour practice. For us, the minimum practice time is four hours."

That's the price they pay to keep up with stiff competition in events in Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, California, Colorado, Nevada and even Puerto Rico in recent years.
   
"We fly all over the country to different competitions," Kalivoda said. "When we fly, we don't take any parents with us. It builds a great sense of independence and the kids learn the discipline involved."

They've had success matching skills with rivals from Maryland and surrounding states, too.

Ruxton's Sarah Riedel won a floor exercise title at the Maryland State championships and a balance beam title at the regional championships in Allentown, Pa in the level 9 category recently.

Riedel wasn't the only state and regional champion, though.

Reisterstown resident Lauren Cahalan (level 8) garnered a state title in both the balance beam and all-around while Roland Park Country School freshman Kaitlin Callahan (level 8) of Phoenix took home a regional balance beam title.
 
"They are two up-and-comers," Kalivoda said. "They are very talented. Lauren has a work ethic second to none. Whatever skill Kaitlin tries, she can do it. It's pretty amazing."

Other top state winners included Ayanna Butler-Hooker (Owings Mills, level 6, uneven bars), Megan Wall (Baldwin, level 8, vault), Rachel Graham (Phoenix, level 7, beam), Anna Tyler (Monkton, level 7 uneven bars), Katy Trammell (Jacksonville, level 5, floor exercise) and Rachel Pichney (Phoenix, level 4, floor exercise).

Of all the Rebounders' state and regional champions, Riedel, has made the biggest impact so far. The Roland Park Country School sophomore qualified for the Eastern Nationals in Mississippi after a fourth-place regional finish.

Riedel, 14, plans to move up to level 10 for the 2009-2010 season -- the highest level offered by USA Gymnastics -- after two years in level 9.
 
"It's like the Junior Olympics," Riedel said of level 10. "I want to get a full scholarship (to college). You have to be in level 10 to get the colleges to look at you."  

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