Ashley Leonard Named Athlete of The Year by USTA

Congratulations to Ashley Leonard!  Ashley has earned the honor of being named Southern Illinois State Athlete of the Year for United States Trampoline & Tumbling Association (USTA)! 

Ashley, 18 years of age and from Quincy,  has been a Gem City Gymnastics athlete for over 12 years.  She started taking classes when she was six years old.  Ashley has worked her way through almost all of the programs offered to her at the gym - recreational classes, competitive gymnast on the gymnastics team for five years, nine years as a competitive All-Star Cheerleader, and she's been on the Tumbling Team for the last 10 years.

She has also been a Quincy High School Blue Devil cheerleader for the last four years where her competitive cheering and tumbling skills have had a chance to shine on yet another platform!

Ashley was nominated for this award for her good standing with USTA, her Advanced athlete status for the past five years, her good grades, and for her determination to work hard through her whole high school career. It takes a lot for an Advanced tumbler to train through their teen years, and Ashley has been steadfast in keeping up with her training.

Ashley is a graduating senior at Gem City Gymnastics. She is still hoping she can attend the last competition of the season this July despite her senior year competitions being disrupted. Ashley's current tumbling team coaches include: Zeke Cernea, Laci Heller, and Anne Nash.

Ashley plans on attending classes at John Wood Community College this fall, and she still plans on tumbling even after graduation!