By Emma Braithwaite, Features Editor

The 3:30 bell rings. You run home, grab a snack and race back to the school just in time for practice – the typical after-school routine for a high school athlete. But for competitive gymnast and First Flight junior Rylee Smeltzer, her afternoons look a little different.

Smeltzer has been practicing gymnastics at Ocean Tumblers in Virginia since she was seven years old. Immediately after school, the junior drives two hours to Virginia Beach, trains for five hours and makes the two-hour drive back home. She commutes five days a week, every week.

“I really wish there was some place in Moyock so it’s not such a drive,” Smeltzer said. “I’m used to the drive, so it’s fine, but it would be nice if there was a gym closer.”

Smeltzer has to balance her school and personal life with her gymnastics schedule. There are times when she can’t do normal high school activities – such as hanging out with her friends – when it conflicts with her practice schedule. Because of the long drives and late nights, Smeltzer does her homework in the car or when she has free time at school. 

“Rylee drives more than two hours, five days a week, for gymnastics,” said Smeltzer’s former gymnastics coach Tamara Walker. “This takes huge dedication. It shows how much Rylee loves the sport of gymnastics.”

Smeltzer’s hard work and dedication has paid off, leading to lots of success as a very talented gymnast. Last season, she was the region seven level eight beam champion at regionals. 

“Rylee is an amazing gymnast. She doesn’t realize how good she really is,” Walker said. “If I could have a million girls to coach, I would want them to be like her – the willingness to work hard when gymnastics is hard, be dedicated and know how to have fun while doing what you love.”

In addition to driving to Virginia every week, Smeltzer also travels to different states across the East Coast for her meets. Her competition season runs from January through April, with one home meet in December to warm up everyone on her team for the season. Her team competes in about 10 meets every season.

“My favorite part about competing is wearing my competition leotard and you get a chance to show off your stuff,” Smeltzer said. “This is what you have been practicing for. You’re here to show it off and make it look pretty.”

Smeltzer’s favorite aspect of gymnastics is her team. She enjoys how close everyone on the team is and how positive they all are. One of Smeltzer’s teammates, Autumn Rouch, feels the same way and enjoys being teammates with Smeltzer. 

“Rylee is easily my favorite teammate, as she is always so supportive and encouraging. I love practicing with her because together we can make the most out of tough situations,” Rouch said. “Even during the worst practices, we always find a way to laugh and have a good time.”

Smeltzer has gained best friends from gymnastics that would have never been possible if it weren’t for the sport. Spending over 20 hours a week with each other has lead to fun memories and great friendships.

“During the summer, Rylee and I have practice Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. To avoid the long drive, Rylee would stay at my house during the week,” Rouch said. “Rylee is one of the few people I can spend every day with and still not be tired of, and the time spent with her made my summer 10 times better.”

While gymnastics brings Smeltzer lot of happiness, great memories and friendships, her sport has also brought a lot of hardships. In December 2020, one of her coaches, David, caught COVID-19. After spending a month in the hospital, he passed away in early February 2021.

“David was one of my coaches for eight years, but he was my main coach for three years before he died,” Smeltzer said. “It was one of the hardest things ever.”

Less than a year after losing her coach, Smeltzer encountered another obstacle. In October 2021, she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her lower back. 

“It was an over-time thing. I was doing so many things going backwards so then it just finally stopped,” Smeltzer said. “I knew something was wrong in October and it was just so traumatizing.”

Smeltzer has been working back to her full gymnastics schedule after her injury. She has been out of competitions since her injury, but hopes to be back to 100 percent and competing by March.

Her perseverance through it all has been a key factor in her continued success in the sport. 

“Rylee knows how to persevere. She has been injured more than once, yet she never gives up. Rylee lost a coach to COVID in the middle of her season, yet she didn’t give up,” Walker said. “She came to the gym, cried lots of tears, but then became more determined to be even better. Most athletes would walk away from the sport, but not Rylee.”

Whether it is her determination to overcome obstacles or her ability to get better each day, Smeltzer’s love for gymnastics shows day in and day out. 

“It takes a special person to do competitive gymnastics. You have to be able to take criticism and know it is about the gymnastics and not about you personally. Rylee is good at understanding the difference,” Walker said. “I was able to tell her when she needed to take another turn even when she didn’t want to. She might have been tired or sore, but she would always work hard to be her best.”

Junior Emma Braithwaite can be reached at 23braithwaiteem06@daretolearn.org.