Gymnast maintains strong tradition

In order to maintain a tradition of success in college athletics, young and promising freshmen are imperative.

As for the accomplished No. 6 Michigan women's gymnastics team that has competed at NCAAs for six consecutive seasons, it should be able rely on freshman standout Melissa Anne Peterson to sustain this legacy of excellence in seasons to come.

Born and raised in Shawnee, Kan., Peterson has been engrossed by gymnastics since age three.

"It all began with tumbling classes," Peterson said. "Then when I was six I progressed to gymnastics and found that I was learning faster than any of my teammates."

After watching her older sister, Amanda, extend her gymnastics career into the college ranks at Missouri, Peterson had her sights set on collegiate gymnastics by her freshman year of high school.

DANA LINNANE/Daily Melissa Peterson's strength on the balance beam attracted the interest of lots of gymnastics programs, but Peterson felt best at Michigan.

"Watching my sister earn a scholarship motivated me to follow in her footsteps," Peterson said. "Although my dedication to gymnastics held me back from participating in other sports, it was well worth it."

Despite the rigors of a four-hour-a-day practice routine in high schoool, Peterson persevered and in doing so drew the attention of several prominent gymnastics programs: Alabama, Florida, Utah, Arizona, Minnesota, Nebraska and of course, Michigan.

Obviously siding with the latter, Peterson was intrigued by the respected academic and gymnastic tradition that Michigan offered.

"I've always loved Michigan," Peterson said. "The girls on the team were awesome and I knew that I would fit in well."

Peterson's fondness for Michigan was reciprocated by gymnastics coach Bev Plocki.

"In club gymnastics she was a solid competitor on balance beam," Plocki said. "That is a strength that we really look for while recruiting.

"On the beam, some have it and some do not. Peterson chose difficult routines and consistently made finals which impressed me."

As a Wolverine, Peterson has already made a statement with her significant contributions on the balance beam.

Participating in just her second collegiate competition, she finished third on the beam with a 9.800 against Massachusetts.

"I was really nervous at first," Peterson exclaimed. "The greatest feeling was being able to help my team out in a meet."

While competing against No. 11 Ohio State and Rhode Island on Saturday, Peterson secured a second-place finish on beam with a 9.750.

As opposed to her days as a member of the Kansas Gymnastics and Dance Center, Peterson enjoys having teammates like Sarah Cain and Lisa Simes whose talents she can look up to.

"I had always been the best on team in the past," Peterson said. "Watching the leaders on my team motivates me to work hard so I can hopefully fill there place."

Peterson has commanded attention with her efforts thus far, and coach Plocki hopes that she continues to progress and maintains consistency on the beam.

If so, she "has the potential to develop into a leadership role," Plocki noted.

As for personal goals, she hopes to qualify and compete in nationals on beam this season and eventually show enough improvement to earn All-American honors.

When taken into consideration the ability and dedication of Melissa Peterson, it is a safe bet to assume that she will be among the top gymnasts at Michigan, if not all of America, in just a few short years.

02-03-99