Shane Wiskus to Compete in the P&G Championships

Minnetonka-Hopkins Gymnast Shane Wiskus Earns Berth at USA Gymnastics Championships

Shane Wiskus from Spring Park, MN competed this weekend in Colorado Springs, CO at the Olympic Training Center, with the likes of Danell Leyva, John Orozco, and Paul Ruggeri, in the qualifier to go to the USA Championships in one month. Even though he is only 15 years old, he held his own and was the 2nd top qualifier out of the 6 chosen in the Junior Division and was the second youngest competitor.

Why was he there in that division? Wiskus’ route was not the normal route for most Juniors his age. Having been on the Junior National Team for the last 2 years, Shane competed this year as a 13-14 year old Level 9 and at the Regional Meet (one of 9) to qualify for Junior Nationals, he put up the highest qualifying score of all the regionals in the country. But during the first training back at the gym, disaster struck; Shane broke the 5th metatarsal in his foot with 4 weeks to heal.

Physical therapy, laser therapy, calcium tabs, and all, he was only able to compete Pommel, Rings, Parallel Bars, and High Bar at the Junior USA Championships, earning Silver on P-Bars, Bronze on Rings, and 4th Place on High Bar was not enough to get back on the Level 9 National Team. But his showing was enough to get him a chance to compete at the National Qualifier as a Level 10, 15-16 year old Division.

The challenge was to learn the new 15 year old and up Technical Sequences (Routines) and upgrade to International Elite Rules from Junior Level Routines in just two and a half months. All that hard work and determination paid off as he was the second highest score in the qualifier. The number 1 spot was by a 17 year old Rising Sophomore from the University of Oklahoma; Shane had beaten other Juniors who have already been competing as a Level 10 for a year.

What’s next? Now he is on his way to Pittsburg to USA Gymnastics biggest National Meet of the year, the P&G National Championships, in another step toward his National Team Dream; through perseverance that dream may become a reality!

Congratulations and GOOD LUCK SHANE!