Elizabeth Claire Lewman, a 9-year-old fourth-grader at Parklane Academy, won a Gold Medal for her all-around performance at the 2016 Mississippi United States of America State Gymnastics Championship at Mississippi State University for skill Level 4 in March.
Lewman also won gold medals for her performance in the uneven bars and balance beam.
Lewman had her personal best all-around score for the season with 37.425 points out of a possible 40. She competed in the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise against 100 girls around ages 9-13.
“The campus was really pretty,” Lewman said of her experience at Mississippi State.
Lewman has been involved with gymnastics since she was 3 and won seven gold medals at MSUSAG State Championship meets during her career. She recently went to Dallas to compete in the first ever Youth Gymnastics Challenge and tested out of Level 5. She is at skill Level 6 with 10 being the highest level.
Lewman took lessons from Lisa Pruden of McComb for her first three years, but had to move to another gym to learn tumbling at higher levels. She now goes to a gym in Flowood and practices three days a week for three hours at a time concentrating strength training, flexibility, balance and conditioning.
Lewman said gymnastics takes a lot of work, but is also fun.
“I really like winning trophies,” she said. “I beat other people.”
Lewman’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Lewman of Summit, originally took her for gymnastics lessons to give her something to do when she was constantly flipping and twirling.
“I liked swinging on the bars,” she said.
Lewman said she has encouraged her friends at Parklane to participate in gymnastics, but it did not work out.
“I tell them they should try, but they’re already doing other sports,” she said. “They say they’re not good. They try to get me to do softball.”
Parklane had to cut gymnastics activities from recess.
“Other girls were getting hurt and she was over there showing out, so they cut out all gymnastics,” Lewman’s mom, Lisa, said. “She wasn’t getting hurt, but they were, so they cut it out.”
However, Lewman said she made a lot of new friends through gymnastics activities outside of school.
During the 2015-16 regular season, Lewman competed for Courthouse Gymnastics in Flowood under Fico Gonzalez. She had the highest all-around score for Level 4 at the Ocean Springs Invitational, Vicksburg Mardi Gras and Starkville Stark Vegas competitions, winning gold medals in all events.
Lewman also competed for Courthouse in 2014-15 and won three regular-season meet championships. She won the silver for her all-around performance at the 2015 MSUSAG State Championship in Corinth. She won the gold medals for vault and uneven bars.
Lewman competed for Tri-County Gymnastics under Pruden and Amber Martin in 2013-14 and won three regular-season meet championships.
Competing for Tri-County Gymnastics under Pruden in 2012-13, Lewman won two regular-season meet championships. She earned fourth place for her all-around performance at the 2013 MSUSAG State Championship Meet at Southern Miss for Level 1. She won gold medals for vault and floor exercises.
“I just try to not be nervous,” Lewman said of her accomplishments. “I stay tight and don’t let anything else distract me.”
Lewman said her dream is to attend LSU and compete on the women’s gymnastics team, which she has already watched at meets in person.
Dan Lewman is in the Parklane Academy Hall of Fame for his achievements as the softball head coach and assistant football coach. He was the offensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive end coach. His daughter is involved with a different sport, but he could not be more proud.
“I think every young person needs some way to channel their efforts and sports is a great way to do that whether it’s gym, softball, basketball or whatever it might be,” Dan said. “Her chosen sport is gymnastics. I couldn’t get her interested in anything else.
“It’s just a special feeling to see your daughter compete, excel and have a chance to do well.”
Lisa Lewman shared her husband’s sentiments.
“Elizabeth Claire is an extremely hard worker and very dedicated. I couldn’t be more proud of her,” she said.
