Gymnast Fennell unable to make trip to Nationals
BUTLER TWP — A gymnast since the age of 3, Kara Fennell continues to excel at all phases of the sport — when her body allows it.
The Knoch freshman reached Level 9 last year, but was unable to do much with it. A hip injury, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic cutting down the schedule, limited her to one meet.
Kara returned to the gym healthy this year and qualified for Level 9 Nationals this week in Rochester, N.Y., after almost winning the regional championship while competing on a sore left ankle.
“She would have won the regional. Kara gutted out that whole meet, showed a lot of grit, performed through the pain,” Michelle Heasley, one of her coaches, said. “She had the overall lead going into the final event, the vault.
“She dismounted awkwardly to avoid landing on that ankle ... If Kara was healthy, she wins that title easily.”
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