10-year-old gymnast to train with legendary coach

Published 1:11 pm Monday, March 3, 2008

By Samantha Pak

For the Enterprise

After returning from the USA Gymnastics National TOPs test in Houston in October, 10-year-old Kjersten Haarberg of Edmonds will return to the Lone Star state in December for the program’s national training camp at Bela Karolyi’s Ranch.

Known as “KJ” at Cascade Elite Gymnastics in Mountlake Terrace — the gym where she trains — Haarberg qualified for the TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) National Team after testing locally in July then proceeding to the National test, where she was later invited to attend the camp. According to the USA Gymnastics Web site, TOPs evaluates gymnasts on physical abilities. Gymnasts’ skill levels in the program can range from beginning level fours, to top level 10s and elites; Haarberg is a level nine gymnast.

She was selected from a group that began with 2,700 gymnasts age 7-11. This was winnowed down to 300 for the National test and finally, 20 girls each for ages 9-11.

“I was really excited and surprised,” Haarberg said about her reaction when she found out about the national team.

One thing that this home-schooled fifth-grader is most excited about is that camp will be held at the Women’s National Team Training Center. She’s eager to see how the Olympians train.

If all goes according to plan, this trip to the Karolyi Ranch will give Haarberg a sample of what’s in store for her down the road. Haarberg’s goal is to make it to the Olympics, and her coach, Stephanie Renggli, definitely sees that as a possibility.

“She has the potential to be an elite,” Renggli said.

Haarberg also is coached by Jen’ai DeCano.

Renggli has been with Haarberg for two years and has watched her mature emotionally and become a more aggressive gymnast.

She calls Haarberg a “training machine” because she never misses a day of practice. Last winter when the gym was temporarily closed because a power outage, Renggli said Haarberg went crazy.

“I can’t handle not doing gymnastics,” Haarberg said.

It’s not surprising since she’s been in the sport for five years—half her life. She said she can barely stand two days off before doing handstands around the house or jumping on her trampoline.

Teammate Brooke Williams said she is happy for Haarberg about Houston because she saw that Haarberg really wanted it for herself.

Williams also said she loves being Haarberg’s teammate.

“That kid cracks me up,” Williams said.

It’s somewhat ironic for Brooke to call Haarberg “kid,” since Brooke herself is just 12.

The two competed in the same age group last season.

Brooke said the closeness in their ages has a positive effect on them because the two athletes push each other to do better.

Magan Campbell, 16, another one of Haarberg’s teammates, said there is another positive effect of working with the 10-year-old gymnast.

“She’s very supportive of everyone,” Campbell said.

This quality, however, doesn’t seem to be unique to Haarberg.

She has similar things to say about her experiences at Cascade Elite.

“I love it here,” she said. “My coaches are really nice and my teammates are really supportive.”

Samantha Pak is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.