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Senior Michelle Kachik Moves On

 

All good things must come to an end, and such is the case for Bald Eagle gymnast Michelle Kachik.  Kachik recently finished her last performance in style, clinching a state championship for the Eagles. It was just another notch in the senior’s long and prestigious career.

“This year was my senior and final season as a gymnast,” Kachik said. “This year I captured my third state title. Starting off my freshman year I won the balance beam and all around division. In my sophomore year I won the bars in the Silver Division. Last year, I sprained my ankle and I couldn’t go to states. This year I won the bars again but in the gold division.”

A short summary about Michelle.  She is a four-year Varsity letter winner competing as an independent gymnast for Bald Eagle. She also qualified for the state championships (PA Classic) each year, which are held at Moon Township Middle School.  She was a State Champion every year except for her Junior year when she was out with an injury.

“I’ve been a gymnast for 13 years. I have been doing it since I was four years old,” Kachik added. “A state title was a bittersweet way to end my career. I am really sad about it ending.

Kachik got started at the age of four thanks to the encouragement of her parents. She was an energetic youngster, according to Kachik. “They probably got me started in gymnastics because I was running all over the place at home,”Kachik said. “I ended up liking it and sticking with it.”

The Bald Eagle senior thinks that the hardest apparatus is the balance beam.

“The toughest for me I would have to say would be the beam because it’s only four inches wide and you’re expected to do all the stuff you do on the floor on that four-inch wide piece of wood with some padding on it,” said Kachik.

In her many travels during her gymnastic career, Kachik has seen just about every team in competition and shares that, in her opinion, the best competitors had come from the Pittsburgh area.

“In high school, the toughest team I have ever gone against was from the Pittsburgh area,” Kachik said. “They are the same team that usually hosts states and they are really good. From around here, the individual that I always like to compete against is Kaitlyn Hall from Altoona. It’s always my goal to be up there with her. She is a great competitor.”

Kachik is yet another athlete who keeps up with her exercises and workouts even after the last match of the year.

“In gymnastics, I train all year round. The high school competitive season goes from November to February but afterwards I do club. That lasts from November to March or April depending on how far you make it,”Kachik said.

When not competing in gymnastics, Michelle is also on the BEA varsity track team (pole vault and relays); she made the All Star team sophomore year and placed at Districts sophomore and junior year.

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