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Jordan Gymnast Places First in State; Team Places Third
Jordan High School’s Drew Grantham won the North Carolina small high school team individual all-around gymnastics title in January and helped lead the Jordan team to third in the state.
Up until the 2014-15 school year, Jordan High did not have a gymnastics team. Having been a gymnast since she was four, Grantham approached the principal and athletic director at the school asking if they could start a team. With the support of Principal Kerry Chisnall and Athletic Director Shelba Levins, the team was formed.
"Drew is an amazing young lady not only as a gymnast, but also as a student-athlete. We started the gymnastics program last year, and within two years her leadership has helped take Jordan to one of the best gymnastic teams in the state of North Carolina," said Levins.
As a gymnast with Team Attraction Gymnastics, Grantham was able to get permission to use their facilities for the high school team to practice. Unfortunately, Grantham suffered a season-ending injury that first year, but continued to attend practices and support the newly formed team.
When her senior year rolled around, Grantham’s injury had healed and she was ready to take on the new gymnastics season. The Jordan High team, made up of Grantham, Tracy Childress and Sydney Grissom, purchased a team leotard, was more organized with scheduled practices and competed against high school teams from all over North Carolina.
“We bonded more as a team and were able to go to all the competitions,” Grantham said. “It has been a really fun way to support our school.”
After receiving gymnastics scholarship offers from Penn State University, the University of Illinois, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Grantham has decided to sign with NC State on April 13. She plans to major in biology with a focus in human science so she can eventually go to medical school.
Grantham receives great support from her parents and gymnastics coach Monica Ward. After suffering several injuries, her mother has always been there to help her recuperate and make sure Grantham is taking care of her body. And her coach has always been her biggest motivator.
“She always believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself,” Grantham said.