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Show A4 The Emery County Review, Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Huntington resident Tumbling teams gather for championship thankful for the music in her life James L. Davis Continued from Page 1A. Emery All-Star Cheerleading She now sings with a resilient alto voice, but at times when the tune goes higher, her voice breaks slightly to reveal what must have been a beautiful, clear mezzo- soprano. She also enjoys playing with the Senior Citizen’s band and said that she now wants to start playing her harmonica with them. Polly will be 90 years old in September, but she doesn’t feel like she imagined she would at her age. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. I’m just about like I always was. I don’t feel like I’m that old at all. I feel like I might be, maybe 70,” she said giggling. “Well, if you get sick, you feel older, but as long as you’re not sick you don’t feel old. And I’m glad that I don’t. I’m just blessed.” Living so long, she has only a step-sister still living. She explained that the idea makes her feel strange. “I’m the only one in my family, and that makes me feel strange,” she said. “My uncles, my aunts and my cousins, and my friends and grandparents are gone.” Another thing that draws people to this wonderful lady is her cheery personality. Asked how she always stays so happy she replied, “No use of bein’ sad. I’ve had a lot of things that bothered me. But the Lord helps you and the Lord comforts you when you need comforted, and that makes you smile. I thank the Lord every day for my blessings and I think that’s why I’m as happy as I am.” Elite Competition Team Tryouts May 13th, 14th, 16th, and 17th Ages 10-18 Larae’s Dance Studio If you are not able to attend you may schedule a private audition. Call and register to receive a tryout packet. Some fees are due upon making the team. No auditions necessary for regular cheer classes, ages 4-14 years. For More Information Contact Becky at 749-1582 or 687-2632 or Breann at 820-0525 Power tumbling and trampoline teams from throughout the area found their way to Canyon View Junior High on May 3 for the Southern Utah Tumbling and Trampoline State Championship. More than 100 athletes from four different teams twisted, turned, jumped and somersaulted their way through the day long meet and through it all LaRae Majors was there, cheering them on with the same enthusiasm for the sport that she has had since starting to coach students when she was an 11 year old in Elmo. While the number of participants in the championship was daunting to organize and put together, the numbers have been larger in year’s past. The fact that there were fewer participants this year is due to the costs involved in traveling, Majors believes. Many teams, and parents, have decided to stick closer to home. Competing this year was Major’s own Spinners team, as well as PT3 from Price and Helper, the Sevier Valley Power Tumblers and Competitive Edge from the Springville, Spanish Fork area. Majors has seen the sport change over the years ,and the fact that the Southern Utah championship is held in Huntington is because she helped organize the Southern Utah chapter. Emery County used to be part of the Utah Tumbling and Trampoline Association and meets were held all over the state. “It was growing to where we were having two day meets,” Majors said. Having served as the secretary of the Utah Tumbling Association, Majors said she asked if they had ever considered staring a southern Utah organization. Eventually Majors and Diane Chivers from Richfield started the organization and watched as it grew to a total HUGE RECLINER Photos by Casey Wood LaRae Majors and coaches Kim Copinga and Melanie Caldwell watch athletes compete during the championships. of 22 teams at one point. Teams went to the very first Utah Summer Games event, but only as exhibition teams, not as competitors. That eventually changed, and now the teams from the Southern Utah Tumbling and Trampoline Association meet teams from the rest of the state for competition at the Summer Games. The amount of work involved in preparing for the championship meet can be overwhelming and why anyone would want to continue putting it together year after year is simple enough to Majors. “It’s addictive,” she said. “It’s so much fun to watch them progress. It’s so exciting to watch them work and work to get down a move and then watch them hit it,” Majors said. Majors and her coaches aren’t the only ones who become addicted to the sport. So do the parents and the athletes, girls and boys, who push themselves to their limits every day. Majors said moving her equipment from her studio to the junior high is no small feat and every year she can count on fathers to come out and help get things in place in time. This year Todd Hinkins, Daren Ewell, Rodney Ewell and Doug Stilson worked to get everything in place. For Majors, who grins with pride as she talks about her students, the sport has been a lifelong love that she once, briefly tried to retire from. She retired from coaching in 2001 to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Russia. “But I taught even when I was in Russia,” Majors said, relating that she ended up teaching six or seven children every Friday while on Competitive Edge from Spanish Fork won the Sportsmanship Award. SALE Meagan Weaver. her mission. And when she came back home, she soon found herself back at work. “The Lord knew I had to have it back and when I came home I went right back into it,” she said. Today her team competes against other teams who are coached by those she knew as students and many of her students are children of students she once taught. It’s all in keeping with her love for a sport that keeps the twinkle in her eye and has since she was a small girl in the little town of Elmo. “I wore out my mother’s floor three times,” Majors said with a grin. 25 West Main Castle Dale, UT Let MoM ReLax & kick heR feet up foR MotheR’s Day! 381-2235 May 6th •Over Her Dead Body •First Sunday •PS, I love You •Steel City May 13th May New Releases May 27th •Rambo May 20th •National Treasure 2 •Strange Wilderness •Mad Money •Untraceable •The Great Debaters Beautiful Cedar Chests give pretty. Disc Cleaning Previously Viewed DVD’s For Sale Hours Mon-Thur 1-8 p.m. Fri & Sat 1-9 p.m. 44 West Main • Price, Utah (435) 637-2731 Protect your memories and keepsakes with one of our cedar chests. teleflora’s victorian teapot bouquet america’s favorite mom bouquet by teleflora (435) 472-1267 4589 N. Hwy 6 Helper UT Next To Luxury Homes Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11 teleflora’s victorian teacup bouquet |
