From academic rigor to athletic performance, AHS is home to many formidable and impressive talents. Of these many talented individuals, two have recently achieved awards at one of the highest levels in gymnastics. As gymnasts and students at AHS, Samantha Sakti and Rachel Schuelke-Lombardi have earned an unfathomable number of records and achievements over their entire gymnastics careers. This month, these two athletes have competed at one of their final competitions of the year. However, for Samantha, this recent competition was close to her last, though she plans to continue her own career at the college level.

Samantha Sakti, a senior at AHS, just recently competed in the Region 1 Artistic Gymnastics Level 10 Regional Championships in Reno, Nevada. At the tournament, she won four titles: the Regional Balance Beam and Floor Champion, the Silver Medalist on Vault, and 8th in the Women’s All Around. As one of the eight competing qualifiers to represent Region 1 in next month’s Women’s Junior Olympic National Championships, she is ecstatic over her recent achievements.

As she relays how her love for gymnastics all began, she reminisces, “I was put into ballet by my parents, but I was too hyper for it, so I tried out gymnastics instead. Then I moved to All Olympia Gymnastics Center and trained alongside 2012 Olympian McKayla Maroney in an elite group which consisted of 7 hours of practice on most days, adding up to about 36 hours per week.” Training intensely for that many years surely pays off, and it definitely did for Samantha. However, she knows that she still has much to learn and accomplish, and that now is not the time to celebrate.

When asked about what goes through her mind as she performs, she mentions, “When I perform, I just think that this is finally my moment to do what I’ve been practicing for so long. I’m able to perform with so much on the line because I’ve been into this sport for 13 years now. I’ve grown to love, hate, and treasure it. Time management and experience enables me to get used to this difficult lifestyle, but it is so worth it to do something I am so passionate about.”

Finally, on the topic of her future, she comments, “My goal is to keep training for my college at William and Mary. Gymnastics will always be a part of me even after I’ve moved on from the sport. I plan to major in sports medicine, which I will ultimately apply to my gymnastics experience.”

Similar to Samantha’s impressive achievements, accomplished gymnast Rachel Schuelke-Lombardi, a junior at AHS, also recently competed in the Region 1 Artistic Gymnastics Level 10 Regional Championships. A majority of Rachel’s life has been largely poured into gymnastics, and with feats like receiving a full athletic scholarship to the University of California, Davis and earning countless titles in competitions ranging from the invitional to national levels, it’s no wonder why so many have praised her exceptional gifts.

“So far, I’ve been doing gymnastics for 12 years,” Rachel says, “And the reason why I started doing gymnastics in the first place was mainly because of my mom. And although I wasn’t extremely passionate about the sport when I started, I truly enjoy every aspect of it now.” When followed with why she began enjoying the sport, she adds, “The reason I started enjoying gymnastics so much was because of the competitions. After each practice, every competition was a time and place for me to showcase my improvements. When I do well, I feel ecstatic and I love that feeling; even when I don’t do well, I have an incentive to follow the next competition with even greater goals and aspirations.”  

On matters of her future in gymnastics, Rachel notes, “I’ll be continuing my journey in gymnastics at UCD, but to be completely honest, I feel like my career in gymnastics has only begun from here. I’m almost certain that competing at the college level will be more fun and energetic, and I’m super excited to be heading there to continue my gymnastics..” As Rachel ends her final statement here, she highlights not only the longevity of her career, but also the confidence and exuberance in her gymnastics at the college level.  

And of course, wherever life may take either of you, Samantha and Rachel, know that we at AHS will always be there to support you. Best of luck to both of you!

Photo by KOBE YU & KALI MAK