Morgan Hill
’s Alexandra “Aia” Evans experienced the thrill of
accomplishment and the agony of disappointment – all in one
gymnastics competition. Evans recently competed at the Regional
Championships in Reno and qualified to compete in this week’s
Western Championships in St. Louis. Unfortunately, t
he Level 9 gymnast at the Almaden Valley Gymnastic Club can’t
compete at the Westerns due to an injury suffered during her
standout performance at the Regionals.
Morgan Hill’s Alexandra “Aia” Evans experienced the thrill of accomplishment and the agony of disappointment – all in one gymnastics competition.
Evans recently competed at the Regional Championships in Reno and qualified to compete in this week’s Western Championships in St. Louis.
Unfortunately, the Level 9 gymnast at the Almaden Valley Gymnastic Club can’t compete at the Westerns due to an injury suffered during her standout performance at the Regionals.
Evans, a freshman at Valley Christian High in San Jose with a 4.17 GPA, was competing against the top 15-year-olds from the Western United States.
Evans’ injury happened during her floor exercise routine in Reno. She stepped forward with such force that she split open a gash in the joint of her right toe.
She felt the pain right away, but she knew she had to finish her last tumbling pass and end the routine. She did it, and with her foot throbbing she hobbled off the floor.
Despite the injury, Evans received a 9.550 score, good for first place in the event.
Evans limped off the mat toward her coaches, who only then learned the extent of Evans’ injury.
However, Evans still had one more event to compete in – the vault.
Her coaches packed her toe with ice and got it to stop bleeding, then taped it so she could still run on it.
Still in pain, she was able to complete the two vaults and received a 9.050 score, good for seventh place.
For her perseverance, Evans earned a bronze medal for placing third overall in the all-around competition.
Immediately after the meet, Evans was taken to the hospital for X-rays and stitches, which didn’t come out until this week.
