Molly Hamulak has been involved in gymnastics for a long time, but cannot imagine what life would be like without the sport.
But the 12th grader from Chardon, who just finished her senior year with coach Kasey Lotycz’s Hilltoppers, is the reality she faces.
A gymnast since the age of two, Hamulak is nearing the end of a challenging and memorable gymnastics career. After graduating, she plans to graduate from college to major in Nursing at Kent State University.
“I grew up with it,” Hamrak said. “I used to go see my sisters Margaret and Madeline gymnastics. I started when I was 2 years old. I’ve been doing gymnastics for as long as I can remember.”
But it’s time to move on, she said.
“It was a lot of fun,” beamed Hamulak.
In her most recent competition, Hamrack shone brightly at Senior Night, where Chardon hosted Kenston and Hathaway Brown. .
What Hamulak loves most is his ability to do everything at a high level. She achieved that by starting from her early childhood, learning from her older sister and attending ballet over the years.
It all led to a decorated gymnastics career.
“When I started at age 2, you just had a little practice,” she said. “Then I got into ballet. It really helped my flexibility. Being a dancer helps a lot with floor exercises and beams.”
Therefore, those events are what she considers to be her best.
“I’m good at dancing and that helps. That background (ballet) helps with the flow of movement on the floor and on the beams,” she said. “Bars and vaults are (weak events). Vault, it’s a mental one. I’ve been injured doing it before, so it’s a mental one.
Lotycz said Hamulak brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership and achievements to the Chardon program. Having coached all three of Hamrak’s girls, she is horrified by the idea of her coaching a team without Hamrak next year.
“I have coached Molly’s gymnastics for over 10 years during her gymnastics club days and during her high school career as a Chardon gymnast,” Rotichu said. “Molly is a responsible, driven, charismatic, professional, empathetic person of great character.
“As Molly’s gymnastics coach, I have been able to observe the innate leadership qualities she possesses. She creates an atmosphere that fosters trust and camaraderie. She is very organized and Excellent communicator.In addition to her charismatic personality, Molly also has a strong mentality.She faces setbacks with optimism and determination, not competing with anyone else, but truly competing with herself. She is someone who celebrates her team’s successes as much as her own successes, and because of this mindset, I know I can count on her to deliver the ultimate gym routine. He is an outstanding individual who unfailingly succeeds in all the goals he sets and helps others reach their personal bests.”
Like any high school athlete, Hamulak has high goals this senior year. A trip to her state tournament is her ultimate goal before she and her fellow seniors Maddie Downs and Evelyn Allen finish her high school career.
Either way, it was a fun ride and the Hamulak was hard to beat.
“The team aspect, that’s what I miss the most,” she said. are all friends.It’s a lot of fun and always positive and positive.”