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t |Thu‘sday,Deoen‘)ef8.2016]44 www.insidehalton.com | MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION Milton gymnast headed to NCAA . SCl’ifinICk accepts partial scholarship with Nebraska U. Huskers By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Just a few moments into the competitive footage and John Robinson is already quite | impressed. But the University of Nebraska men‘s gymâ€" nastics assistant coach knows a video never tells the entire story about an aspiring colleâ€" giate athlete. "That (competition) could have been a fluke," he said. With the skill set apparently there, Robinson now set out to do his homework on prospect | | "I‘m really excited. It‘s going to be a lot of fun," Jonathan Scripnick. As each conversation with coaches and teamâ€" mates passed â€" leading to a meeting with the young gymnast and his family â€" the Huskers coach‘s optimism grew. "Jonathan passed every item on our check list. He‘s got a bright future ahead of him." That stronglyâ€"held belief led Nebraska to ofâ€" fer the 17â€"yearâ€"old Miltonian a partial scholâ€" | arship â€" starting in the fall of 2017 â€" which | he recently inked at Mississauga‘s Team Fuâ€" tures Club. said the Our Lady of Mount Carmel student, a member of the junior national team who‘ll be jumping to the senior ranks this coming | season. He‘s the second Haltonâ€"area athlete in as many years to commit to the Huskers, following Burlington‘s Jake Bonnay. "I liked everything about the school, especially how they treat their athletes and how enthusiastic they were to get me. It was just the right fit." Above, Jonathan Scripnick competes on the ebrates with a Nebraska U. cake with his family after signing with the Huskers swplodphnu showed immediate promise. He recalled, "It was probably my strength more than anything. We were asked to do pushâ€"ups. Most of the other kids couldn‘t do them, but when I looked up this coach was | | bank on his talents." smiling at me like ‘this one‘s got potential" An enthusiasm and aptitude for the sport would soon follow, and Scripnick‘s competiâ€" | tive debut was met with bronze on the horiâ€" | zontal bars. His competitive fire was officially lit. "From there, the goal was to defend that spot," said the standout gymnast, whose caâ€" | reer highlights include allâ€"around national 2 ;hsidehalton.oom bronze in 2013 and overall provincial silver | this past spring. "At times it‘s been scary takâ€" | ing on new skills, but once I did it for the first time it was OK." While especially strong on the high bar, paralâ€" lel bars and floor, Scripnick prides himself on being a wellâ€"rounded gymnast. That should serve him well in the coming years, as Canada only recruits allâ€"around competitors â€" not event specialists â€" for its Olympic team. "Since last year I‘ve probably gained more skills than in my whole career, especially on the high bar and floor," said Scripnick, who as a High Performance Program athlete trains about 26 hours a week. Added Futures coach Zhaohui Huang, "Jonaâ€" than has consistently been a great leader and teammate who has worked hard throughout his career and achieved fantastic results. He‘s a constant podium threat and it‘s exciting to see him move on and take his talents to the NCAA." While noting that a more demanding colleâ€" giate schedule will be an adjustment, Robinâ€" | _son feels Scripnick‘s passion and confidence |_ will see him through. parallel bars. Inset, the young gymnast celâ€" | "He‘s got big goals, and those goals will carry him far. When you‘re aiming at national and |_international competition, the smaller events | don‘t seem like much... you won‘t get the jitâ€" Thrown into a recreational camp when he | was just four, the future NCAA gymnast | | _ team members in spring 2018, Scripnick will ters there." With the Huskers set to graduate a number of likely start serving as impact role by the time he‘s a sophomore. Predicted Robinson, "Next year he‘ll be seaâ€" soned and then we‘re going to really have to That suits the local gymnast just fine. "It‘s a good kind of pressure," said Scripnick, who‘s believed to be the town‘s only male gymnast in recent memory â€" perhaps ever â€" to make it to the NCAA. He‘ll study busiâ€" |_ness at Nebraska U., with an eye at becoming an entrepreneur. "I know I can be a good asset and be worthy of being on the team." EAM â€" ’I;ry.a ?)‘na 295 ,MA The UPS Store: Milton n Gunding lISw Gailingerem MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 IAM TEAMAIIGER IN ST, MILTON C Ccome out & mEeEr: TIGER JEET SINGH â€" WALTER GRETZKY â€" TIGER ALI SINGH (mM(un Stroot! _ Tiâ€"cats â€"« Members of Halton Regional Police â€" Milton Fire Department â€" Dignitaries Bring a new unwrapped toy to help brighten a child‘s holiday! For more info visit MiracteOnMain.ca C#hadian a Z7 i [ Carringe mlmm| ------------- TIGE! 8°"ANNUAL t\ a ® Â¥ cswsc db mm e P * fendation foundation Desjardins