Three V.I.P. gymnasts to compete at 2021 National Championships

It's a sport that takes hours of practice and constant dedication and that hard work has paid off for three local gymnasts.
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Senior Josie Bergstrom, and sophomores Maeve Boetel and Kit Peltier are gymnasts at V.I.P. Gymnastics in North Sioux City. Each has qualified to compete at the 2021 National Championships.

"The season started in January and we weren't actually sure if we would be able to have a season this year, which we were thrilled to compete because last year it got taken away from us," Bergstrom said. This is her 3rd trip to Nationals after COVID-19 canceled the season in 2020.

V.I.P. competes in Region 4, which consists of seven states. Bergstrom, Boetel and Peltier will compete for Region 4 in Daytona Beach, Florida in May.

"I train here 4 days a week for 4 hours and I drive about an hour and a half each way," Bergstrom is from Hull, Iowa and will continue her gymnastics career at the University of Iowa in the Fall.

"I actually started gymnastics when I was 6 years old," she said "I was at a small rec gym in Northwest Iowa. I always watched the college gymnastics on TV and thought it was so cool."

Boetel is a sophomore from Sioux Falls, S.D. and spends countless hours on the road each week to train at V.I.P.

"I started when I was 8 because of the 2021 Olympics and my sister was in gymnastics," she said. "I really like the friends I've made in gymnastics and being able to compete what you've been working on and how hard it is, but also how rewarding it is."

Peltier is also a sophomore and makes the drive from Canton, S.D. four days a week to V.I.P.

"I started gymnastics when I was 7 because I saw it at the Olympics and it looked really fun," she said, "the support from my teammates and landing the routine you've been working on forever."

The three will compete in the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Each event requiring its own skillset.

"I love all of the events. I love completing all of them," Bergstrom said. "they all give a different thrill, I guess you could say."

The trio leaves May 13th for Daytona Beach with the championships taking place May 14th-16th.

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