by Greg Bates - Daily News Sports - gbates@rhinelanderdailynews.com

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Rhinelander senior gymnast Brittany Terzinski leads by example

Brittany Terzinski is very shy and soft-spoken, so it's not unusual for the Rhinelander senior gymnast to let her actions speak louder than her words.

When Terzinski is competing she is in a zone and nothing can distract her, said the Hodags' first-year head coach Justin Clapper.

“She's a quiet kid,” Clapper said. “She'll be off in the corner between turns and she's quiet and it can be construed as, oh, maybe she's snotty or not talking. But I can see she's thinking through a lot of things. Š Every turn to her matters.”

Terzinski admits she is shy and nervous, even in the heat of competition.

“I absolutely hate competing in front of people, but I love gymnastics. So that kind of overrides being in front of people,” Terzinski said.

In those few seconds before it's her turn to shine, Terzinski is in deep thought about her routine at hand.

“As soon as the judge signals her [to go], the light goes on and she's all business,” Clapper said.

Terzinski is most nervous on the beam because it's “skinny and high off the floor.” She's most comfortable on the floor and on the vault.

Any follower of gymnastics wouldn't be able to tell how nervous Terzinski is because she has consistently produced high scores the first four meets of the season; she took first place at the large Snowflake Invite, as well as in her team's dual meet against D.C. Everest.

Terzinski's a fierce competitor who expects nothing but success. If she doesn't give her all, she's disappointed.

“I expect myself to do good because I know I can do it,” she said. “If I don't do good I get upset because I feel I let myself down.”

Said Clapper, “She's always pushing herself.”

A lifelong competitor

Terzinski - who has been competing in gymnastics since she was three - is a one-sport athlete because gymnastics is year-round preparation.

“I just have a drive to keep getting better,” she said. “Gymnastics helps me a lot to get my frustrations out.”

Terzinski has always competed in just gymnastics because it's unique from the other sports.

“I like the variety in it, and [the events] are all different in a way,” she said. “The floor takes a lot of strength and endurance, the bars takes upperbody strength, the beam takes balance and the vault you need to be able to run fast and stop hard.”

Terzinski has grown up with gymnastics all around her, following in the footsteps of her mom (who has helped coach her) and sister, Jenny (RHS 2004 graduate). Terzinski's family has been very supportive over the years, attending every one of her meets.

“I'm glad that I have that because that makes me feel happy that I have people that want to watch me,” Terzinski said.

She has been competing in gymnasts since she was three, and learned a great deal through the Rhinelander Gymnastics Club. However, it's her three coaches over the years who she owes a great deal of success to.

“I had a lot of coaches help me out,” Terzinski said. “I've had Kathy (Lundberg) since I was little and now Justin (Clapper) and Jen (Pooch, RHS assistant coach).”

Terzinski doesn't have any plans to compete in gymnastics next season when she goes off to college because she wants to concentrate on her school work. However, Terzinski - who is looking at attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth - wouldn't mind helping coach young gymnasts when she is back during the summer from college.

Feeling the pressure

During her senior year, Terzinski has felt pressure to do well because she's had so much success as a gymnast her previous three years. As a freshman and sophomore, she competed at state with her teammates. Last season, Terzinski traveled to state as an individual, which she noted is not as fun.

According to Clapper, Terzinski will be disappointed if she didn't make it to state her senior season.

“She wants to go to state and she wants to bring everybody on her shoulders with her,” Clapper said. “If she goes to state as an individual, that's awesome for her. But for Brittany Terzinski, she wants to bring the young kids with and lead by example.”

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