By Tate Harrop ’17

While most teens play the “normal” sports such as basketball, soccer, lacrosse or football, freshman Emma Bartoo could possibly be the only acrobatic gymnast at Sherwood. It started with the ordinary sport of gymnastics that got her interested.

Bartoo liked the idea of doing something different than just gymnastics. “It was unlike any sport I had ever seen or tried before, and I immediately got hooked,” said Bartoo.

Acrobatic gymnastics is a competitive gymnastic discipline in which partnerships of gymnasts work together and perform figures consisting of acrobatic moves, dance and tumbling, set to music. There are three types of routines including dynamic, balance and a combined, which includes both aspects.

The sport can be done in pairs or groups. Acrobatic gymnastic trios include a base, middle base and a top. Bartoo is a part of a trio at Xtreme Acro in Rockville. She contributes to the trio by being the base, which includes holding the two other gymnasts up and throwing them upwards. Bartoo and her trio are in level eight of acrobatic gymnastics in the age group of 16 and older.

Bartoo practices for months before the competition season starts. She practices for three hours, four to five days per week, learning a routine that is put together by professional choreographers. Practices consist of strength training and making sure the routine is perfect. The competition months start in February and go until the summer. Her competitions take place two weekends every month.

The gymnasts get rewarded for the performances based on different aspects that is scored out of 30. Bartoo has been to two national championships. Two years ago her trio received 1st place and last year they received 2nd place.

“All the hours of stress, hair and makeup, practice and preparation leading up to each competition all get forgotten as soon as I step foot on the competition floor knowing I have only two minutes to wow the judges,” said Bartoo.

Although acrobatic gymnastics is not an Olympic sport, it does have its own acrobatic gymnastics world championships held in even-numbered years. Bartoo plans to keep doing acrobatic gymnastics and is already looking at colleges that give her the chance of continuing her passion.