Hartland Patch Whiz Kid of the Week — Taylor Jayne

Whiz Kid: Taylor Jayne
Age, grade: 18, 12th
School:
Team: Hartland Gymnastics 
Parents: William and Colleen
Siblings: Marisa, eighth-grader

Accomplishments: Taylor, a Brighton Township resident, has competed for three years as the only Hartland High School gymnast, practicing with the Brighton and Howell teams after the Hartland team was disbanded because of low numbers. She qualified for regionals in two events as a freshman, but as a senior, for the third straight year, she's qualified in all four events — beam, floor, vault and bars. The top 8 in each event and the top 6 in the all-around will advance to the state finals. She recently scored a 9.05 on beam, which she considers her best event and hopes to qualify for the state finals for the first time. She competes 10 a.m. Saturday at Troy Athens High School in Troy.

In addition, Taylor also teaches the sport to children K-6 at High Flyers, the same gym where she practices.

Outside of gymnastics, Taylor plays on the varsity girls soccer team and she is also president of the high school National Honor Society, carrying a 4.1 overall grade point average. And she plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall to study either finance or business.

Key to awesomeness: Despite tearing two ligaments, injuring her elbow earlier this year and coming down with pneumonia only a few weeks ago, Taylor is ready.

That doesn't surprise Courtney Schippers, one of her best friends and fellow gymnast who attends Howell High School, who credits her strong character and outlook on life.

"She’s always positive and always out there with a good attitude," Courtney said, "always out to perform her best. Really a hard worker.

“She’s doing what she loves to do. … She does an awesome job in representing Hartland.”

Her mom, Colleen, who along with her dad, William, travels to nearly all of her events. She says they are both proud of her accomplishments.

"It's her determination and the love of the sport," she said.

While Taylor said there's not much time between school and sports, she also is a self-described "girlie-girl," who loves to shop and all things princess-related. At the same time, she enjoys the Harry Potter books and movies.

Looking back on her gymnastics career, Taylor says she hopes her decision to play gymnastics as an individual can show other girls they can follow their dreams. She also said she hopes Hartland High School one day has a team again.

“That’d be really nice," she said. "I think Hartland needs it. Gymnastics is so much fun."