Kelly Herron Mead Year: Soph. Sport: Gymnastics Event: All-Around

Kelly Herron still has a photograph of herself as a 5-year-old at Laurie Ticknor’s gymnastics summer camp.

The decade-long relationship between Herron and Ticknor, now her gymnastics coach at Mead High, had one of its peak moments last Saturday. The high point couldn’t have come at a better time.

Herron scored a 9.0 in the floor exercise to win the event at the Rogers Invitational. She also placed third in the balance beam at 8.25.

Herron hopes her scores indicate an upswing in a season that started so-so and then, because of outside matters, hit bottom.

Because of time devoted to her other interest, soccer, Herron came into the gymnastics season in just average shape. She had started to sharpen her skills when Ticknor’s father was killed in a hunting accident last month.

“It really hurt us because (Ticknor) has always been there for us,” Herron said.

Ticknor needed time with her family, but felt guilty for being away from her second family. The tragedy was especially hard on Herron, Ticknor said, because of her deep concern for others.

Herron’s emotions were also tested at Rogers when she watched friend and teammate Kelsey Slack strain her neck during a landing. Judging by her 9.0, Herron has learned how to press on.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo