August 15, 2002

GAGE duo making names in Juniors

By Bill Althaus
The Examiner

Courtney McCool and Sarah Shire are a couple of young guns who are going to make names for themselves in the world of gymnastics.

They are two of the most promising young stars at the Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE).

Shire, a freshman from Sweet Springs, Mo., placed 10th in the Junior Women's divisions at the United States Championships, scoring 69.800 in the all-around competition at Cleveland's Gund Arena to earn a berth on the U.S. Junior National Team.

McCool, a freshman at Lee's Summit High School, missed earning a berth on the Junior National Team by .050 of a point, finishing 17th with an all-around score of 68.700. Carly Patterson of Baton Rouge, La., took first with 74.150. The top 16 girls make the U.S. team.

But McCool's story has a happy ending as she made enough of an impact on the national judging staff that they allowed her to join Shire at the U.S. Training Center in Huntsville, Texas, where they will hone their skills and work with other members of the Junior National Team.

"I guess there's two ways to look at what happened to me," McCool said. "You can think, 'I finished 17th, I give up. Or, you can think I finished 17th and came so close that I'm going to work harder.' Well, believe me, I'm going to work harder."

Shire and McCool simply ooze confidence as they talk about their love of Great American and the sport they have mastered.

"I worked out of a gym in Jefferson City and the coach left, so we moved from Columbia down closer to GAGE so I could work here," Shire said.

"We were looking for the best gym, and we found it."

McCool has been training at GAGE the past four years, and at the last Junior National Elite Classics, she finished 12th, to earn a spot on that national team.

"We're both excited about maybe getting an international assignment," McCool said. "It's just great to train at a place like GAGE because we're all best friends."

Shire has made a great impact on the national front, and said some of her success is a bit overwhelming.

"Two years ago," Shire said, "I never dreamed this would be possible. Then, we came to GAGE and I think we made a real statement at the National Championships.

"People all across the country know about GAGE and our gymnasts."

McCool's recent success has been extra special for the young gymnast, who dedicated her success to her father, who is coming back from a heart attack.

"You know what was best about everything?" she asked. "It made my dad smile. He had quintuple bypass surgery and it's been real tough on our family.

"And I've been battling this foot injury, with a bruised bone and Achilles heel injury. It's slowed me down, but nothing is going to stop me."

Both girls say they dream of a berth on the U.S. Olympic team, but they aren't looking too far off in the distance.

"It's too exciting right now," Shire said, smiling.