Palisade High School is known for producing outstanding athletes, academic achievers, and dedicated individuals, but recently, one of its own has risen to international acclaim. Palisade Sophomore Reese Blackburn, a standout gymnast, soared to new heights at the Gasparilla Classic, securing a high finish among the best in the sport and making her mark among top gymnasts.
The 37th Annual Gasparilla Classic is an international meet with gymnasts competing from all over the world, resulting in over 7,000 male and female athletes. The meet was held in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center which is the second largest convention facility in the United States. According to Blackburn, there were seven floors total, with each floor containing up to four different events. Blackburn’s dedication to gymnastics paid off majorly at the Gasparilla Classic, where she earned an impressive second-place finish out of over 7,000 athletes. This achievement stands as a testament to her years of hard work and commitment.
“I have been doing gymnastics since I was one and a half years old. I started off with mommy and me classes and then from there I slowly worked my way up. Gymnastics was originally a sport to help me become interested in another sport because it teaches you how to control different parts of your body in certain ways. In the end, I ended up sticking with gymnastics. It has been hard to balance it all because I practice so often for gymnastics.”
Her stellar performance at the 37th Annual Gasparilla Classic highlights her growth as a gymnast and her ability to compete at the highest level among athletes from around the world.
Blackburn has been building and growing her skills through Legacy Gymnastics Academy where she competes at the sapphire level, which is the highest level offered at the academy. This has helped prepare Blackburn physically and mentally for the competition who she competed against at the classic.
“Gymnastics is about 70-30, 70% mental and 30% skill. If you are not in the right headspace to go for that skill then don’t do it because it is not safe. Your body might be capable of doing it but if you are not in the right mental state then don’t do it because you are most likely to get hurt. With the way I have been practicing and my events I would say that I have had that 70-30. My mentality was one of my biggest strengths during competition. I had a rough start and things weren’t going well during warm ups. During competition I was able to forget about my warm ups and just focus on what I needed to get done for my routines.”
The facility was full of high energy and chaos as it held over 7,000 people. Blackburn had only competed in one out of the two days.
“I ended up competing at about 6:30 in the afternoon, so there was anticipation all day. When I got there I felt really good about it, but it was hard because it was a very chaotic environment and you really had to pay attention to what was going on. I felt really good about it, especially after I competed. I did really well, it was actually the best performance that I have had this whole year.”
Blackburn competed in all four events, with fourth-place on the floor, third-place on beam, and second-place on both bars and vault. Blackburn exclaimed her excitement at her turnout. “I was really happy with my end results and I did way better than I was expecting.”
Blackburn’s remarkable performance at the 37th Annual Gasparilla Classic is a true reflection of her dedication, resilience, and skill. Her ability to overcome challenges, both mentally and physically, and rise to the occasion in a high-pressure environment speaks volumes about her growth as a gymnast. Securing a second-place finish among over 7,000 athletes from around the world, along with strong placements in each of her events, solidifies her as a rising star in the world of gymnastics. With her passion, work ethic, and mindset, there’s no doubt that Blackburn has a bright future ahead, and this achievement is only the beginning of many more to come.
