Jeanne Hein could not be prouder of her daughter Samantha.
At 10-years-old, Samantha has survived being born with a hole in her heart, an enlarged heart muscle and ‘three-finger? vision. She has undergone several corrective surgeries, and now wears glasses to assist her sight. In addition, she was recently diagnosed as hypoglycemic and has been experiencing benign tremors.
However, none of these medical conditions have slowed down the Lakeville Elementary student. Today, she is an active youth and a member of an award winning gymnastics team.
‘We’re so very proud of her,? said Jeanne. ‘It’s just amazing that she’s made it through so much and accomplished what she has.?
Samantha attends the Gymnastics Training Center in Rochester where she is a member of the Level 5 Team. She is the only Oxford student at that age level, though several other Oxford youths train at the center.
‘My mom got me doing this, she was a coach down there,? said Samantha. ‘When I was three I would go with her to classes and then I started when I was six.?
Jeanne Hein has been coaching gymnastics on and off for the past eight years. Right now she is teaching preschool at Little Scholars in Oxford.
‘I was very happy when she started,? said Jeanne. ‘It’s wonderful what she can do.?
Samantha said her favorite activity is the balance beam because ‘it’s her best.? However, her numerous medals show that she is skilled in several categories. At Ann Arbor competition, Samantha took fourth place on vault, 11th on beam and floor, 13th on bar and ninth in all around. At Midland, she took 11th on vault.
Qualifying for state competition was a bit difficult for the Oxford youth. Samantha had to scratch a qualifying meet after she missed a jump to the high bar, slipped off and landed with her knee into her chest, breaking her sternum.
‘I had to wait to get better,? said Samantha, ‘but I made it.?
Samantha did not place at states, but the Level 5 Team took first place in Silver competition out of 40 teams. Their are 12 girls on the team, ages 8 to 14, and their All Around score of 109.525 gave them the win.
With all of the hard work that goes into being a gymnast, one would expect Samantha to have little free time. But the fifth grader not only finds time with her family – including dad Bill and siblings Kevin, 12, and Jayme, 2 – but also fits in girl scouts and volunteering at senior centers around the community.
‘I like to talk with (the seniors) and play games with them and make cookies and stuff,? said the fifth grader.
When looking towards the future, the energetic gymnast knows only one thing: she wants to be like her heroine Oxford High School graduate Megan Peterson. Megan has been the Hein family’s babysitter since 1999.
‘I really respect her because she’s going to be a teacher and she’s a great athlete,? said Samantha, ‘and she does community service. I want to do what she’s doing.?
More immediately though, Samantha said she would like to improve her gymnastic skills even more and reach at least the Level 7 Team. Her ‘it would be neat? dream is to compete in the Olympics.
‘I also would like to compete for (the University of Michigan) some time,? she concluded, ‘and become a teacher.?