BALANCING ACT
Duo successfully juggles gymnastics, school and friendship
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTOS Skyla Thompson, 13, of Lometa, placed sixth at the U.S.A Gymnastics Level-8 State Meet and fifth at the Level-8 Regional Meet.

After eight years of sharing almost everything, their bond is as strong as their love for the sport that united them.

"We're best friends," Katlyn Delp said. "We know almost everything about each other, and we're not afraid to be goofy around each other.

"We never get tired of each other."

Delp, 14, and Skyla Thompson, 13, have plenty of opportunity to get tired of each other.

The Lometa Junior High students share classes together. They share the back seat of their parents' cars as they make the trip to and from Georgetown five or sometimes six times a week.

"We live in the car," Delp said.

They share mats, balance beams and instructors for four to five hours at a time. They share their free time.

Perhaps most importantly, they share a love of gymnastics.

Delp and Thompson got into gymnastics about eight years ago, after starting their training in Lampasas. For the past three years, they've trained at Acro-Tex Gymnastics and Cheer in Georgetown.

Katlyn Delp, 14, of Lampasas, won the U.S.A Gymnastics Level-7 State Meet in Denton. Delp, who attends Lometa Junior High, has been competing in gymnastics for more than eight years.

Delp is coming off a state title. Last month, she won the U.S.A. Gymnastics Level-7 Meet at Texas Woman's University in Denton. She captured three of four events to win the meet going away. It marked her fifth gold medal in eight meets this year. She earned two silvers and a bronze in the other three.

Delp will advance to Level-8 when the gymnastics season starts again in December.

Thompson, who will advance to Level-9 in December, finished sixth at the Level-8 State Meet at TWU. She then went on to place fifth at the Level-8 Regional Meet on April 28. That meet included gymnasts from seven different states.

Thompson has won three gold medals, a silver medal and two bronzes in eight meets this year.

Between their training and school work, little time is left to be a typical teenager, but Thompson understands the tradeoff has its rewards.

Thompson will advance to Level-9 competition in December.

"Gymnastics is fun, but it also teaches you self-discipline," she said. "We don't really get tired of it, because it challenges you every day."

Both athletes are strong students and have set goals to compete in gymnastics at the college level.

Beyond that? "I want to take it as far as I can go," Delp said.