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FORT WAYNE — Concordia gymnast Brannon Springer says she was sort of born into the sport.

"My mother always coached and worked at a gym when I was little. I was just always there and have just always done gymnastics," she said. "It's just what I did."

And did it she has.

The senior all-around competitor is the leader not only on her squad, but of most the other Fort Wayne area gymnasts as well.

Springer is the top area gymnast on the vault (9.6), uneven bars (9.45) and in the all-round (38.150). She is No. 2 on the balance beam (9.6) and in the floor exercise (9.6).

"At practice I just want to go to bars," Springer said. "I enjoy being there. Your hands get a little rough, but it's worth it."

The uneven bars is the event Springer has had the most success. She finished first in the state as a freshman while competing in the all-around, but a torn ACL kept her out as a sophomore and she finished in the top 15 at state a year ago.

"Last year I was still trying to come back," Springer said. "This year there's not so much pressure. I'm just trying to have fun and end on a good note."

In gymnastics, a wobble here or an extra step there can mean the difference between qualifying for regionals or the end of one's career. Judges will scrutinize every single movement Springer makes. But that pressure during a routine also won't play a factor, Springer said.

"You can't let it affect your performance," she said. "If you get upset a judge can see that. You can't get upset if you fall on your first skill you have to finish the whole routine. You can't let it affect your next routine or the rest of the day."

Because she is the highest scoring gymnast on her team, Springer is the last to compete in each event. It is strategy teams do in able to build their scores.

And although Springer is focused on each skill and tumbling pass during her routine, it doesn't mean she doesn't get butterflies.

"At big meets I still get nervous. Going up on beam — my first skill if I stick it I should be good — but if not...," she trails off. "So I still get nervous."

Gymnastics for Springer will end at the conclusion of the season and she'll attend Purdue University to study chemistry.

Concordia hosts Saturday's sectional meet and it will be bittersweet for Springer.

"It kind of makes me a little nerve-wrecked," she said. "It's my senior year. It's here and hopefully it goes well."

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