Whitworth advances to nationals

Carson High junior Amber Whitworth, a member of Reno's Starz Gymnastics, has advanced to the National Tumbling and Trampoline Championships.

Whitworth overcame a series of setbacks to qualify for nationals at the Western Regionals held in Portland, Ore. About eight weeks ago. Whitworth badly sprained her ankle while pole vaulting for Carson's track team.

The injury prevented her from competing in track for the rest of the season, but didn't keep her out of tumbling competition. But while recovering from the injury, she chipped bone in her right foot during a bad landing just three days before the state tumbling meet.

That was just three weeks ago. Her orthopedist was skeptical of her chances at competing in regionals, but provided her with some good anke braces and a few words of encouragement.

While in Portland, Whitworth took second in tumbling, missing first by one-tenth of a point. She took third in the double mini-tramp competition and sixth in the trampoline.

Her scores were high enough to qualify for her in all three events for the nationals to be held in July in Tampa, Fla.