Something to Do
February 15, 2008 03:46 PM | General
February 15, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Shelly Purkat got her start in gymnastics for many of the same reasons most kids begin participating in organized sports. Her mother was simply looking for a way to give her high-energy child something to do.
 |
||
| Shelly Purkat has earned EAGL specialist of the week three weeks in a row.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
“Basically my mom put me in it because I was a wild child and my sister did gymnastics so she put me in it to fill up my free time and I started there,” Purkat said with a smile. “I was pretty good when I was young and I liked it so I just kept rolling with it.”
She was very good. In fact by the time she had completed her club career, Purkat was a three-year Level 10 gymnast and had qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals on two occasions.
When it came time to take her talents to college, the Edina, Minn., native didn’t wait for the recruiters to come to her. Instead, she took a proactive approach to ensure she would get the Division I scholarship she coveted.
“I sent out letters to every school that was Division I for college gymnastics. WVU replied back and had interest in me,” Purkat said. “That’s when I first knew of the school.”
Minnesota has not exactly been a recruiting hotbed for WVU in any sport. Brent Solheim garnered significant acclaim as a key player on the Mountaineer basketball team in the mid-1990s out of Rochester and Krystle Kallman played a huge role as a defender on this year’s Big East Champion women’s soccer team out of Woodbury. Back in the 1970s West Virginia was successful with two-sport star Scott MacDonald, whose 50-yard touchdown catch won the 1975 Peach Bowl.
Purkat knew she would become another significant athlete from the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes when she visited Morgantown for the first time.
“I really liked the school and the area. The school seemed nice. It wasn’t too big like a city school but at the same time it was big enough I liked all the girls on the team,” Purkat said. “It just seemed like a really relaxed, fun group of girls. I also really liked the coaches and the gym.”
The sophomore specialist contributed to the program immediately, competing in all 13 meets last year on beam and floor exercise. This season she has already been named EAGL Specialist of the Week three weeks in a row and is the anchor of the lineup in both beam and floor exercise.
Purkat is admittedly surprised with the success she has had so early in her career. She wouldn’t have minded staying in the background and waiting her turn but with her talent that simply wasn’t an option.
“I knew I might get a spot on beam but I definitely didn’t think I would have a spot on floor as a freshman,” Purkat said. “When I saw all the girls I was like, ‘Oh man, I’m not going to be in the lineup.’ I have done some good things already and it’s been nice.”
While she has had success in the gym during her first year-and-a-half in Morgantown, the cheerful Purkat admits that the adjustment to being so far away from home has been much tougher than any athletic obstacle that has come her way.
“Last year it was really hard. During the season it was tough to travel all the time and not get to see my family,” Purkat said. “This year it’s better because they know our schedule and they come to a lot of meets. They come to almost all the home meets and a few away ones. I see them a lot now.”
Even when things were tough and the homesickness was at its worst, Purkat drew strength from her teammates on the squad. Purkat says that the gymnastic team is one of the closest-knit on campus and any time a girl has a problem, there is a support system waiting to pick her up.
“I have like 20 girls that are my best friends. They all have different qualities so you can go to someone to pump you up and you can go to another girl to talk about something serious or to relieve your stress,” Purkat said. “Coming into a group of girls that always support you no matter what is really nice.”
While her specialty is on beam and the floor, Purkat strives to eventually compete in the all-around by adding bars and vault to her repertoire. She works on those events every day in practice, working especially hard on bars, which she admits give her the most trouble.
“I have all my skills on bars. Now I just have to put it into a routine,” Purkat said. “Putting it into a workable routine is the frustrating part for me but I would like to compete on bars eventually.”
Her next chance to compete on the floor and beam will be later tonight in the Coliseum when WVU hosts No. 19 North Carolina in EAGL action. The meet is set to begin at 8 p.m. The Tar Heels pose a tall challenge but Purkat believes her team has what it takes to compete with the nation’s best.
“As a team I hope we’re able to come out and beat them because I know we have it in us,” Purkat said. “I just need to do my part on beam and floor and I’m sure our other girls will perform well.”
