CHAMP ON THE BEAM LOCAL GYMNAST CAN BALANCE SPORTS, SCHOOL.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

Local gymnast Melanie Yamabe recently competed in the multistate Region 1 championships, winning the regional beam championship and placing second in floor exercise.

Melanie, 15, attended the event with the rest of her team from Genesis Gymnastics of Lancaster, recently competing at the Long Beach Convention Center against Level 8 gymnasts from Arizona, Nevada and Utah, as well as from California.

In earlier state championships, each regional competitors had qualified with an all-around score of 34 or higher.

Melanie has been doing gymnastics for nine years and joined the Genesis team in July to train with other gymnasts at her own age and skill levels.

Training in Lancaster, a trip each way of about 45 miles and an hour, depending on traffic, makes for a busy schedule for the Saugus High School freshman who is also on the Saugus swim team.

After a full day of school, Melanie attends swim practice, leaves early for gymnastics practice and does homework, has a snack and changes clothes in the car while she is being driven to Lancaster. After three to four hours of gymnastics training, she does more homework in the car, with the overhead light on, while she is being driven back to Santa Clarita. After a late dinner, Melanie completes her homework for the day, then showers and goes to bed.

``I think she has a lot of dedication,'' said her mom, Wendi Yamabe, who does the driving. ``She has loved gymnastics from the start, and she works very hard.''

Melanie hopes to get a scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles - in gymnastics, not swimming.

``Gymnastics - that's her first love,'' said her mother.

The Genesis team trains under the coaching staff of Ray Latino, Robin Ness and Van Wright. Melanie's teammates also brought home honors from the regional championships.

Danielle Buchanan, 11, of Lancaster placed second on the beam and won second place all around with a total score of 37.225. Nicole Hernandez, 12, of Lancaster earned the title of regional bar champion and placed second on the balance beam.

Jane Lakritz, 15, of Lancaster beat out 20 other gymnasts to become regional floor champion. Lauren Casper, 14, of Palmdale won third place in the all-around competition with a score of 36.4. Teammate Shawna Valentine, 14, of Littlerock placed third on the vault, bars and beam and fourth all around with a score of 37.4.

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(1 -- 2) Award-winning members of a championship team from Genesis Gymnastics are, back row, from left, Jane Lakritz, Lauren Casper, Shawna Valentine and Melanie Yamabe, and, front row, Nicole Hernandez and Danielle Buchanan. Melanie, 15, left, is the winner of a regional beam championship award. She placed second in floor exercise.