Jones Dives Into New Adventures

Jackson Area Gymnastics senior Megan Jones races down the runway while competing in the vault during a meet earlier in the month.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(December 26, 2022 8:00 AM) When Megan Jones sees something that she wants to try, the Jackson High School senior dives right into it.

Ten years ago, she was inspired by the United States Olympic gymnasts team from the 2012 Olympics.

This past February she tried diving at the urging of a friend and became very good at it.

Just for kickers, Jones is a 4.0 student and is expected to become one of many valedictorians in her graduating class.

Jones participates in swimming and diving, gymnastics, and tennis. Her swim and gymnastics teams are co-op groups with a number of local high schools.

“Sports teaches you that any group of people can work together for a common goal,” Jones said. “Teamwork in sports is different than working together in school.”

Jones became interested in trying gymnastics after watching the 2012 Olympics.

“I remember watching Aly Raisman in the Olympics … especially on the floor exercise,” Jones said. “It looked so cool how she could flip and twist in the air at the same time.”

Jones worked with a number of local gyms before joining Jackson Area Gymnastics. She was a member of the 2021 state championship team.

“It was surreal to win a state team championship,” Jones said. “We crossed a huge barrier by winning a state title.

“You see the same top teams winning (gymnastics) titles every year, but we were able to snag one.”

Jones says her favorite event is the floor exercise with a high score of 9.3 on the event.

The senior also competes in girls’ swimming with a specialty in the butterfly. That was until her friend, Oliver Smith, asked her to try diving during a day last February.

“My sister told me that I could be a great diver because of my gymnastics skills,” Jones said. “Oliver Smith asked me to try it and I really enjoyed it.”

So, Jones continued to work on her diving skills throughout the summer and fall. Jones won the conference title in diving and finished 26th in the state in her first – and only – year.

“My diving coach kept telling me I was a lot better than what I thought … but I didn’t believe it,” Jones said. “Mentally I got a lot stronger and found some confidence in myself through diving.

“I would like to join a diving club team in college.”

Jones has applied to the University of Michigan to study performing arts. She has a 4.0 grade point average at Jackson High School.

Sports has helped Jones become mentally and physically stronger.

“If you can do a backflip on the beam, you can do well on a test in school,” Jones said.

Top gymnastics scores through Dec. 22, 2022

Vault

Melody Placeway Jackson 9.0

Alyssa Budd Napoleon 8.9

Megan Jones Jackson 8.88

Kaitlynn Rumsey Jackson 8.8

Madi O’NeilLumen Christi8.75

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