Champion Gymnastics' Cady Duplissis aiming for nation's elite, commits to MSU

Champion Gymnasts compete in the Tulip City Invotational Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at West Ottawa High School.
Champion Gymnasts compete in the Tulip City Invotational Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at West Ottawa High School.

PARK TWP. - Cady Duplissis knew she would only get one chance to show her home crowd what she can do.

The Level 10 gymnast from Champion Gymnastics in Holland only gets one home meet a year, with the sport dictated by plenty of travel.

Duplissis made the most of her one chance and won the Level 10 all-around, a dominating performance that has continued her rise to the elite.

"She has greatly increased her skill level, even after qualifying for nationals last year. She has been working really hard on those things and it paid off," Champion coach Tami Schaafsma said. "It was nice to see her hit all four events at the same time, and that gave her a lot of confidence as well."

At the home meet at West Ottawa High School, Duplissis finished first on the uneven bars (9.325), first on the balance beam (9.550), first on the floor exercise (9.500 and second on the vault (9.500) to finish first overall with a score of 37.875 - more than three full points ahead of the rest of the field.

Cady Duplissis and Champion Gymnasts compete in the Tulip City Invitational Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at West Ottawa High School.
Cady Duplissis and Champion Gymnasts compete in the Tulip City Invitational Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at West Ottawa High School.

"I feel like it is going really well. I put so much time into getting new skills for colleges. Putting them into routines has been really great," Duplissis said. "Beam went really well. The meet before, I fell, so I finally hit that and it was a really great routine."

With one season to go at Champion, Duplissis has committed to Michigan State, following in the footsteps of her teamamtes Stephanie and Genna Lebster.

"It is definitely a huge relief to have committed. It was really stressful. But the atmosphere really sold it for me," she said. "I love Genna and Steph and feel like they are my family at this point. I am super excited for that."

She has been a Level 9 or Level 10 gymnast for so many years, she has been teammates with nearly 10 athletes who ended up competing at the NCAA Division I level.

"She has been here through a lot of kids who have gone on to college, and that has set her up to be a great leader," Schaafsma said. "She has always had that personality and has really stepped up this year to become the leader. She does it with her work ethic and example she sets, but also is very vocal to help others."

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Duplissis said that has completely shaped how she approaches everything.

"It definitey has pushed me to be where I am today. I have had that drive of bettering myself, but they were always there behind me. Now I am them and pushing everyone to the best of their abilities," she said.

With two more postseasons at the club level, Duplissis has a ton of potential.

"I definitely think qualifying for nationals is a goal, and instead of just being there, to place and make a run at some of those top 10 spots," Schaafsma said.

Cady Duplissis and Champion Gymnasts compete in the Tulip City Invitational Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at West Ottawa High School.
Cady Duplissis and Champion Gymnasts compete in the Tulip City Invitational Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at West Ottawa High School.

Duplissis said that is her focus.

"I definitely want to go to nationals again. Now that I am committed I want to show Michigan State what I have," she said. "That is my ultimate goal. It was an adventure last year, but that will help me this year. I was shaking last year and now I know what I have to do."

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Champion Gymnastics' Cady Duplissis aiming for nation's elite, commits to MSU