Community Rallies around Olympic Hopeful Samantha Peszek

Summer vacation means loafing around and having fun to most students, but not Samantha Peszek. As the 16-year-old Highland Springs resident wraps up her sophomore year at Cathedral High School, she’ll also be gearing up for two national gymnastic competitions that will determine the U.S. Olympic Team!

For Sam, June brings the Visa Championships in Boston, followed by the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Philadelphia June 19-22. Currently ranked as the No. 3 gymnast in the nation, Geist’s own Sam Peszek has a great shot of making it to Beijing! The final selection camp will be in Houston July 16-20.

The community has rallied around its favorite gymnast and shown support in a variety of ways. Geist Realtor Kim Carpenter — also a mom of a gymnast at DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics — had the idea of creating a huge support banner. atGeist.com Publisher Tom Britt offered to sponsor the banner that is now full of signatures and well-wishes from the DeVeau’s gymnastics community.

When I asked Sam’s mom, Luan, how many signatures were on the banner, she laughed, saying to fit any more, they’d have to flip it over!

“Everyone has been so supportive of Sam and her attempt to make this Olympic team, and we’re so grateful,” Luan said, adding that community members may purchase red-white-and-blue bracelets from DeVeau’s for $5 to help support Olympic athletes and the Peszek family as they save up for a trip to Beijing.

The family also has set up a website for supporters to send encouraging thoughts to Sam at www.goodlucksamantha.com.

“Sam is a really hard worker, real motivated, and she’s doing everything she can right now to achieve her dream,” Luan said.

We are proud to have Samantha Peszek as our Geist neighbor. Good Luck, Sam!