Local gymnast Samantha Nothnagel announces intentions to compete at college in New York

Samantha Nothnagel has achieved something never before done in Vail.

Nothnagel is a USAG Junior Olympic Level 10 gymnast, the first ever Level 10 athlete in the Vail Gymnastics Center program history. Level 10 is the highest gymnastics level an athlete can achieve in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Program before becoming elite (think Olympic-level).

Nothnagel is a 17-year-old high school senior who lives in Eagle and will be attending SUNY Cortland University in New York in the fall to compete for the Red Dragons. She has been training at the Vail Gymnastics Center for seven years and started with Vail Gymnastics as a Level 4.

Nothnagel placed fourth all-around as a Level 10 at the Pikes Peak Cup this season and she was a Level 9 Regional qualifier in 2017.

“The Vail Recreation District is extremely proud of Samantha’s achievement and it really speaks to the outstanding quality of coaching offered at the Vail Gymnastics Center,” Jessie Klehfoth said in an email. “Samantha will also be headlining the Vail Gymnastics Center Spring Show starting at 11 a.m. on April 20. This is a free event for spectators to come and watch and will feature approximately 50 children enrolled in the Vail Gymnastics programs.”

For more information about offerings from the Vail Recreation District, visit http://www.vailrec.com.