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Olympic Dreams Burn Bright

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By CLIFF GILL

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 26, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - When preschoolers are enrolled in tumbling and gymnastics lessons, it is the dream of some parents to see their child reach the pinnacle of sports, participating in the Olympic Games. For David and Jean Reamer, that dream may soon become reality for their daughter.

Sarah Reamer, a Wesley Chapel High sophomore, began taking gymnastic lessons at age 3, and by sixth grade, she had accumulated more than 60 awards.

"Gymnastics has taught me to discipline myself, helped me develop strength, coordination and time management and has helped me to take directions from authority," she said.

Wanting to become more involved in her school, she dropped gymnastics and turned to team sports. Five, actually - cheerleading, volleyball, track, soccer and basketball.

Reamer, who was selected as an All-American cheerleader following a camp at the University of South Florida last year, helped the Wesley Chapel cheerleading squad win district and regional matches, finishing sixth in state competition.

"Sarah is a wonderful role model and a dedicated athlete," said Wesley Chapel cheerleading coach Melissa Wolfe.

There's another passion that burns within Reamer.

In June 2006, Reamer joined a friend at a luge clinic, known as the Verizon USA Luge Slider Search at USF. The program is a nationwide athlete recruitment tour for the U.S. Olympic Team.

"I Googled the word luge to see what it was," Reamer admitted. "I went because I wanted to spend time with a friend, learn something new, and most importantly, get a cool luge T-shirt that they offered to anyone who participated."

At the clinic, Reamer and the other entrants learned the basics of sliding on a wheel-equipped sled. They also participated in physical fitness tests and flexibility drills. Because of her strength, coordination and athletic skills, Reamer was invited to the USA Olympic facilities at Lake Placid, N.Y., for a screening camp.

For a week, Reamer got to luge on ice. Her success at the camp netted an invite to the USA Olympic Developmental Team.

"She stood out in sliding as well as in the gym," said Pat Anderson, one of the coaches who selected Reamer to be part of the USA Luge Developmental Team. "She's a great athlete and you could see that right away. It was kind of a no-brainer after that."

For the past two years, from November through March, Reamer has traveled to one of three Olympic training facilities to practice. She trains for three to four weeks at a time, including holidays except Christmas.

Developmental team coach Duncan Kennedy is impressed with Reamer.

"She is a tremendous athlete and an asset to the team," Kennedy said. "She has an incredible work ethic and works hard even when no one else is watching. Since joining the team, Sarah's technique on the sled has improved dramatically."

Added Olympic strength and conditioning coach John Kaus: "Sarah is an overachiever. We give her a physical training regimen and she does it at 110 percent, even asking for more."

In May, Reamer was promoted to the candidate select level, the second of five levels on the ladder to compete in the Olympics. Her goal is to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In preparation, she will continue traveling back and forth to the Olympic training site during the fall and winter months.

Although all school-age Olympic athletes receive a tutor with daily instructions, one would expect that this hectic schedule would have a negative impact on her grades.

"I taught Sarah as a freshman, a time when most students go through an identity crisis," said Laura Sabella, Reamer's English teacher. "Where most of them experience organizational challenges, juggle social lives and watch their grades plummet, Sarah added to the mix by being away weeks from school with luge training, and she did so with straight A's. She often stayed after school to make up whatever she had missed. Once, she came back from a luge head injury and had to get through 'Oedipus Rex,' a most difficult text, and she did so by staying after school several days and putting in numerous hours to comprehend the material."

Reamer's ability to focus in on her scholastics is noticed by multiple teachers. Math teacher Dennis Scott noticed her desire to succeed early and hasn't seen that intensity wane.

"When Sarah comes home from her Olympic training, it is sometimes early morning," Scott said. "After flying most of the night, she is in class that same day. She is even performing her other duties as a varsity cheerleader after school that day. Within a few days, she will have me stay after school and go over everything regarding her math studies. She has to be able to do everything the best or she is not satisfied."

Reamer's responsibilities don't just stop with athletics or school work. She is active in numerous volunteer activities. Her cheerleading team collected and distributed toys during Christmas for the Wesley Chapel Toys For Tots. The cheerleaders helped collect donations and organize the gifts. They also helped the families pick up their gifts and placed the gifts in their cars.

Prior to the school year, Reamer helped collect backpacks, pencils, pens, notebook paper and other school supplies for needy children.

"It was so exciting helping the new kindergartners pick out their first backpack," she said. "It was rewarding to help students select their supplies that they might not have otherwise had."

In Lake Placid, N.Y., Reamer volunteered as a scorekeeper for athletes in the Gymnastic World Cup for Power Tumbling and Trampoline.

She also volunteers for the humane society in Lake Placid.
Wesley Chapel honors English teacher Amity Gallaher summed up the impact Reamer has had on her.

"Sarah is undeniably one of those kids that some teachers see once in a lifetime, and the fact that she is dedicated to not only her schoolwork, but to her country's Olympic team, is inspiring for teachers and students alike," she said. "I'm so lucky to have her in my class."

Teachers, coaches: If you would like to nominate an outstanding student-athlete to be featured in an upcoming In The Community article, contact Cliff Gill at

reportercliffgill@yahoo.com or (727) 860-4903.

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