HINSDALE About a year ago, Hinsdale South sophomore Kwame Lipscomb was a diamond in the rough.
He possessed tumbling abilities that many of his teammates didn’t have, but he also had never competed in gymnastics.
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While Lipscomb still doesn’t focus on gymnastics year round — he’s on the cheerleading team — he’s becoming a much more polished performer. He was the team’s top finisher Friday in all-around at the Anthony J. Canino Invite hosted by Hinsdale Central, finishing ninth with a score of 42.9.
“He just had a lot of natural ability, so he’s picked things up fairly quickly,” Hornets’ head coach Jarrod Amolsch said. “He’s such a sponge and he’s so coachable. He has that gift of hearing what the coach says and translating that into the physical act. It was just a matter of getting used to the rhythm of the sport. Now that he’s developed that rhythm and timing, he’s really turned into something special for us.”
Lipscomb is a natural on floor exercise, and took second place Friday with a score of 9.1.
A lot of credit goes to his older brother, Keontai Lipscomb, who belonged to the Jesse White Tumblers growing up.
The younger Lipscomb picked up a lot of tips and tricks from his older brother and that’s been useful, not only in floor exercise but in other events.
“I have good air sense and that translates to being able to flip off things and sticking landings, so it’s really helped with dismounts,” Kwame Lipscomb said. “I came in with a lot of basic skills. They just had to teach me the higher skills and I had to put it all together.”
Teammate John O’Donnell is amazed with what Lipscomb has accomplished in such a short period of time.
“This is just his second year and he doesn’t have a lot of the experience these club kids have,” O’Donnell said. “For him to make that much progress in that short of a time is incredible for our team. Seeing him do a double back is like the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s incredible that someone who had never done gymnastics before can do that.
“As the years keep going on, he’s going to keep getting better and better and I think he’s going to be a state all-arounder at some point.”
A terrific work ethic has been important as well. While he’s committed to the cheerleading team, he gives gymnastics 100 percent during the season and that’s good enough for Amolsch.
“He’s just starting to realize how high his ceiling is and that’s gotten him really excited,” Amolsch said. “He’s expressed that he wants to make it to the state meet in all-around.
“Is that possible? Yeah, it’s going to take a lot of work, but he’s the kind of kid where, when it’s time to go home, he’s still working. I have to kick him out of the gym.”
Lipscomb’s floor routine is already top notch and he’s set his sights on catching senior teammate Adrian Siaw, who won floor on Friday with a score of 9.3. Last year Siaw finished sixth at the state meet on floor.
“We joke around and I’ll tell him I’m going to beat you,” Lipscomb said. “He’s better, so I have to step up and try to beat him next time. I like having challenges. If I didn’t have a challenge, how would I get better?”
Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.