Sarie Morrison was born in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1991. She is the daughter of Tracie and Tony. Both her parents were collegiate scholarship athletes, mother a diver, father a football star. Sarie has three brothers, Reece, Taylor and Barrett. Sarie began gymnastics when she was three years old and learned her kip at four years old to the amazement of her coaches. As an 8 year old, Sarie started competing at Metroplex Gymnastics of Dallas after taking a break from gymnastics and playing soccer, diving, and dance. Upon her return she caught fire and became the first State Champion at Metroplex. She trained at Metroplex Gymnastics for most of her career. She quickly moved from Level 5 at 10 years old to Level 10 as a 13 year old. Sarie now trains at Elite Champion Gym. Her best event has always been vault, though she loves all events and considers herself an all-arounder.

Sarie competed Level 5 in 2002 and was the State Vault Champion. In 2003 she competed Level 7 and swept the gold medals at the WOGA Classic that year. At State Championships, she finished first on vault and floor, and third All-Around. In 2004, Sarie competed Level 8, 9 and finished the year at the highest level of the Junior Olympic program, level 10. She was the Level 10 State All-Around Champion. She ended her season at the Regional Championships.

Sarie’s first year as a junior international elite was in 2005. She was invited to Marta Karolyi’s training camp in 2005 and 2006. She qualified for the US Classic in 2005, where she only competed bars because of a growth plate injury. In 2006, Sarie suffered a broken toe 1 month before the US Visa National Championships, missed the US Classic, but still competed on all events at the US Nationals and gained valuable experience.

Sarie suffered with growth plate pain in her wrists from 2005 through 2008 because of growing 8 inches. She took a 7 month sabbatical between 2007 and 2008 and has recharged mentally and physically. In 2008, Sarie competed level 10 on bars and vault. She also competed in high school earning the Dallas Morning News 2008 All-Area Girl Gymnast of the Year award. She now attends Elite Champion Gym where she is coached by Marcus and Jana Harlin. Sarie spent 5 years at Spring Creek Academy, a private school that allowed her to train 35 hours a week, and now attends Lake Highlands High School. She has committed to Louisiana State University where she will begin her college career in the fall of 2010.

In 2009, Sarie came back with great results. She finished fourth all-around at her first meet back, the Kurt Thomas Invitational. The meet was highlighted by a first place finish on vault. At the Texas Prime Meet, she won vault, bars, and the all-around. She continued her winning ways by taking vault, bars and the all-around at the WOGA Classic. She won the same three events at the Houston National Invitational. She added a floor gold at the Rose City Classic. She won vault and bars at the State Championships. Sarie placed third all-around with a 38.000. She took the all-around and bars titles at Regionals. She finished sixth on vault at JO Nationals. For the second year, she also competed as a high school athlete. She was the Texas High School all-around, vault and uneven bars champion. She was named a Fox 4 High School Hero and Dallas Morning News 2009 All-Area Girl Gymnast of the Year. She was also a ESPN DFW 2009 Athlete of the Year finalist.

Fast Facts Name: Sarie Morrison Birthday: November 22, 1991 Club: Elite Champion College: LSU Elite Champion

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Full Scholarship to LSU 2008: Level 10 Regionals- 2nd VT 2007: JO Nationals- 4th VT 2006: US National Qualifier 2005: US Classic Qualifier 2004: Level 10 Regional Qualifier 2004: Level 10 State AA Champion 2003: Level 7 States- 3rd AA 2002: Level 5 States- 1st VT, 2nd AA

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Photos © Lloyd Smith