Max Geritz started doing flips at the age of two and hasn’t stopped since as the 11-year old Bath native recently took first place in the 2013 U.S. Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling championships in Kansas City, Missouri.
Geritz, a level five gymnast in the 11-12-year boys division, was crowned the national champion in the tumbling category, while taking 10th place in the trampoline portion of the meet and 11th place in the double-mini segment.
Though he was born to bounce, Geritz said he flipped out when he won the national title.
“I was just very surprised,” Geritz said. “I had no clue that I was that good.”
Geritz advanced to the nationals after winning a series of statewide and regional events, but his best performance came on the biggest stage during the tumbling competition in Kansas City.
“It was like the best routine I ever done,” Geritz said.
Terri Geritz, Max’s mom, said that her son’s talent was evident from the time he was young and his love for being airborne was something she and Max’s father, John, supported.
“He was flipping on the bed and literally summersaulting in the air so we got him a trampoline when he was two,” Terri said. “And he’s been flipping ever since.”
For Max, flying through the air was just something that’s always come natural to him.
“Well, I got into it when I was two years old,” Geritz said. “I was doing front flips (on Terry’s bed) and what I like about (gymnastics) is all the flips you get to do.”
Terry, a Kansas City native, said that the icing on the cake was that her family was able to watch Max perform at the national meet.
“We are from Kansas City, which made it better. Our whole family, aunt’s and uncles and grandparents came to see him,” Terry said. “It was great.”
To excel at tumbling, the trampoline and the double-mini (two trampolines) an athlete must have superior flexibility and body control, and it’s Max’s goal to improve in all those areas for the next season.
“What I think I have to work on is my flexibility and body strength,” Max said. “My goals are to just do my best, try hard and get it done.”