Dayzee Wheeler (left) and Hannah Dunlap traveled to Rapid City, South Dakota recently to compete in the USTA National Championship. (Photo Courtesy of Crystal Dunlap)
Dayzee Wheeler (Photo Courtesy of Dayzee Wheeler)
Hannah Dunlap (Photo Courtesy of Crystal Dunlap)
By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
Two young athletes from Peebles are proving that dedication and passion can take you all the way to the national spotlight. Dayzee Wheeler, 13, and Hannah Dunlap, 6, recently returned from Rapid City, South Dakota, where they competed in the United States Tumbling and Trampoline Association (USTA) Nationals held June 16–21. The week long competition brought together some of the best young tumblers and trampolinists from across the country, and both girls made their hometown proud with outstanding performances.
Dayzee Wheeler, who has been involved in gymnastics since she was six years old, has turned what started as a simple after-school activity into a years-long commitment marked by steady progress and success. “She started taking classes when she was in first grade,” explained her mother, Suzanne Wheeler. “A year later, she joined the competition team at Inspire Training Center in Winchester, and she’s been competing ever since.” Over the years, the family has traveled extensively for meets, from Kentucky to Florida and as far as Minnesota and Illinois. This year, the journey took them to South Dakota, where Dayzee’s hard work and perseverance were evident.
Competing in the sub-advanced level on both double mini trampoline and trampoline, and intermediate level on floor tumbling, Dayzee delivered performances that placed her among the best in her division. She earned 8th place in Tumbling and tied for 3rd place in Double Mini—an impressive accomplishment at a national championship. “It’s really cool,” Dayzee said of the experience. “But I think this year was the most nervous I’ve ever been because I’ve advanced a bunch.” The pressure didn’t stop her from achieving one of her biggest goals of the season: making the Ohio All-State Team, a distinction awarded to athletes who achieve the highest point totals in their level regardless of age group.
Suzanne Wheeler said that recognition was a highlight of Dayzee’s season. “She’s done amazing,” Suzanne shared. “In order to get on that team, you have to get high point overall. That was her goal, and she made it.” Suzanne credits Dayzee’s success to her strong work ethic and the confidence that gymnastics has given her. “She meets kids from other schools and other gyms, and she’s learned to talk to them and make friends. It’s helped her confidence a lot,” she said.
Dayzee’s passion for tumbling is clear. When asked what she enjoys most about gymnastics, her answer was simple: “Probably floor, because I like to tumble.” While she isn’t necessarily eyeing the Olympics, she and her family have their sights set on continuing to compete, potentially at the college level in the future. For now, Dayzee is focused on preparing to move up to the next level next season, where new challenges await. “With her doing so well on her double mini routine, she’s required now to advance to the next level,” Suzanne said. “She’ll have to do a flip on every routine—sometimes two. She’s a little nervous about that, but she’ll work hard through the year and get ready.”
Joining Dayzee on the national stage was six-year-old Hannah Dunlap, who competed in her first nationals after just two years in the sport. Hannah’s mother, Crystal Dunlap, said Hannah’s introduction to gymnastics came in a very modern way: watching videos online. “She actually self-taught herself cartwheels watching YouTube,” Crystal recalled. “I asked her if she wanted to try tumbling and gymnastics, and she said yes. Since then, she has soared.”
Hannah also trains at Inspire Training Center, and qualified for nationals after dominating the state competition in Rio Grande. She became the official USTA State Champion in Tumbling for her age group, taking first place in that event, as well as second place in both trampoline and double mini trampoline. At nationals in South Dakota, Hannah competed in a field of experienced young gymnasts. She placed 16th out of 24 in Tumbling, 19th out of 30 in Double Mini, and 23rd out of 30 in Trampoline—solid performances that show great promise for an athlete so new to the sport.
Crystal says she is thrilled to see her daughter so committed and happy in her chosen activity. “She just loves it. You can see the smile on her face when she’s doing it,” she said. “Every time she learns something new at class, she comes home and has to show me immediately.” That enthusiasm was evident even at nationals, where the family made sure to remind Hannah that results were secondary to the experience. “We told her, ‘If you don’t place number one like you have been in the smaller competitions, that’s okay. It’s not a big deal,’” Crystal said. “She said, ‘Okay, I’m going to have fun.’ Before every competition, she tells us, ‘I’m here to have fun.’”
While Hannah is still at the beginning of what could be a long athletic journey, she has already shown the same determination and discipline as her older teammate. After nationals, her parents asked if she wanted to take a break before starting another season. “She said no, no, I’m not doing that,” Crystal said, laughing. “I think this is going to be something she wants to stick with 100%.”
For both Dayzee and Hannah, the USTA Nationals were more than a competition—they were the culmination of countless hours of practice, commitment, and courage. The event was also a celebration of community, family support, and the simple joy of doing something you love. As the girls look ahead to another year of training and competition at Inspire Training Center and beyond, Peebles can take pride in these young athletes who are proving that big dreams can grow in small towns—and that with dedication, anything is possible.
