Central Michigan University Athletics
Sara Burtinsky Profile
2/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 23, 2005
By Theresa Roach
Sports Information Student
NCAA Central Regional Champion Sara Burtinsky said having goals is what has helped her get far in her career.
The senior from Oshawa, Ontario said she is motivated to do well in her sport because she wants to do well for the team and because she wants to achieve the small goals that are set.
"The team sets small goals every week like a win or a good score," Burtinsky said.
She said these goals are what keeps her focused on the task at hand. All the small goals the team sets are to help them prepare for the national competition this year.
Burtinsky went to the NCAA Central Regional Championship in 2004 as an individual.
"It was very exciting to make it to the regionals. We didn't go as a team, but I was still excited," Burtinsky said.
Burtinsky placed first with a 9.90 on the uneven bars, but said the highest point in her athletic career was winning the MAC Championship in 2003 as a team. Burtinsky tied for second at the MAC Championships with a 9.950 on the bars.
Coach Jerry Reighard said Burtinsky has managed to achieve a lot in her career because of her great work ethic and devotion to her team.
"She is definitely a leader on our team." Reighard said. "She is always thinking of her team."
Reighard said Burtinsky also has high expectations for herself and her career. He said it was one of the main reasons why Burtinsky has been so successful.
"It is rare that someone have a truly athletic mentality nowadays." Reighard said.
Reighard has been Burtinsky's coach for four years and said he has seen her develop as an athelete over the years.
"She has accomplished a lot since I met her. She is really is a great person and a wonderful athlete," Reighard said.
Burtinsky said she became involved with gymnastics because she watched her parents and bother sisters be involved with the sport while she was growing up.
"I saw them doing it, so I said I wanted to do it too," Burtinsky said.
Burtinsky said because she has been involved with gymnastics since an early age she is used to the busy schedules and the strict time management. She said she had to learn how to be strict with her time and learn to read textbooks between classes. She said she quickly learned how to make time where she could.
"Balancing friends, school, gymnastics and everything else is a tough job, but I've always been able to do it," Burtinsky said, "But I've been doing it since I was a little girl, so it's easier for me."
Burtinsky said although there are some small things in her career that she wishes she had done, overall there is nothing she regrets.
"I'm pretty happy with the outcome of everything," she said.
Sara is having a banner senior season. She's been named MAC "Gymnast of the Week" three times including this past week when she posted a season-high all-around tally of 39.400 in leading CMU to a big dual meet win over arch-rival Kent State University.
Along with being an athlete Burtinsky is interested in helping other athletes. She is going to Central Michigan University to study health fitness. She said her ultimate goal is to become a chiropractor.
She said she has always been interested in preventive health and helping other athletes with their pain management.
"I was interested in medicine, but I didn't want to become a doctor," she said.
Burtinsky, who coached gymnastics in high school, said she hopes that she can be a good influence on young people. She said it was important to her to be an athlete and succeed in higher education as well.
"I hope I can inspire younger people in Canada and everywhere else," she said.
