Lafayette Trampolinists Hope to Represent USA at 2012 Olympics

Many years ago, I had the honor of photographing Trampolinist Leigh Hennessy for the USL yearbook. Her father was the legendary coach, Jeff Hennessy, who pioneered the sport right here in Lafayette, Louisiana. Leigh went on to a stellar career in sports, then reached new heights as a Hollywood stuntwoman. Well, the sport of trampolining and Lafayette are about the get another boost as two young, world class trampolinists from Lafayette, Savannah Vinsant and Hunter Brewster, are competing at top levels in the hopes of representing the USA at the 2012 Olympics.

Vinsant and Brewster are both students at Trampoline and Tumbling Express and are coached by former Olympic gymnast, six-time world champion and seven-time European champion in trampoline, Dmitri Poliaroush.

At the World Championships in Birmingham, Great Britain, Vinsant finished seventh and is the only American trampolinist who has qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This year, USA has only three Olympic trials to decide who will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games. At the first Olympic trial held in Tulsa, Okla. at the end of March, Vinsant finished in first place and Brewster secured the eighth place spot. The second Olympic trials will be in Cleveland, Ohio May 10-13 and the final trials will be in San Jose, Calif. June 26-28. The official announcement for the Olympians will be held on July 1.

The Olympic gymnastics team will be touring the United States in October with the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics and the Cajundome will be the host site for the only Louisiana stop on the circuit, on October 21. Tickets will be on sale following the Olympics in London.

Coach Poliaroush hosts a trampoline competition annually in Lafayette called The Poliaroush Cup at Trampoline and Tumbling Express and is hoping to host the event at the Cajundome in June of 2013. The competition attracts trampolinists from around the world.

If you would like to support the local Olympian hopefuls and the Poliaroush Cup please contact Coach Poliaroush at dimavp7@bellsouth.net or through Trampoline and Tumbling Express at (337) 988-5317.