Community Rallies around Olympic Hopeful Samantha Peszek

By lauragates on Monday, May 19, 2008
Filed Under: Local News, Local People

Summer vacation means loafing around and having fun to most students, but not Samantha Peszek. As the 16-year-old Highland Springs resident wraps up her sophomore year at Cathedral High School, she’ll also be gearing up for two national gymnastic competitions that will determine the U.S. Olympic Team!

For Sam, June brings the Visa Championships in Boston, followed by the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Philadelphia June 19-22. Currently ranked as the No. 3 gymnast in the nation, Geist’s own Sam Peszek has a great shot of making it to Beijing! The final selection camp will be in Houston July 16-20.

The community has rallied around its favorite gymnast and shown support in a variety of ways. Geist Realtor Kim Carpenter — also a mom of a gymnast at DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics — had the idea of creating a huge support banner. atGeist.com Publisher Tom Britt offered to sponsor the banner that is now full of signatures and well-wishes from the DeVeau’s gymnastics community.

When I asked Sam’s mom, Luan, how many signatures were on the banner, she laughed, saying to fit any more, they’d have to flip it over!

“Everyone has been so supportive of Sam and her attempt to make this Olympic team, and we’re so grateful,” Luan said, adding that community members may purchase red-white-and-blue bracelets from DeVeau’s for $5 to help support Olympic athletes and the Peszek family as they save up for a trip to Beijing.

The family also has set up a website for supporters to send encouraging thoughts to Sam at www.goodlucksamantha.com.

“Sam is a really hard worker, real motivated, and she’s doing everything she can right now to achieve her dream,” Luan said.

We are proud to have Samantha Peszek as our Geist neighbor. Good Luck, Sam!

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About the Author

As Managing Editor of at.Geist.com, it's probably no suprise that I have loved writing ever since I was old enough to make up a story and write it down on paper. In high school, I discovered journalism and began writing "true stories" for my school paper. My favorite type of story then (and now) was a good feature article on an interesting person. I was editor-in-chief my senior year and loved the opportunity to be "in-the-know" and to be "known" (since I was always considered "shy" by my peers). I decided early on to pursue journalism during my college years at Ball State, where I worked on the Ball State Daily News, interned at the Kokomo Tribune, and then went to work for The Muncie Star (now the Star-Press). Since I've always enjoyed capturing candid moments, I decided to get a minor in photojournalism, as well. I graduated in 1996 and married my college sweetheart, William. We moved to Castleton, and I worked as a reporter for the Noblesville Daily Ledger (out of the Fishers office on Ind. 37) until my first child was born in June of 1999. Since then, I have enjoyed staying home with my three children, ages 3-9. Through the years, I have done freelance journalism, wedding and family photography and corporate public relations. Being a Mom is the best job of all! To accommodate our growing family, we moved to the Highlands at Geist in October 2005. I started writing for atGeist in early 2006 and was excited to be getting involved with the community while using my journalism skills. I became Managing Editor in early 2007 and have enjoyed meeting many of my "neighbors" who are doing fascinating things. There are so many great people and great stories to be told "at Geist!"