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Far from spotlight, Jones shines Photo by Steve Johnson Meghan Jones, a junior at Phoenix High, recently won three state championships. Gymnast gears up for regionals By KRIS HENRY Being an unknown commodity in terms of athletics at Phoenix High suits Meghan Jones just fine. The 16-year-old junior is a shining star for the Medford Elite Gymnastics Academy (MEGA) at the Oregon Sports Center, and that's enough for now. "Everyone pretty much knows I'm in gymnastics, but nobody really knows what we do and how much time we put into it or how hard it is," Jones says of her Phoenix classmates. But not being part of an official high school team hasn't soured Jones at all on her choice of athletic pursuit. "It doesn't really bother me whether they know or not," she says of the challenges in gymnastics. "I know what it takes, and that's enough. "Most of the girls in here are probably better at this sport than they could be in any other one, so I don't think anyone's missing out (on being in the school spotlight)." Jones will be one of five MEGA gymnasts competing at the Regional Tournament Friday through Sunday in Olympia, Wash. She recently placed first at the state meet in the Level 10 Senior B all-around competition. Jones won the beam and bars events and placed second in the vault. "I score the highest usually on bars, but I don't really have a favorite event," Jones says. "Usually my floor (exercise) is probably one of my weaker events. That's usually the easiest for most people, but not for me." Also advancing to regionals will be Heidi Guches (Level 8, age 8-11), Jessica Touzet (Level 9, Senior A), Lindsay Warren (Level 9, Junior B) and Johnnie Rae Schmelzer (Level 10, Junior D). Making his first trip to regionals as MEGA coach will be Allan Culp, who has been on a whirlwind since taking over six months ago from former coach Christopher Blache. "The previous coach did an extremely good job with them, and I've just stepped into his shoes and took over where he left off," says Culp, who grew up in Oregon but came to Medford from Virginia after a stint in Australia. "He left for personal reasons and I came for personal reasons," says Culp. "It's nice to come home and be with your family." Competing in the regionals will be like heading home for Jones. She missed the tournament last season due to a broken ankle, but competed in Level 10 two years ago and finished third. Jones made five trips to the regional tournament competing at Level 9. The top seven Level 10 competitors advance to nationals, and Jones says she's confident she'll land among that group. Because of Jones' history and dedicated effort in the practice gym, Culp is inclined to agree. "She's probably the best gymnast I have in the gym," says Culp. "She's very talented and extremely dedicated. The other girls are up-and-coming and work just as hard and are just as dedicated, but they're still a little inexperienced and not at that level yet." Jones hones her craft for about 20 hours a week at the Oregon Sports Center, but Culp says that time will be well spent once she starts entertaining her collegiate options. "She spends a lot of time in here thinking about it, working on it and focusing on it, so in the long run it will pay off in helping her get into college," says Culp, adding that Jones has her sights set on a Division I scholarship. In the meantime, Jones' payoff will have to be in regional or national titles. But much like her anonymity, Jones wouldn't mind that at all. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA