A perfect balance

Aiken native Grace Taylor has earned her fair share of awards and honors. The stellar gymnast just wrapped up her career competing for the Gym Dogs at the University of Georgia.

In that time she’s been recognized as a national champion for her individual performance, won titles as part of UGA’s squad and been named All-American for her exploits in gymnastics.

Taylor showed she’s a well-rounded person with her latest exploit. She was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Women’s At-Large First Team.

“There’s been a lot of growth for her,” said Dan Taylor, Grace’s father. “It seems just like yesterday we dropped her off in Athens.”

It’s actually been four years. In that time, Grace has continually distinguished herself. Her résumé is loaded with honors in academics and athletics.

She specializes in three events – uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Among her many accomplishments in gymnastics are, being the 2008 NCAA and SEC champion on the balance beam as well as the 2008 SEC champion on the uneven bars. She was a five-time NCAA first-team All-American and a two-time second-team All-American. Taylor helped lead the Gym Dogs to the NCAA title in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In four years, she’s recorded three perfect 10s.

Just like in the gym, she’s a highly decorated student. This isn’t the first time Grace has been recognized for her performance in the classroom, which is equally as impressive as her achievements in gymnastics. She was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Women’s At-Large Second Team the past two years.

“I’m honored,” Grace said. “It’s honestly surprising. I don’t know if I deserve it, but I appreciate it.”

The student pursuing a degree in health promotion has a 3.97 GPA. She’s been a fixture on academic honor rolls at UGA, in the school’s athletic department and for the Southeastern Conference. In 2009, Grace was a recipient of the Ramsey Scholarship for Academic and Athletic Excellence. Her fine academic performances have also been continually recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches and in 2009, she was chosen as the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the league’s coaches.

“It’s always important (to study),” said Grace, who had to make the adjustment to college academics after being homeschooled her entire life. “It’s a priority to put the hours in. It’s the same as gymnastics or anything in life. You have to put the hours in and do your best.”

Although Grace’s gymnastics career at UGA is completed, she will return to Athens for one more year to earn her degree. Upon graduation, she has plans to get her Masters in either Public Health, Nursing or Administration at Medical College of Georgia. She’s recently been chosen as a recipient of scholarship awards for her postgraduate work.

“It’s truly a blessing,” Grace said. “I’m so excited about getting another degree.”

She’ll receive a $7,500 postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA, which awards 87 to women and 87 to men annually. Grace also was a finalist for the SEC’s Boyd McWhorter postgraduate scholarship. She was UGA’s female nominee for the scholarship. Despite being the last nominee eliminated before the final selection, Grace still receives $5,000 to use for her postgraduate studies.

Before grad school, even before returning to complete her health promotion degree, Grace will have another major change in her life. She’s engaged to former UGA football player Andrew Johnson. They’re currently working on plans for their July 24 wedding in Athens. Grace said she’s thankful to have so many family members, friends and mentors in her life to help the process.

“It’s a team effort; that’s what I learned in college,” Grace said. “It’s such a growing experience. You get to know your strengths and weaknesses.”

In addition to the upcoming nuptials, Grace is spending her summer working for a Gym Dogs camp. She’ll continue to work for the team next year.

“Working part-time with the gymnastics team is a blessing on a fifth year scholarship. I’ll be helping out anyway Coach deems needed,” said Grace, who’s glad to have the extra time with the team and in Athens. “I’d be devastated if I just had to disappear. It’s such a big part of my life. I’m thrilled to be able to stay in Athens.

“I have the best life I could think of.”

Contact Noah Feit

at nfeit@aikenstandard.com.