WATERTOWN – When you look at Watertown-Mayer’s Jenna May, you see a picture of what resilience looks like. May’s gymnastics career has been anything but easy, but that hasn’t stopped her from chasing her dream and goals.
During May’s freshman season, she suffered a traumatic brain injury while practicing on uneven bars. May hit the back of her head on one of the bars, sending her to the hospital as she was bleeding from the back of her head, nose, and eyes. After doing some tests, May was diagnosed with a concussion which kept her sidelined or hindered her for the majority of her high school gymnastics career.
“I don’t remember anything from that day,” May said. “The last thing I can recall from practice is tumbling on the floor. I only remember the car ride home from the hospital and all the stories people tell me.”
As scary as that moment was for May early on in her career, it didn’t stop her from working herself back. Still bothered by her injury, she served as a manager for the team in her sophomore season. It was a way for her to still be part of the team albeit not competing.
“Even though I wasn’t able to compete, the coaches did everything they could to help me feel as if I was still a gymnast out there,” May said. “I don’t know if I would have come back to this sport if it wasn’t for them. Coach proved to me that I was a good gymnast and I should try again and that I was able to be just as good as I was before my accident. My teammates have been nothing but supportive my whole career. When I got hurt, most of them came to my house to visit me. They didn’t know it at the time, but it meant a lot to me. It helped me want to get back in the gym as soon as I could.”
When that season was over, May made the tough decision to try and return as a competitor. With a little encouragement and support from her teammates and coaches, May slowly worked her way back.
“It was hard just watching people compete but I knew my head couldn’t handle it,” May said. “Sometimes I practiced, but I never competed that year. When the season was over, I decided to start practicing to compete. I put in a few days a week and slowly worked my way back into it.”
Early on, assistant coach Mickal Erickson and May quickly developed a strong relationship as she worked back. A little bit of tough love and endless support from Erickson helped May get going and start her journey back.
“Mike knew when to give me tough love and when to help me get through hard days,” May said. “Whenever I have a lot on my mind, I know Mike will be the first person to make sure I’m OK. He has given me the courage to keep pushing myself in life and in gymnastics. I truly don’t know if I could have made it through these last few years without him being right by my side to cheer me on and remind me that I am OK not being the best. He has shown how proud he is of me coming back and that is all I could ever ask for.”
In May’s junior season, she found herself back on the mat and competing on junior varsity. Getting back was no easy task as she endured setbacks and challenges throughout the season. Wanting to do other events, she found herself limited in what she could do and what her body allowed.
“The hardest part of coming back to the sport was figuring out how much I could do without getting a headache,” May said. It was really hard at first but I came back with a mindset of being a gymnast again. I would have loved to do floor and vault, but the running and fast motions make me dizzy. I started taking medication to help keep my headaches at a minimum and it helped a lot with practicing. The worst part of everything was the constant migraines. Sometimes if I overworked myself I would wake up in the middle of the night and throw up from the pain.”
May continued to work hard throughout her junior season. It all paid off for her this year. After working hard through the physical and mental aspects of her injury, May found herself competing at the varsity level this season, a moment she won’t forget.
“When Mr. H (coach Steve Hangartner) handed out the lineup for our Howard Lake dual and I saw my name on varsity bars, I just about cried because this is what I have been working for,” May said. “ I have pushed through migraines and headaches just to get back into this sport. I have tried so many migraine medicines and I’ve even had to go to the hospital a few times. I think it is all worth it though because the feeling after landing my routine in competition is the best feeling in the world.”
The moment hasn’t been lost on her coach either.
“She didn’t think that she would ever do it again,” Hangartner said. “She’s come back a little bit each year just focusing on that one event. For her to go over all the mental parts of gymnastics is impressive.”
Since making her varsity debut early in the season, May has held her spot for the top-ranked Royals all season long on bars. She’s consistently putting up impressive scores for her team on one of the hardest events, helping lead her team to their eighth-straight state meet appearance with a chance to defend their state title.
“She’s been huge on bars for us,” teammate Maggie McCabe said. “I don’t think she expected to be up there, but she’s improved so much throughout the whole season. I’m so excited that she made it to state as an individual. She’s a huge part of this team.”
May’s story got even better this past week at the section meet. After watching her team compete on the state’s biggest stage the past three seasons, May will be out competing with her team this year not only in the team competition but also as an individual. May finished in fourth place on bars at the Section 5A meet, securing a spot for her to compete as an individual.
“I am also so thankful for my wonderful coaches who haven’t given up on me,” May said. “I have never felt more proud of myself than I did at the section meet. When they announced my name for fourth place, I was doing everything I could to hold back tears. When I was standing up there I gave a big smile to my mom and turned out and looked at my coaches. I made it.”
“That was probably my highlight of the day to see how excited she was,” Hangartner added. “That means a lot to see somebody put that many years into it. This is her first section meet she’s ever competed in and now she qualifies for state. It’s kind of a dream come true for her.”
May will once again be present at the state meet for the Royals this year. Instead of being off to the side cheering on her team, she’ll be under the bright lights of the state’s biggest stage.
“Not only did this sport make me happy, but it was my safe spot,” May said. “I didn’t realize how much of an impact a sport can have on you. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the constant support from teammates and coaches. Words can’t express how thankful I am to be part of this amazing team.”