Gymnastics Payback

By Jake Maddox

Mia Hernandez’s gymnastics team is nervous about the upcoming season. However, they’re encouraged when their new coach tells them that she was once a gymnast for their longtime rivals. The coach’s knowledge will be a great advantage during the season. But strange things begin to happen at the competitions. The wrong music is played during some girls’ floor exercises. Itching powder ends up in one team’s chalk. At another meet, the parallel bars fall apart while a competitor performs her routine. Someone is taking dangerous risks to cheat at the competitions. But who could it be, and why? Follow along as Mia discovers the shocking truth behind who’s been sabotaging the competition during the gymnastics season in this Jake Maddox JV Mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Jul 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663911179

Jake Maddox

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler – or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps – literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

NEW SEASON, NEW COACH

Mia Hernandez started her warm-ups before she reached the gym. As she traveled the four blocks between her house and the gymnastics training center, she jogged, pranced with pointed toes, and power skipped.

She didn’t care if people driving past her thought she looked odd. She wanted to fight off the chill in the November air and get her muscles working. Plus she needed to be ready to jump into the first practice of the new season with her teammates.

When Mia reached the center, her home away from home, she quickly took off her sweatpants and hoodie. Underneath she wore her red leotard and black shorts. She slipped off her sneakers and socks, and pulled her long, curly brown hair into a high ponytail.

As she walked barefoot to the floor exercise mat, she raised her head to look at the large banner on the wall. It read, Home of the Ridgefield Rams, Middle School State Champions.

Mia took her first gymnastics class in this gym when she was five years old. Eight years later, she was a key member of the Ridgefield Rams, and they were hoping to continue their winning streak.

On the mat, Mia stood next to her best friend, Riley, and joined her in stationary stretches.

Just starting? asked Mia.

Mia and Riley stood with their feet shoulder-width apart.

Yeah, said Riley.

They each did eight backward swings with their right arms and then switched to do eight on the left side.

I already did my cardio warm-up, said Riley.

I did mine on the way over, said Mia.

After arm swings, the girls started trunk twists.

Do your neighbors think something is wrong with you when they see you prancing instead of walking normally?

No, they’re used to it, Mia said with a laugh. She often did cartwheels or leaps while walking with her parents and their Jack Russell terrier named Split.

The girls leaned into deep lunges, toes pointed forward, back legs straight.

Are you nervous about this season? Riley asked.

Mia assumed Riley was talking about her uneven bars routine. Mia was confident and competent on every gymnastics apparatus, except for the uneven bars. Each time she practiced or competed, she feared she would balk and hurt herself, like she did in the sixth grade.

I’m always nervous about the bars, Mia said.

I didn’t mean that, said Riley. She gave Mia a sympathetic look. I meant because we’re the defending champions.

Mia laughed, a little embarrassed. Of course, she said. Getting to the top was hard. Staying there will probably be harder. This year, we’re the ones to beat.

Right, said Riley. Plus, we have a new coach. That could change everything.

Exactly, said Mia. Hey, look. Here she comes.

The girls stopped stretching as soon as they saw their new coach walking toward them. She wore black leggings and a blue and gold Ridgefield Rams T-shirt. Her blond hair was in a tight French braid. The other girls also stopped what they were doing and gathered on the floor exercise mat to meet their new coach.

Hello, girls. I’m Coach Taylor, she paused and smiled.

Mia shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She looked at her teammates. Everyone seemed a bit nervous.

"I’m really excited to be