The Derry School

Derryfield students are known for challenging themselves to achieve beyond their known capabilities, but even by Derryfield's standards, Griffin Antle '14, sets himself apart. He spends over twenty hours a week all year round practicing all six events of men's gymnastics at Granite State Gymnastics in Bow, NH. He has already reached level 10, the highest possible level for Junior Olympic gymnasts, and is hard at work training for next year's elite national competition. He is this year's recipient of Derryfield's Independent Sport Award, a prize that recognizes and commends the time, effort and expertise that a student-athlete pours into a sport not offered at the School.

Although Griffin has met with plenty of success in gymnastics, it doesn't come without some sacrifices. He quit playing football and basketball in high school, two sports he admits he's passionate about, in order to focus on gymnastics. He spends three and a half to four and a half hours a day at the gym five days a week, going through a grueling workout. All the while, he has a challenging course load to manage and a personal life to maintain. So what keeps him coming back for more? "Gymnastics challenges me more than any other activity I have ever participated in," he remarked, and added, "the sport constantly challenges my mental and physical capabilities, so it keeps me motivated and fuels my desire to improve."

But to those who know Griffin well, including his advisor Kathleen Rutty-Fey '87, he is more than an all-around gymnast, he's an all-around great kid. "He has that star student quality of knowing when to have fun and when to put his nose to the grindstone," she said, noting that he enjoys a good laugh with her other advisees, but also never hesitates to do what's asked of him, even providing leadership for tasks the rest of advisory group might consider mundane or boring. "He is all things: academic, athletic, and kind," she concluded.