Anna Sumner shows her skills on balance beam at TGA.

Bouncing around is natural for Anna Sumner.

Sumner, age 13, is a gymnast at Tift Gymnastics Academy and one of the shining stars for a group bursting with talent.

She said she had been active for 10 years, starting at age 3. Sumner loves being a gymnast. When asked her favorite event, she paused before saying it was bars. Wanting to know her least favorite saw even more hesitation before agreeing that she loved all events.

Her coach, Ben Ledl, had plenty to say about her abilities.

She has just started at Level 10. “It’s the top level in the USAG (USA Gymnastics),” he said. “She qualified for the Level 9 nationals last year and was at the top podium.”

Ledl has been coaching gymnastics for 15 years and has worked with Sumner for three or four years, he said. He knew from the start that she would succeed.

The results from events show just how successful Sumner has been recently at TGA.

Locally, she was named Gymnast of the Month in December, Ledl said. At Level 9 competitions earlier this year, she has taken home honors in nearly every event. In January, she was second on the vault and uneven bars and third on the beam and all-around at the Sand Dollar/Whitlow Invitational. A month later, at the Made in the USA Invitational, she was first on the beam and floor exercise, second on the vault and all-around and third on uneven bars. At the National Gymnastics Challenge in March, she took second on vault.

Her accomplishments meant that she was invited to the Eastern Nationals in May, where she posted a 9.25 score on vault and 9.175 on beam.

With her performances in all events, it seemed to be an understatement when Ledl said “she’s very good all-around.” He believes her best event to be either bars or floor.

While eager to speak of her accomplishments while competing, he had even more words to say about who she was away from the mats.

“She’s really just a great young lady, a motivator,” said Ledl. “Great attitude, inspires others, determined to be a college athlete.” Though still a few years away from college, Sumner said she already has her eyes peeled towards one: Florida.

Ledl is positive she will make it.

“I have no doubt in my mind she will be a college athlete,” he said.