Rhea ’25 qualifies at USA Gymnastics State Meet
Rhea Nachnani ’25 will face off against top gymnasts from eight states in USA Gymnastics Region 8 Meet in April.
By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist
The words of University School of Nashville’s mission statement — to foster “each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential … and the pursuit of excellence” — reveal the formula that makes a USN Tiger. Rhea Nachnani ’25 embodies the Tiger spirit in the classroom and beyond Edgehill in the gym.
Rhea began gymnastics at three years old and fell in love.
“I started in a Mommy & Me class, and at first I liked it because I could be girly and athletic at the same time, and now I like it because I’m always learning new stuff and challenging myself, and when I’m doing gymnastics, it feels like a break from everything else. Plus, I love being with all of my friends,” Rhea said.
Balancing the rigor of her schoolwork, Rhea has spent the last five years training competitively, practicing for more than 20 hours a week, with the goal of making it past the USA Gymnastics Tennessee State Meet.
"Rhea, like many of our student athletes, is dedicated both in and out of the classroom. With her heavy training schedule, she makes the most of her study hall and class time, asking questions for clarification and getting right down to business," shared Eighth Grade English Teacher Thorunn McCoy, who is Rhea's advisor.
Last year her hopes were dashed when the gymnastics season was cut short due to COVID-19 lockdown protocols. While she couldn’t compete, Rhea’s focus and passion didn’t lessen. True to Tiger form, Rhea continued in pursuit of excellence with all her work culminating in this season’s state meet on Sunday, March 20.
"Rhea, like many of our student athletes, is dedicated both in and out of the classroom. With her heavy training schedule, she makes the most of her study hall and class time, asking questions for clarification and getting right down to business," shared Eighth Grade English Teacher Thorunn McCoy, who is Rhea's advisor.
Last year her hopes were dashed when the gymnastics season was cut short due to COVID-19 lockdown protocols. While she couldn’t compete, Rhea’s focus and passion didn’t lessen. True to Tiger form, Rhea continued in pursuit of excellence with all her work culminating in this season’s state meet on Sunday, March 20.
Even getting to the state meet is a feat. To qualify, a gymnast must score a minimum of 34 out of 40 during at least one local meet. Rhea’s highest score this season at a local meet was a 37.8 at the Warrior Classic in Chattanooga held two weeks prior to the state meet.
Competing against almost 100 gymnasts at her level, Rhea scored a 37.175 at the state meet landing her in the top 34 to qualify for the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Meet to be held in April. There Rhea will face off against the best gymnasts from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
“It’s pretty exciting to make it to regionals, and I’m really happy to reach this goal,” Rhea shared. “I just want to keep getting better.”
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Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.