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Kera Bolen has become one of OSU's most consistent gymnasts on the bars and floor this season after earning a scholarship.

Determined to Succeed

Kera Bolen came to Oregon State as a walk-on but proved herself worthy of a scholarship this year

By: Samantha Redmond

Posted: 2/13/07

Typically, collegiate athletes come to campus already having proved themselves to be worthy of a spot on the team and - in many cases - an athletic scholarship. This is not the case for everyone. Kera Bolen, known as KB to her teammates, walked onto the OSU gymnastics team as a recruited freshman. One season later, she is on scholarship.

Gymnasts begin training at a very young age and are forced to confront injuries, daily four-hour practices along with life in general. In a sport where the average retirement age falls around 17, it takes a special kind of determination to find the strength to pursue dreams of collegiate gymnastics. Bolen, who began her career in the second grade, has made a huge impact for the Beavers this season, and has done it all with a smile.

Bolen began her gymnastics career at Metro Gymnastics in Tigard, which is known for its strict training environment. She was rushed though the early levels and began competing at level 10 during her sophomore year in high school.

"I skipped level one and I went to level two." Bolen said. "I was in level two for about a week and then I moved to level three and I was there for like a month. I skipped level four and then was on pre-team for a month. And then I started competing."

Bolen rose to the challenges of club gymnastics, driven to prove wrong those who said she didn't have the ability to perform a particular skill or event.

"My favorite event to practice is bars," Bolen said. "But my favorite event to compete is floor. I always liked bars because it was a challenge for me in club. My coaches always told me that it was my worst event. They told me to just focus on bars and floor because that was what I would end up doing in practice. I was pretty motivated to get better at bars, and I didn't always have a major routine, this was the first year I put my Jaeger in."

Bolen qualified for level 10 nationals in 2003, 2004 and 2005. She was also a three time Oregon state floor champion. However, during her senior year, Bolen suffered an injury to her knee. The diagnosis was a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), but Bolen decided to compete anyway.

"I just took a lot of Advil," Bolen said. "I couldn't really bend my knee. But I competed that Saturday, everything except for vault."

Bolen clung to the dreams of being a scholarship athlete throughout her gymnastics career. She joined the Beavers after a visit to the campus when she discovered her love for the coaching and the facility.

For the 2006 season, Bolen was a walk-on for the Beavers, but found the first few months of training frustrating.

"I was kind of nervous." Bolen said. "My goal was to [be a part of the lineup]. For a couple months I really struggled … my teammates really helped me believe in myself last year, they gave me confidence."

Bolen began the 2006 season as an alternate on the bars, beam and floor. However, at the Hawaiian Classic, Bolen made her college competition debut in an exhibition on the floor and bars. From that point she earned a solid position in the lineup.

"KB is a very determined and hard worker," coach Tanya Chaplin said. "Her work ethic is amazing. She walked on last year very determined to make the lineups and she was a key player on two events at that point in time. She knew she was coming back from an injury that had occurred in her senior year and really worked to strengthen that and make it as strong as possible."

The former walk-on accomplished her lifelong goal this season as she was awarded an athletic scholarship by Oregon State.

"I was in Tanya's office when she told me," Bolen said. "I wasn't expecting it at all because it was already October and I didn't think there was one available … at first it didn't hit me and when it hit me I was really excited. Right after I got it I called my mom and my mom started crying."

This season, Bolen has continued to earn high scores for the Beavers, maintaining solid positions in the bars and floor lineups. She considers her transition from a walk-on to a scholarship athlete to be one of her greatest accomplishments so far.

"Last year she did such a good job," teammate Jami Lanz said. "She was consistent all season long and she really, really deserved her scholarship this year."

A real crowd pleaser on the floor exercise, Bolen understands what it takes to sell a routine to the audience and judges. She uses the choreography of routine to distinguish herself from other competitors and to show her passion for the sport in general. With a career high on the floor of a 9.875, she has shown her ability to master both the technical and showmanship aspects of gymnastics.

"When she sets a goal she really goes after it and does everything that she can to make that goal happen," Chaplin said. "I see that with her not only in the gym, but outside of the gym, school and other areas of her life as well.

"I think a lot of that is attributed to her determination."