Senior gymnast Ben Cooperman works his way to Penn State

Patrick Martins, Staff Writer

            You may not know it when looking at him, but senior Benjamin Lewis Cooperman is one of the most gifted athletes in his sport and has big dreams for what the future might hold.
            That sport is gymnastics, and Ben has been working hard for a very long time to become an elite gymnast.
            “I’ve been a gymnast for a very long time. I think I started about nine years ago, in the third grade,” Cooperman said.
            Cooperman will be able to continue his lifelong love for the gym in college as he plans on doing gymnastics at Penn State next year.
            “Penn State recruited me pretty hard and I was debating going to Michigan but I decided to go to Penn State instead,” Cooperman said.
            The events that Cooperman excels at and will be competing in at Penn State are the rings and the pummel horse. These events are also Cooperman’s most enjoyable events to compete in.
            “I enjoy doing gymnastics because I have always been good at it, but I still enjoy the challenge and the I love the feeling I get when I succeed,” Cooperman said.
            Cooperman’s success has afforded him the privilege of being able to travel all around the country, doing gymnastics and seeing some pretty amazing things.
            “I’ve been to Disney world a few times, and over February break, I was in Las Vegas at a meet. I really enjoy all of the travelling that I get to do with gymnastics,” Cooperman said.
            “My uncle, who also did gymnastics, really inspired me to do it too and I’m really glad he did because I couldn’t imagine where I would be if I didn’t do gymnastics,” Cooperman said.