For the last 12 years the gymnastics room in the YMCA has been a home away from home for Austin senior Jen Boyle, but her time with the sport she loves is running out.

Boyle has competed in three Minnesota Class A State Individual State Meets and she won state title in bars in 2015. She’s hoping to make her last year with the Packers her best one yet.

Boyle said that winning a state title as a freshman was a little bit overwhelming, but she now has it in better perspective.

“It definitely wasn’t something I was expecting [at the time] and these past years I’ve learned how much work it takes to win a title,” Boyle said. “I’m definitely hoping to make it on the [state] podium in more than one event this year, so I’ve been working hard on being consistent.”

Boyle is planning on making this her last year as a gymnast as focuses on her studies in college next year. She hopes to become a physician’s assistant and is not expecting to have a lot of free time away from her studies.

Boyle has been the sole leader on this year’s Austin team and she learned how to lead from her former teammates and former Class A all-around state champs Sela Fadness and Maddie Mullenbach, who is now competing at UW-Stout.

“[Sela and Maddie] definitely demonstrated a hard work ethic,” Boyle said. “Every time we were in the gym they were doing things and it kind of seemed like they never had bad days. It was something to look up to because they seemed like they were so good all of the time.”

Austin sophomore gymnast Morgan Raymond has grown up looking up to Boyle as a leader and she also coaches youth gymnastics with Boyle on Saturdays. Raymond said that Boyle sets a great example for the Packers and the youth gymnasts.

“She’s always working hard. You’ll never see her not doing anything and she’s always pushing herself to do better,” Raymond said. “She’s just a really good leader and she helps to push us every day in practice. You can tell that she really cares about the program.”

While this year’s team is short on experience, Boyle is hoping that she can help motivate some of the younger gymnasts to keep working hard and push the Packers to success in the future.

“[This year] has been a transition, but it’s one that I’ve been expecting and I’ve been able to prepare myself for it. I think the biggest thing right now is trying to get the rest of the team to step up,” Boyle said. “I’m trying to make the most of [my last year], do my best and I want to leave with being proud of how I performed. I’m savoring it.”

While she’s a big-time performer for the Packers, Boyle also enjoys her time with the younger gymnasts. She pointed to their youthful exuberance and she loves the passion they share with her for the sport of gymnastics.

“I have seen a lot of girls grow up into pretty decent gymnasts,” Boyle said. “They’re always so excited about class and if you say do something, they just do it. A lot of them get excited when they see me perform gymnastics. It’s cool.”

Austin will host Northfield in a dual meet at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. at the YMCA Jan. 4.

Boyle at Minnesota Class A Individual State Meets

2015: In her first ever Minnesota Class A individual State Gymnastics meet, Boyle won the state title in bars with a score of 9.550, she was 14th in vault with a 9.4 and she was ninth in all-around with a 36.975. Boyle scored an 8.825 on floor and a 9.2 on beam.

2016: Boyle finished 13th in all-around (36.226), sixth in bars (9.35) and 22nd on beam (8.725). She scored a 9.225 on vault and an 8.925 on floor.

2017: Boyle finished 12th in all-around (36.9500), fifth in bars (9.5750), eighth on vault (9.50), 18th on beam (8.8250) and 30th on floor (9.0).