For Prospect's Napoleon, it's mind over matter

Joe Napoleon has participated in a number of sports.

Among them are baseball, volleyball and soccer.

But gymnastics was always the one in which he excelled ever since his parents enrolled him in a park district tumbling class when he was 4 years old.

"And when I got to high school, I knew I couldn't do baseball or volleyball because they were at the same time of the year as gymnastics," he said.

So all of his time the last four years became devoted to gymnastics.

And it was time well spent.

The senior is one of the top all-arounders going into tonight's Mid-Suburban League meet at Conant.

He also has spent his time quite well in the classroom, featuring a 4.85 grade point average on a 5.0 scale.

Napoleon plans to study finance at the University of San Diego, the alma mater of his father John.

"They do not have a gymnastics program," Joe said. "But I'm thinking of trying to get them to start it as a club sport. Or else maybe I'll find a local gymnastics club where I can compete."

And Prospect gym coach Pat Kivland will be the first to say when Napoleon puts his mind to something, the results more often than not are going to be positive.

Just like they have been in his last two meets heading into the conference championships.

The 5-foot-4 senior was second last Thursday night with a 47.45 all-around score at the District 214 meet, then came back two days later and won the all-around at the Niles North Invite with a 49.05.

"If you can will yourself to be good, Joe would be very good at that because he has a lot of will power," said Kivland, who has coached the Knights for 35 seasons. "He is a solid kid who loves gymnastics. He comes to life in a gymnastics gym.

"You can put him on the trampoline or anything. No matter what the apparatus, he loves it."

Napoleon says his biggest love is probably the still rings, which he won at the District 214 meet with an 8.4.

"I like them a lot," he said. "I like it because you never let go of the rings. You have a grip on them until you dismount."

But he also loves being able to compete in every event.

At the 214 meet, he was second in the vault (9.45) and third on the pommel (7.60).

"I like getting a total score and competing in every event," said Napoleon, who has also learned to compete at the Elk Grove Gymnastics School, where he received some instruction from Hersey coach Mason Vernon. "I thought about being a specialist but I knew I was capable of competing in every event, so I wanted to be in all-around."

Kivland calls Napoleon a great senior leader.

"He will make something out of himself," the coach said. "He's a very good student and has shown a lot of senior leadership this season. He's just got a real good personality and I've enjoyed the experience of having him on the team."

Napoleon has enjoyed his time with the Knights.

"Our coaches work hard to get us where we need to be at," he said. "We need both 'Kiv' and Julian (Basler, assistant coach). If something isn't clicking, then one of them can get it to click. It varies depending on the trick on which one can help us."

For Napoleon, he is often clicking on several tricks no matter what event.

That's why he is one of the top all arounders in the league.