Conant’s Rink thinks big

Steve and Karen Rink saw the signs when was their son Steven was just a toddler.

“My parents saw me tumbling on the stairs at home,” Steven said. “They thought we should try to channel that into something productive.”

By the time he was 3 years old, Rink was attending the Crystal Lake Gymnastics Training Center in his hometown.

When Rink was 5, his family moved from Crystal Lake to Schaumburg.

But Rink’s passion for the sport kept flourishing so Steve and Karen continued to drive their only child to Crystal Lake for gymnastics training.

The passion still exists today.

That’s what makes Rink a top contender this spring for the Mid-Suburban League all-around title.

“It’s just a real unique sport,” Rink said. “I don’t know a lot of people who will even say they know much about it. I don’t know many people in school who can say they can do a back flip.

“There’s only 30 guys in our program. I like the challenge. I like being able to do all the cool skills.”

One year ago, Rink (51.6) finished second in the MSL meet to teammate Anthony Crivolio (52.7), who is now a student at the University of Iowa.

Rink’s score in that 2010 MSL meet remains his career best.

“I’d love to win conference this season and do my best in the sectional and state, too,” Rink said. “I want to see if our team can get to state three straight times.”

Rink, a four-year varsity gymnast, helped the Cougars advance the last two seasons.

“He is a dedicated gymnast who does not waste time in the gym,” said Cougars coach Paul Kim. “Steven puts in 100 percent for the full duration of the practice. He has the desire to improve and he loves the sport of gymnastics.”

Rink says his biggest love is the pommel horse, an event in which he was second (8.9) to state champion John Scallon of Rolling Meadows (9.0) in the MSL meet.

“We are looking to get his start value up at 10.0 on the pommel horse and perform with minimal deduction,” Kim said.

Rink also loves animals.

That’s why he has worked at the Care Animal Hospital in Arlington Heights the past two years and even on Sundays during the gymnastics season.

In fact, the National Honor Society student who ranks in the top 8 percent of his class (3.8 GP on 4.0 scale with advanced placement classes), plans to study veterinary medicine at his mother’s alma mater, the University of Tennessee.

“I originally wanted to go to Purdue,” Rink said. “But by chance, when we were visiting my grandparents in Tennessee, we happened to check out the college and I really liked the campus. When I saw all the great programs they had, including a specialized one for veterinary medicine, I loved it.”

Coincidentally, Tennessee does not have a gymnastics team.

“I think I’ve done gymnastics long enough,” said Rink, who grew up in the early 2000s a big fan world champion gymnast Blaine Wilson. “I’ve have a good ride with it.”

Rink was steered in the right direction by his parents and coaches.

“I thank my parents for inspiring me to go on with the sport and getting me into it early in my life,” Steven said. “My club coach (Levan Sisauri) in Crystal Lake really helped me with the pommel horse and all the events since I was eight or nine years old.

“And, of course, coach Kim. He has really pushed me and I probably wouldn’t have learn all these skills without a little push from him and his encouragement.”

Kim said Rink is one of the hardest workers he has coached.

“Nothing comes easy for him,” Kim said. “His success is purely dedication and hard work. We see natural talents in our sport all the time, athletes who just excels rapidly.

“But in Steven’s case, he works extra hard and his work ethic is directly related to his success. There’s no one in the gym who works harder.”

And Rink loves competing in the high school gym.

“It’s a lot more intense in club,” Rink said. “Personally, I like high school better because everyone is more spirited and helping each other out. In club, it’s more about you, and trying to become better individually. Here we are always cheering for the other guys.”

And Rink hopes to hear plenty of cheers this spring.