How many double-unders can you do in 60 seconds? Better yet, do you know what a double-under is? The Lake Orion Jumping Beans know.
The team proudly represented Lake Orion in the 2003 AAU Junior Olympics in jump roping at Ford Field on July 24-28.
The fledgling team held their own as they competed against some of the best junior athletes the United States had to offer. Teams came from as far as California, Texas, Florida, Colorado and Maryland.
Hope Thomas and Aubry Leko of Lake Orion placed third overall in the nine and under division in pairs. Thomas placed 14th and Amy Stubbs placed 19th in single rope freestyle in the nine and under division for the Jumping Beans.
The team is under the direction of coach Dena Thomas, who aspires to take the Jumping Beans to the Grand Nationals at Walt Disney World in five to 10 years. She started the team with jumpers from Blanche Sims Elementary School, and has decided to expand the team.
Anyone in the Lake Orion/Oxford area between the ages of seven and 17, male or female, who is interested in joining the team, “jump” on down. Try-outs will be held at Basketball America on Sept. 16-17, between 4-5:30 p.m. Basketball America is located on Clarkston Road, just west of M-24. It is not necessary to bring a jump rope, they will be provided.
Just interested in checking out the team? You’re in luck, the Lake Orion Jumping Beans have been invited to perform in the Lake Orion Homecoming Parade on Oct. 3. For more information on the team, email beansjumprope@aol.com