Teplin is Huntington’s Unknown Gold Medal Star
The sport has long since disappeared at Huntington High School, but that hasn’t prevented sophomore Zachary Teplin from rising to the level of a gold medal winning gymnast. It’s a story involving intense dedication, laser like focus and an ability to handle enormous pressure while alone in the spotlight.
Teplin recently won five medals, including one gold, two silver, one bronze and the all-around gold at the prestigious 37th West Point Open for his division (level eight, ages 14 and older). It was a grueling competition that pitted him against 90 other top gymnasts from seven states. “There were college coaches there for the college competition who took the time to congratulate Zach,” proud father Mike Teplin said.
U.S. Olympian Blaine Wilson presented the teenager with his all-around gold medal at West Point. Needless to say, it was quite a thrill for a young man who might be Huntington’s most unrecognized star.
With the number of scholastic programs dwindling over the past three decades, private clubs have become the place for these elite athletes to train, often at unusual hours. It’s a situation that frequently requires more sacrifice than anyone can imagine.
Teplin trains year-round, four days a week for 16 hours. It’s a schedule that, when combined with his academic responsibilities, doesn’t allow for participation in school sports.
The teenager competes in six events, identical to those featured in the Olympics: floor exercise, pommel horse, vault, rings, high bar and parallel bars. Teplin’s season runs from December through April. This year he opened with the World Cup Invitational in Chappaqua, New York, where he earned four medals including one gold, two silvers and the all-around gold.
Teplin hopes that gymnastics will be his ticket into a top-tier art college. He is enrolled in accelerated art classes at Huntington High School and has taken college level art classes at the Art Student League in New York City. He is applying to the Pre-College for Art for summer study. Since there are only about three dozen colleges that sponsor NCAA Division I gymnastics teams, Teplin hopes to gain admission to one of the seven that have fine arts programs.
While he wishes it was possible to don a blue and white uniform and represent Huntington on a Blue Devil gymnastics team, Teplin understands the reality of the situation and is making the best of it, realizing there is nothing he can do to change a national phenomenon.
“Zach is a great kid,” said Georgia D. McCarthy, Huntington director of athletics. “He has really persevered and works incredibly hard to reach his goals.” Mrs. McCarthy has had several conversations with the Teplin family on the dynamics of gymnastics disappearing from the Suffolk high school sports scene.
Teplin trains at Gold Medal Gymnastics Center on Pulaski Road during the school year and at International Gymnastics in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania over the summer. He got his start in the sport as an eight year old. By the time he was 12, Teplin had won the New York State all-around competition for his division (level 5). He has placed in the state meet ever since, progressing to his current level eight. The next level denotes Junior Olympics and level ten is that of the Olympics.
The latest gold medals are big and heavy. Since West Point hosted the meet, the medals feature a “Go Army” rocket emblazoned across them. Teplin has earned hundreds of medal and ribbons over the years. These aren’t the typical gymnastics awards. They were won while competing against some of the best young athletes in the country.
With the success of West Point behind him, Teplin is making final preparations to compete in Daytona Beach, Florida this coming weekend where he will be among a field of 500 entries. It will be his next to last meet before the New York State Championships at West Point in March, where he hopes to qualify for the regional meet at Penn State University in April. He won the state title four years ago and has placed in the top ten ever since, as well as qualifying for the annual regional.
As exhilarating as competing and winning is, Teplin knows all too well the toll gymnastics puts on a person physically. He has fractured his hand twice and is on a first name basis with his chiropractor. But, despite the lack of recognition at school, this is an athlete who competes for the pure love of the sport.
Probably the most recognition Teplin has ever garnered at school came several years ago while he was a student at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. Then Principal Craig T. Springer wore the young athlete’s state championship gold medal around his neck for the day.
Teplin hopes to earn many more gold medals before his competitive days are over.
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