© Ron Wyatt

By Luan Peszek

Michael Devine could serve as the poster child for the USA Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling Scholarship Fund. Devine, 23, is a trampoline athlete from Winnebago, Ill., and trains at J & J Tumbling and Trampoline. He’s coached by Shaun Kempton.

He attended Beloit College in Southern Wisconsin where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and hopes to pursue a career in medicine, while maintaining a position on the USA Senior National Trampoline and Tumbling Team.

“I just took the MCAT test,” said Devine. “Now I’m waiting to get results and applying for medical school.”

Devine received the USA Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling scholarship all four years of his college career.

“I earned $5,000 each year I was in college and it took a significant amount of my tuition away so that I didn’t have to get a job and could focus more on my training,” said Devine.

He added, “Overall the scholarship is great because it allows athletes in our sport to stay in our sport past high school. It allows athletes to be successful in both academics and trampoline and tumbling.”

When asked why he selected to pursue the medical field, he said, “There were a number of reasons but one is that Dr. George Drew inspired me while watching him in action at our trampoline and tumbling events. Dr. Drew is an emergency room doctor. I also excel in the area of science – so it’s a good way to combine both my interests.”

Devine says his biggest accomplishments in the sport so far was in 2009 when the U.S. trampoline team made team finals at the world championships. He also had a successful year in 2010 at the World Championships and World Cup competitions.

Devine trains 6-8 times per week at his gym which is 40 minutes from campus, where he resides.

His immediate goal is to continue training and preparing for making the 2011 World Championships team and hopefully earning the USA spots in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Devine is one of two children to Mary and John Devine. Devine says his role model is his father "because he works hard" and Olympic champion Alexandre Moskalenko "because of all his titles."

If you are a trampoline and tumbling athlete and would like to apply for a scholarship, click here. The deadline is May 6.