"Gymnastics is my favorite sport because it takes a great deal of coordination and skill. It's also a pressure sport; you're not lost in a crowd of players, you're out there alone performing." This is the belief of Larry Janssens, 5' 8" trampoline man for Coach Sid Drain's gymnasts. Larry has lettered in gymnastics once and has enough points for his letter this year.

Larry has been a member of the gymnastics squad since his freshman year, and during his sophomore year took a fourth in the conference meet. Larry rates that as his outstanding meet. "When I came out for gymnastics, I didn't know how tough it would be. It's hard to keep working on a routine until you can go through it fairly well. That's the hardest part of training." Larry thinks that any boy going out for gymnastics should "work hard and stick with it."

Gymnastic ability seems to run in the Janssens' family. Tom Janssens, Larry's brother, was on the varsity team in his sophomore year and earned three letters. Another brother, Jim, is on the frosh‑soph gymnastics squad this year and works on the rings, the trampoline, and the high bar.

During the summer Larry worked in his dad's tool and die shop to earn money. He also went to Turner Camp to keep in shape.

Next year Larry plans to go to college‑either Southern Illinois University or Wisconsin State University.

Larry thinks that the best thing about Maine West is the great coaches. He believes that the only thing that could be done to improve school spirit is a bigger turnout for minor sports. The only thing he would like to change about himself is his height. "I'd like to be about six feet tall," he stated.

His two pet peeves are "people who think gymnasts are clowns, and some wrestlers."

In eighth grade Larry attended St. Mary's school where he played on the basketball team.