Every day after school, Peter Makey, senior, goes home and eats an oats and honey granola bar. After changing clothes, he drives a few miles down the highway to Mini-Hops Gymnastics, the gym where Makey spends 19 hours or more of his week.

He proceeds to spend hours flipping his 5’6” frame into the air in a variety of complex ways, critically evaluating his technique and body position every time.

Eventually, he wipes the chalk from his hands and goes home, knowing he will return to work in less than 20 hours.

Makey has been doing this routine for eight years.

“Ever since I was little, I have thought that gymnastics was enticing to me. I liked to watch it on TV. When I moved in third grade, Mini-Hops was closer, so I enrolled,” Makey said.

Peter’s mother, Kimberly Makey, believes his fascination started at a young age.

“It started with little kid birthday parties. The first one we went to was Gleason’s Gym in Eagan in kindergarten. He really enjoyed that,” Kimberly said.

In sixth grade, Makey joined the competition team after two years of recreational gymnastics. Compared to others, this was a relatively late start. After the switch, he notes that there was a remarkable change in his lifestyle.

“Gymnastics has really taken over my life. I really spend more time there than I do at home while I’m conscious. I see coaches more than parents, teammates more than friends. Although it is a big time commitment, it’s become part of who I am and who people know me to be,” Makey said.

For many years, Makey was behind for his age group. Now, he is a level 10 gymnast and captain of his competition team. Even his hands, once smooth before the age of 11, are now callused and hard – a characteristic of every seasoned gymnast.

While gymnastics is a large part of Makey’s life, academics also plays an important role.

“I’ve learned to be very efficient with my time outside of school because I don’t have a lot of it. I’m accustomed to not sleeping a lot, and my time management has really improved. I don’t really watch TV during the week. I go to school, come home, go to practice, come home, and then do it all again,” Makey said.

Makey’s favorite event is the still rings, an event that requires an incredible amount of upper-body strength. Makey has performed so well on this apparatus that he plans on specializing in still rings, as well as floor exercise and vault, when he joins the team at the College of William and Mary next year.

The College of William and Mary is a prestigious research university in Williamsburg, VA. Makey committed to join the team December and hopes to study English and Politics.

“William and Mary was a good combination of gymnastics and academics. It was better all around for me because I take academics so seriously. It’s the best way for me to prepare for life after gymnastics,” Makey said.

At the state meet during Mar. 21 and 22, Makey’s team placed first overall. Individually, Makey placed first on floor and third all around, qualifying for the regional meet that will take place in early April.

If Makey performs well at the regional meet, he will then advance to the national meet in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Makey has made an appearance at the national meet for the past two years. This year, he aspires to become more of a power player.

“Last year at nationals, I became more comfortable with the national scene. This year, I want to make all-around finals and hit all six of my routines without falling,” Makey said.

For Makey, gymnastics has given him more than stress fractures and calluses.

“I’m very passionate about it. It’s something that makes me unique. Every day, it’s a great experience to be able to fly through the air. It’s cool to say that I can do that,” Makey said.