Mikulak aims for another title

The relentless pursuit of perfection isn’t just a car sales jingle for Sam Mikulak.

Mikulak is used to success. He was second in the nation last year in Level 9 (ages 12 and 13) gymnastics.

But usually, at a gymnastics meet, everyone’s eyes aren’t focused on you.

On March 24, at the Southern California championships at Biola University, it was a different story. Mikulak was the last person to compete in the entire meet in the final event, the high bar.

Too many nerves could have meant a slight slip or, even worse, a fall. But Mikulak is a champion and he wasn’t having it.

He scored a 9.75 in the event, which tied for his best of the competition. And he now says that the high bar is his favorite gymnastics event.

“It became my favorite because I was the last person to go in the entire meet,” said Mikulak, 14 and a freshman at Corona del Mar High. “Everyone was watching me, and I pulled through and everyone was cheering. It was a great feeling.”

Mikulak also scored a 9.4 in the floor exercise, a 9.2 in the pommel horse, a 9.3 on the rings, a 9.35 in the vault and a 9.75 on the parallel bars. All were first-place marks and allowed him to repeat as Southern California all-around champion.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” he said, “but I knew that if I competed well I would place in the top three. I just did extremely well and got first.”

He advances to the USA Gymnastics Region 1 Championships, a two-day event starting Thursday at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mikulak is also the defending Region 1 champion in Level 9 competition.

Then, the goal is to get ready for the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships, which will be held in Oklahoma City May 9-13. At last year’s event in Michigan, Mikulak placed second all-around and first in the floor exercise.

“He’s a hard-working kid and he gets the job done,” said Mikulak’s coach, Gregor Chalikyan, who has coached Sam since he was about 5 years old at the Southern California Acrobatic Team (SCATS) facility in Huntington Beach. “He’s well-behaved and he’s got a good attitude toward the sport. That also plays a big role in him becoming a gymnast, and becoming a champion.”

Maybe it was a sport in which Mikulak was born to excel. His parents, Steve and Tina, both competed in gymnastics collegiately at Cal.

Sam Mikulak used to play soccer and baseball as well, but it was soon realized how strong his future in gymnastics could be.

“We actually wanted him to play a different sport,” Steve Mikulak said. “Gymnastics can be pretty dangerous. But he stayed in it. It was more exciting for him, I think.”

It’s also hard work; Sam Mikulak trains six days a week. After school, he leaves CdM about 3 p.m. for SCATS, often not returning home until around 8 p.m.

Yet, Sam Mikulak still manages to stay on his school’s honor roll, his father said.

Mikulak, who is also coached by Albert Auchian, gives plenty of reasons why he loves gymnastics.

“[I like] the people you get to be with while you train and get to do something you like,” he said. “The encouragement from coaches and teammates.”

Steve Mikulak has been there for that encouragement. He said he was thrilled for his son after his high bar routine at the Southern California championships, particularly because of the degree of difficulty. Sam uses a big dismount, which can be thrilling but is also risky if not executed correctly.

“That was the best routine he’s ever done in that event,” the elder Mikulak said. “For somebody in his age group, it was pretty incredible. He just stuck it. He landed it perfectly.”

As he keeps chasing perfection this week in Hawaii, Sam Mikulak has history on his side. But he also has plenty of support on his side, as well.

“It’s just his hard work,” Chalikyan said. “His chances are pretty good. I think he’s going to have a good meet at regionals and nationals.”

Sam Mikulak said he wants to keep competing in gymnastics at least through college. And, with his impressive athletic résumé that he’s adding to every year, no one can blame him.

“It’s a challenging sport, and you can always learn something new,” he said. “The hours are long, but it’s worth it.”