At just 8 years old, Wymberly Vick is already proving that dedication and determination can take you far—sometimes all the way to center stage. A third grader and lifelong Isle of Hope resident, Wymberly enjoys growing up surrounded by friends and familiar faces, spending her free time playing in the neighborhood she has always called home.

Wymberly’s athletic passion is Irish dancing, a sport she discovered at age 4 after spotting a studio sign and deciding it looked “cool to learn.” What began as curiosity quickly turned into commitment. By age 6, she started competing and quickly fell in love with performing under the lights.

Her hard work recently paid off in a major way. Wymberly achieved the level of Preliminary Champ Dancer—an impressive milestone she reached in under two years after starting as a beginner. Adding to the excitement, she recently learned that she will be competing at nationals this July, another significant step in her growing dance career.

Balancing school and dance takes planning. Wymberly attends dance practice four nights a week while keeping up with nightly homework, fitting everything in before or after practice. Along the way, she has learned the value of persistence and patience, lessons she carries both on and off the dance floor.

She credits her coaches, Tara Shea Ennis and Paige Kelly, for guiding her development and encouraging her along the way. Looking ahead, Wymberly hopes to one day compete at the World Championships in Ireland.

Her advice to other young athletes is simple and sincere: Irish dancing is a fun way to be an athlete, and hard work truly pays off.