PERFECT 10 FOR QUINCY'S YOUNG GYMNAST, TWO TOP SCORES, HOURS OF PRACTICE ARE JUST PART OF THE ROUTINE - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

QUINCY Jenna Tobin is a 10-year-old who has learned she can beperfect.

Tobin, of Quincy, scored a 10 on the balance beam in the Level 6state gymnastics competition in April. It was her second perfectscore this year.

Perfect 10s are few and far between, said Megan Kohan, one ofTobin's coaches at the New England Sports Academy in Westwood.

'It doesn't really happen around here,' said Kohan, who hascoached for 13 years. 'I've never seen a 10. Jenna in [the judges']eyes did everything.'

Tobin is proud of her accomplishment, but she would rather talkabout other things. At home, she can't watch an interview she didwith a cable television station. Instead she runs out of the roomcovering her eyes and peeks around the corner to see when it's over.

'She's very humble,' Kohan said. 'She understands what she's done,but she doesn't see it as such a big deal. . . . She doesn't look atherself as any better or special than anyone else.'

When Jenna was 3, Kevin and Kris Tobin signed their daughter upfor tumbling along with basketball, soccer, and dance classes.

A coach encouraged the Tobins to sign Jenna up for more advancedtumbling classes. Eventually, Jenna concentrated on gymnastics. Whenshe signed up for competitive training at NESA, Kris Tobin was unsureof how Jenna would respond. Kris Tobin described the structuredatmosphere as similar to 'boot camp' and was surprised by Jenna'sresponse.

'She looked at me and she said, `Mom, I love it,' ' Kris Tobinsaid.

During the school year, Jenna is at the gym four hours a day, fivedays a week. She does not mind the commitment.

Jenna scored her first 10 on the beam at the Boston Classic, anevent hosted by NESA.

'When it happened, I knew I got a 10, right when I got off and mycoach hugged me,' Jenna said.

Her teammates were there to celebrate. So were her parents andyounger sister, Kaylee, as they always are for her events. Herparents have encouraged Jenna and learned about the sport along withher.

When Jenna is nervous, she said, she thinks to herself, 'my mind,my body, my soul.' Kevin Tobin, a lieutenant for the Quincy PoliceDepartment, shared the phrase with Jenna.

'It teaches you to calm down and let your training take over,' hesaid.

Jenna said her best performances are when she is nervous. Shecompetes in the beam, bars, floor, and vault. Kohan said the beam isone of her best events because of her clean presentations.

Jenna's teammates also are well trained on the beam. Eva Ringquistscored a 9.9 in an event earlier this year. The team also includesAlexandra Fareri, Emily Paterson, Sara Schupp, Marie Schupp, andEmily Nolton. Ashot Gasparyn is a coach. The team finished first inthe competition in April in the state.

'If you practice the way you do in the gym, once you get to acompetition, it will be the same way,' Jenna said.

Jenna's achievements include the highest all-around score in allage groups as a Level 5 and Level 6.

She has improved her skills by attending camps such as the WorldGymnastics Academy in Plano, Texas, where Olympic gold medalist CarlyPatterson participated. In Jenna's bedroom is an autographed photofrom the camp that includes Patterson and other gymnasts.

The photo is near her bed in an organized bedroom decorated inpink. Medals dangle from her bed and a shelf lined with trophies.Mixed in with the symbols of her accomplishment are the toys of a 10-year-old. She would rather play with antique dolls than Barbies andloves coloring books.

Jenna said she has clear goals for her future.

'I want to go to college and get a scholarship,' Jenna said.'Maybe if I work really hard, I can make the Olympics.'