CULLOM - Athletic success requires dedication. Sarah Wright's dedication to gymnastics since 2001 has included making a 2½-hour round-trip drive five days a week from Cullom to Bloomington's Rising Stars Academy.

The Tri-Point High School senior's commitment has paid off in a full scholarship to Western Michigan University, with whom she will sign a national letter of intent in November.

"It definitely gets tiring," said Wright of the trip. "When I was little, it wasn't that bad because I could sleep in the car. As I got older and got my drivers' license, it became a struggle."

Wright's trek to her gym was more manageable in 1998 when Rising Stars Academy opened in Pontiac. When it changed locations in 2001 to Bloomington, she stuck with Rising Stars and coaches Russ Berndt and Rebecca Henline.

"She has had her sights set on college gymnastics ever since I can remember," Berndt said of his first Division I college recruit. "To see that come to fruition is fantastic. It's been a joy coaching her."

Wright credits her coaches for teaching her "everything I know in the sport."

Wright, who won a Level 9 national balance beam title in 2007 and placed seventh in the all-around, chose Western Michigan over Northern Illinois.

"I liked everything about the coach (Terry Karwoski)," Wright said. "The girls on the team were very welcoming. It's nice to know where I am going. Now I can have a good last year (before college)."

Wright, who won a Level 8 state title in floor exercise in 2004, hopes to crack Western Michigan's scoring lineup as a freshman.

"I'd like to do the all-around, but I will do whatever they need me to do," she said.

Wright, who has competed at Level 10 the past year, has career best scores of 9.55 on the beam, 9.5 on the bars and 9.3 on vault and floor exercise.

"She's actually a fantastic all-around athlete," Berndt said.

Wright, whose parents are Steve and Nancy Wright, has a 4.15 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and is ranked in the top three of her class. She plans to major in exercise science and minor in business.