Team Moyo

When all is going right for yo-yo experts, they've got the world on a string and the crowd in the palm of their hands.

Whew. Now with those puns behind us, let's look at some teens who compete in national yo-yo tournaments and will spin their skills at "St. Louis Holiday Magic" on Sunday at America's Center.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Team Moyo.

These young men have taken this ancient fun toy to the next level. Forget about "walking the dog," "around the world" or "rocking the baby." Those tricks are mere child's play for these competitors who flow through intricate freestyle routines.

So why do they spend most of their free hours flinging and flipping?

"It's fun, and it's portable," said Jacob Monash, 16, of Wildwood, who is part of the group that meets most Saturdays at City Museum to practice, talk shop and display their cases — yes, cases — of yo-yos.

"I have upwards of a hundred yo-yos, I guess," Monash said. "The most expensive is about $120. But right now I'm using a $30 one. It's from Doc Popular, a yo-yo maker in San Francisco."

Monash caught the yo-yo bug in the late 1990s when the Yomega company introduced a yo-yo with bearings — a popular model was "The Brain" — which allowed users to more easily perform tricks.

"There was a TV commercial and these kids were fooling around and I started doing them," he said, offhandedly working on his routine as he talked. "Now I have a yo-yo with me wherever I go. At school, they call me the 'Yo-Yo Kid.'

"But that's what I like, that I can do it just about anywhere I want. And I found out that I was actually good at it," he said.

On any given Saturday, a dozen or so teens will show up and trade tricks while entertaining crowds at City Museum. This is Club Moyo, the larger parent group that spawned the four who will perform Sunday.

Brandon Cole, 16, of Eureka, who spun his Duncan Free-Hand Zero as he chatted, rarely misses a club meeting. "I really got into it in about the fifth grade, when I saw some videos on YouTube."

Brandon's dad, Bill Cole, said his son and his yo-yo are all but inseparable.

"It's like an extension of his body; he's doing it all the time," Cole said. "Not only am I amazed at how much talent he has, but I've noticed that performing (at the City Museum) and going to competitions has really helped his confidence."

As a testament to the drawing power of the yo-yo, Cody Cassiday, 22; Ben Karaianis, 20; and Mike Bartlett, 18, drove down from Springfield, Ill., for the club meeting.

"In Springfield, it's just about us when it comes to yo-yos. So we come down here and hang out. There's more people and maybe we pick up new tricks," Karaianis said. "We make it down about once a month."

Shea Massey, 13, was the youngest to spin into the meeting. He is trying to form his own club in Farmington, Mo.

"I got one when I was about 7, as a gift, and I just loved it. So now I'm trying to get my own club together and spread the word about yo-yoing," Shea said.

When asked if it was the competition, the crowds or the cool products that made him so enamored with yo-yoing, Massey managed to cut to the chase about the toy's timeless appeal.

"Every time I land a trick," he said, "I smile."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• yoyo

[yoyokid0898]

y did you copy a vid

[guitarhero3person]

hey im shea massey i was in that vid