The Narre Warren South youngster, who is this week's Sports Star of the Week, is competing in several events at Gymnastics Australia's 2008 Trampoline Sports national championships in Bendigo.

It's a tough regime, combining about 10hours of training a week at the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre with his academic workload as a year 10 student at Berwick's Kambrya College.

But Andrew is quietly confident about his leaping to trampoline glory.

"If I am having a good day ... I should be expecting a place,'' he says.

Andrew started competing from the age of 10 and once placed second at the nationals in his section.

This time around, he is required to perform nine consecutive double somersaults and a single somersault -with a variety of twists - in about 30 seconds.

It sounds daunting, but Andrew says the crash mats surrounding trampolines make the sport quite safe.

Apart from a few sprained ankles, the worst injury he had happened recently when he landed on his back and accidentally bit his knee.

"I needed four stitches but it wasn't too bad.''

Andrew's ultimate goal is to one day compete at the Olympic Games, which accepted trampolining as an event in 2000.

He acknowledges his dedication to a sport that attracts few sponsors involves sacrifices.

"But if it's something you enjoy, you're willing to do it.''

Head trampoline coach at the leisure centre Chris Chatfield praised Andrew as a fearless, fast learner with excellent technical skills.

"I honestly believe that with a little bit more hard work and training he will get there [to the top],'' he says.

Chatfield has coached another five young trampolinists - ranging from 10 to 16years - who will also compete at the nationals and expects them all to do well.

All six, including Andrew, belong to the trampolining stream of Endeavour Hills Gymsports and train at the leisure centre.

The father of one of the young trampolinists, Steve Reardon, recently appealed to Casey Council for help because there was not enough room for the youngsters to train in the centre's gymnastics hall.

Instead, he says, they have to practise in the back corner of the basketball courts, where they compete for time and space with other sports and must use precious training time to set up and then pack away their equipment.

To nominate a Sports Star of the Week, write to us: Sports Star, the Journal, editorial department, PO Box 318, Dandenong 3175 or email:journal@fairfax .com.au