Just one year after picking up a yo-yo for the first time, 9-year-old Grayson Rhea of Summerville has rocketed to national acclaim, earning first place in the 9 & Under Sport Division at the 2025 National Yo-Yo Contest held this past weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Grayson will now compete at the World Yo-Yo Contest this August in Prague, Czech Republic, in the Junior 16 & Under Division.
He is coached by Hunter Feuerstein, who is ranked 3rd in the world, and is a member of Hunter’s “Spotlight Team,” sponsored by YoYoFactory, Original Throw String, Hunter YoYos, and Gibb (Yea That Gibb).
Grayson also leads a local club, Low Country Throwers, which meets twice monthly in the Charleston area to introduce people to the fun and creativity of yo-yo.
“The best part isn’t the medal,” Grayson said. “It’s meeting people, having fun, and sharing yo-yo with others.”