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Jacksonville Gymnastics 2009 Mock Meet

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Jacksonville Gymnastics team held its annual mock meet on Saturday, November 7, 2009.  The mock meet, a sanctioned event with state judges, is held to determine "how the gymnasts are doing" at their present level.  It is a good measuring tool not only for the coaches but also for the parents and gymnasts.  It is understood that it is just a starting place and each gymnast will improve with each meet.  It also allows the new parents to observe a meet and to get a feel for what competing is all about.  And, if the other parents and grandparents feel as I do, it makes us all more eager for the new competition season to begin - the goal that the gymnasts work toward from March to November each year (working on new skills) and then continuing to work from November and back to March again - competing the skills they learned during the working season.

It should be noted here for our parents that sometimes gymnasts move from level to the next level, but that is not always the case.  There are several levels where it is very important for the gymnast to "hone her skills" in order to be a better gymnast in future years.  As we all know, gymnastics is a sport that is based on building blocks of skills, and it is very important to have skills at a certain level before moving upward.  Many of our gymnasts have stayed at the same level for two years in order to build that strong foundation.  We all are so proud of our gymnasts and team to see what wonderful progress each has made.

The gymnasts were scored on each event--vault, bars, beam and floor exercise--and placements were announced for age brackets on each event and then for all-around honors.  Gymnasts were presented with medals for each event, (and all-around) so each gymnast earned five medals.  All-around placements are determined by the total score of each gymnast on the four events.  Sometimes the all-around placement is a surprise because it is not the event placements that determine the score, but the total of the gymnast's event scores.

It is important to remember that most gymnasts compete during the season at the age they will be at certain competitions.  Level Threes, however, are different, and the meet director determines the age levels.  At our meet, the gymnasts competed at the age they will be January 1st - other meets may be the age they are; Level Fours compete at the age they will be at Fun Meet in March; Levels Five through Seven will compete at age of State Meet in March; and Levels Eight, Nine and Ten compete at age they will be at Regional Competitions held in either late March or April.    Your gymnast may be seven years old at this time and for most of the season, but may be competing with actual eight-year-old gymnasts.  This eliminates trying to get actual ages for each meet and works out for the best in the long run.  For website purposes, we also use the competing age.

For those of you who are new to competitive gymnastics, Jacksonville Gymnastics competes Levels Three through Ten.  Other states begin competing gymnasts at Level One and Two.  We choose to not do that.  Levels One through Six are compulsory levels.  That means that each gymnast on each level competes the same routine for the four events as determined by USAG rules and all USAG gymnasts across the nation compete these same routines, thus the name Compulsories.  The music at these levels has been changed this year and it is optional as to whether a coach may decide to use last year's music or the changed music - so  you may hear both at meets.

At levels Seven through Ten, coaches determine the routines for the events, and music for the floor work is decided by the gymnast and the coach.  These levels are called Optional Gymnasts or Optional Levels.  Skills are determined for each level by USAG and routines must contain certain skills but the order of those skills within the routine is determined by the coach.   

The Saturday meet began at 8:00 with the arrival of the new Level Three gymnasts and the Level Five team, most of whom who had competed with us at Level Four. 

Level Three and Level Five gymnasts await the start of the Mock Meet.

The Level Three gymnasts range in age from five to eleven years old.

Proudly participating in their first meet of the season are the following Level Three gymnasts (and I'm really hoping that I have these right - I'm going by the leotards - no guarantees when they receive their competitive leos!!!).  Front row, from left to right, are Alexis Truesdail, Caitlin Culpepper, Carson Young, Shelby Haver, Scarlett Frederic, Iona Kegler and Kaylin Broughton.  Back row gymnasts from left to right are Elizabeth Thornhill, Julia Hughes, Sydney Fortson, Chandler Dean, Meia Young and Mayla Spoon.  Unable to compete due to illness was Lexi Brown.  Great job, Level Threes!!!

These Level Five gymnasts range in age from eight to thirteen years old. 

Front row, from left to right, are Rachel Wyrick, Daliaana Gonzalex, Sydney Shumate, Katlyn Grace, Lauren Osburn, Jadyn Perkins, Molly Johnson, Jenna Mecca and Madison Barnhill.  Back row, left to right, are Marissa Wallace, Cambrie Wade, Courtney Jackson, Sara Balenko, Miranda Chambers, Olivia Hodson and Sara Heil.  Unable to compete was Allison Tubbs.

First-place all-around winners for their age brackets were Sara Balenko, Miranda Chambers, Katlyn Grace and Madison Barnhill. 

Levels Four and Six competed in the last session of the day.

Our Level Four gymnasts range in age from six through twelve years. 

Level Four gymnasts who competed in the Mock Meet, on front row, left to right, are Melanie Fortson, Alex Wargo, Madison Dixon, Catherine Hancock, and Taylor Stauffer.  Back row, left to right are Breanna Orr, Gracie Petefish, Reagan Hodson, Macey Jasmin and Graycyn Powers.

First place all-around honors for Level Four for their age brackets were Macey Jasmin, Reagan Hodson, Madison Dixon, Taylor Stauffer and Catherine Hancock.

The team was sad to lose Roberta Cordts.  Roberta and her family have moved to Texas to be close to Roberta's mother who is ill.  We will miss Roberta.

Please click for Page Two and the Levels Six through Ten details and photographs.

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