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2010 Arkansas State Championships

Level Five - Ten

March 19 - 20

Probably one of the biggest weekends of the 2009-2010 competitive gymnastics season is over and we all survived!!!!!  The Arkansas 2010 State Championships for Levels Five through Ten were held at the Jack Stephens Center, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) this weekend, beginning with Level Five Sessions on Friday and ending Saturday evening with the session for Level Seven gymnasts.  Can imagine how the coaches felt after such a long weekend.  It was tiring, stressful and fun for 353 gymnasts, and who knows how many coaches, parents and grandparents from 25 teams.

The beautiful and most impressive Jack Stephens Center at UALR (with the oh-so-comfortable seats)

Before the start of the meet Friday noon

Many gymnasts and parents were in awe when they walked in and saw this wonderful competitive area.

For some of you who want to say "Give me the facts, M'am, just the facts!"  Here it is, in case you wish to go no further - Jacksonville Gymnastics won the following - Level Five - Seventh-Place Team Award; Level Six - Fifth-Place Team Award; Level Seven - Fifth-Place Team Award; Level Eight - Third-Place Team Award; Level Nine - State Championship Award; and Level Ten - Kayla received Fourth.  We have Four State Champions, several nearly-State Champions and several Event Champions.  We have three Level Eight gymnasts and three Level Nine gymnasts going to Regionals!  We are so very proud of each and every one of our gymnasts!!!!!

Now for those of you who would like some of the details  - - - - - - - -

The competition for 196 Level Five competitors began at noon Friday with 89 gymnasts competing in the noon-time session and another 87 gymnasts competing in the 5:00 evening session.  Competitors in the noontime session were ages 7, 9 10, 13, 14 and 15.  Competitors in the evening session were ages 8, 11 and 12. 

Arkansas changed things a bit this year regarding awards.  With Level Five competitions, five top scores may be taken for team awards, which really makes it unfair for teams with fewer than five gymnasts at that level on their team.  This past summer, the Board decided to change it for this year and it seems to make it much more fair for the smaller teams.  The teams were divided into Larger teams with five team members and more, and Smaller teams with four or less team members.  For larger team, the top five scores on each event were totaled for team score, and for the smaller teams, three top scores were taken for team score.  Team honors were awarded for six smaller teams and they received the State Banners.  Team honors were awarded for ten teams with a nice plaque-like trophy.  At the other levels, the team awards were reversed with banners going to the top teams.  

The number of gymnasts was so large at several levels and ages, that the age brackets were broken down into smaller flights, thus giving more gymnasts the honor of being at the top of their bracket.  The flights were determined by date of birth, so gymnasts competed against gymnasts of nearly their exact age.   Awards for the events went out 50% but All-Around honors went all the way out, with medals being awarded for the honors.

The following Level Five gymnasts competed for Jacksonville Gymnastics Team in the first session - Madison Barnhill, Miranda Chambers, Daliaana Gonzalez, Sara Heil, Olivia Hodson, Mollie Johnson, Sarah Seibel and Marissa Wallace.  Competing in the second (evening) session were Sarah Balenko, Katlyn Grace, Jenna Mecca, Lauren Osburn, Jadyn Perkins, Sydney Shumate and Allison Tubbs.  Three more Level Five team members were unable to compete - Courtney Jackson, Cambrie Wade and Rachel Wyrick. 

The Jacksonville Team proudly won the Seventh-Place Team Award.  Allison Tubbs and Sydney Shumate won the State Championship for All-Around and additionally eight Event Championships were won for their age and flight bracket by the Jax Gym gymnasts.  Also, the difference in being the State Champion on an event and possibly being third many times was a matter of tenths or even hundredths. The following top honors were awarded to Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Five team members, and remember gymnasts, a first was not just a first, but event champion.  (And not trying to baby our gymnasts or make excuses, but do remember that there are some gyms that work out many more hours a week than others.)

We are so proud of all of our gymnasts, especially knowing the hard work that is required to be a gymnast.

First Session Level Five gymnasts with Coach Laurel and Coach Christy.  First row, Madison; second row, l to r, Sarah, Miranda, Mollie, Olivia; third row, Daliaana, Sara, Marissa and Coach Christy.  Coach Laurel is behind the gymnasts.  (Gymnasts always look refreshed after a competition but for the rest of us, we all looked a little more refreshed at the start of the weekend, than at the end!!!)

Just look at the faces of these happy Jax Gym Level Five gymnasts who had just completed the second session of the Meet.  There is just something about gymnastics that brings out that happy and healthy glow - maybe it's their pride showing!!!!  Front row, Sarah, and behind her, Jenna; third row, Courtney, Sydney, Allison and Jadyn; standing, Lauren and Katlyn.

Allison, Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Five All-Around State Champion - 2010

Sydney, Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Five All-Around State Champion - 2010

Saturday morning began awfully early at 8:00 - now this may not seem early, but if you get up at 5:30 just cuz you want the same great seat as the night before - it's early!  Sixty-one Level Six gymnasts from nineteen teams competed in this morning session.  Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Six team members who competed were Sabrina Barger, Sarah Beavers, Abby Houghtaling, Briyana Isaac, Anna Koehler, Reagan Lear, Allison Ramsey, Sierra Rohauer, Skylar Spaeth, Madi Spears and Shelby Yates.  The Level Six Team won the Fifth-Place State Championship Team Banner and the following honors:

Having just completed the competition, it's time to take a  breath! Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Six Team members from l to r, front row are Sarah, Reagan, Abby, Sierra and Allison.  Second row gymnasts, l to r, are Shelby, Skylar, Sabrina, Anna, Madi and Briyana.

Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Six Team members are shown here with their Level Six Fifth-Place State Championship Banner.  Way to go girls!

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