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2012 Aspiring Athletes Competitive Meet

BARNHILL ARENA - FAYETTEVILLE

January 21 - 22, 2012

Events started off with a big bang at Barnhill Arena at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, on Friday night, for those of us who were able to attend the competition between the Lady Razorback Gymnastics Team and the LSU Ladies Gymnastics Team.  It was a fun time for all and especially fun to see the higher level of skills so adeptly performed by the gymnasts.  It makes us appreciate all the more the level at which our gymnasts are competing and how far our gymnasts have come.  It was also special to see the good win by Arkansas.  And it was just announced today that the Lady Gym Backs were ranked Number One.  Yeah!!!!!

And then for those of us crazy enough to stay for the Razorback Basketball Pep Rally, all I can say is "What a fun time that was!!!!"  My first (and possibly my last) Razorback basketball pep rally; it was really loud and really fun to watch these young people having a great time - and so easy for us to get caught up in the excitement of the rally.  Also fun to watch the cheerleaders, the twirlers and the pom squad with their performances.  I was sorry that in the rush to get to the meet I had gotten out of the hotel without my camera so I am unable to share some of the excitement with you.  (I do have some of the game the next day that I will put on a third page of this article.)  The basketball players were introduced to lead up to the excitement of the game between the Hogs and Michigan game - and if that wasn't exciting enough, the football players from this last great season were introduced - however many of them there were (many, many) , along with the hopeful new recruits.  And for those of us who were lucky enough to quickly leave the gymnastics competition and go watch Arkansas defeat Michigan at Bud Walton Arena the next day, it was an especially exiting weekend.  Enough of that - now on to the Gymnastics Meet. 

The Aspiring Athletes Invitational Meet, hosted by Aspire Gymnastics Academy, was held Saturday and Sunday in Barnhill Arena.  It was wonderful to have the viewing at Barnhill and we were treated wonderfully by Aspire - parents and coaches alike. 

The meet began Saturday morning and ended Sunday afternoon.  Fourteen teams from four states were represented by 379 competing gymnasts.  Those states represented were Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.  The Jacksonville Gymnastics Team, aka Jax Gym,  competed Levels Four - Ten at this meet.  Banners were awarded to the teams; ribbons were awarded to competitors; medals were awarded on each event to the top three scorers; and trophies were awarded to the top three individual all-around winners. (Individual all-around winners are determined by totaling the four event scores of the gymnast.)

USAG has determined how many gymnasts can compete in each session and the set-up of the gym has a bearing on the number.  It is up to the meet director as to how he or she chooses to run the meet - by ages or by teams.  (At State Meet, teams will be divided by ages, due to the large numbers of competitors.)   Part of our Level Five gymnasts and part of our Level Six gymnasts were in the first session, and then the remaining Level Five and Level Six gymnasts were in the second session.   Team awards were given at the end of the second session.  Since the levels  were split by ages in the two sessions, full-level pictures were not available and some of the gymnasts may not be in any of the pictures; I personally apologize for that.  I really appreciate that some of the parents took pictures for me since I wasn't there at the end of the first session. 

Competing Level Five for Jax Gym in the first session were the following gymnasts:  Lyndi Brown, Makenzie Cresswell, Harlyn Hogan, Clara Scott, Mayla Spoon and Elizabeth Thornhill.  Competing in the second session were Alexis Clouser, Scarlett Frederic, Rani Heinmiller, M'Lynn Johnson, Alexis Truesdail and Alexandria Wargo.  Four other Level Five team gymnasts were unable to attend.  The Level Five Team won the Fifth-Place Team Banner.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Photo by Bruce Brown

Jax Gym Level Five and Level Six Gymnasts who competed in the first session Saturday morning at the Aspiring Athletes Invitational at Barnhill Arena are shown here.  Sitting on the beam, from left to right, are Mia (6),  Mayla (5), Clara (5), Morganne (6) Harlyn (5), Elizabeth (5), Makenzie (5) and Lyndi (5).  Kneeling is Jenna (6).

The Jax Gym Level Five gymnasts who competed in the second session are shown here with their Fifth-place Level Five Team Banner won by the Level Five gymnasts in the two sessions.  From left to right are Alexis T, Rani, Alex, Scarlett, M'Lynn and Alexis C.

Top honors won by the Level Five gymnasts are shown here.

Alexis posed here after winning the First-Place Individual All-Around, Level Five

Jax Gym Level Six gymnasts who competed in the first session were Mia Faulkner, Morganne Jumper and Jenna Mecca.  Competing in the second session were  Sarah Balenko, Miranda Chambers, Sara Heil, Olivia Hodson, Cami Kita, Ainsley Robinson, Danielle Sheesley and Kaitlyn Sheesley.  Taylor Stauffer, another team member, could not attend due to an injury and she was missed by her fellow team members.

Shown here with their Fourth-Place Team Banner are Level Six Team members who competed in the second session.  From left to right are Danielle, Ainsley, Sarah, Miranda, Cami, Kaitlyn, Olivia, Sara and Jenna, who stayed to cheer on her team members.

The Jax Gym Level Six team members won the Fourth-Place Team Banner.  Top honors were awarded as follows:

Sara Heil won First-Place Individual All-Around

Optionals - Levels Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten competed in the evening session.  Some of the Optionals formed a circle with Coaches Laurel, Stacy and Lindsey and I thought they were going to stomp their feet, jump up and down, rock side to side and yell chants, but, disappointedly, they were just getting a pep talk and last minute instructions.

Competing at Level Seven for Jax Gym were Sabrina Barger, Madison Cresswell, Emma Faulkner, Joshuline Gaynor, Briyana Isaac, Skylar Martin, Madi Spears, Allison Tubbs, and Caytee Wright.  The Team won the Third-Place Team Banner. 

Jax Gym Level Seven Team members show off their third-place team banner.  On the beam, from left to right, are Emma, Briyana, Madi, Sabrina, Madison, Skylar, Allison and Joshuline.  In front of the beam are Caytee and Lynzie.

Top honors were awarded to:

Competing Jax Gym Level Eight gymnasts were Hollyann Beckner, Taylor Butler, Tonie Butler, Jessica McDonough, Allison Ramsey, Jordan Rogers and Stephanie Singleton, who is a beam and floor specialist.  The team won the Second-Place Team Banner.

Seated on the beam, from left to right, are Tonie, Jordan, Hollyann, Allison and Jessica.  Kneeling are Taylor and Stephanie.

Katelin McLain, Jax Gym Level Nine Gymnast won First Place on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor and won First Place Individual All-Around.

Competing Level Ten for Jax Gym were Haley Edgin and Taylor Rai Johnson.  The gymnasts placed as follows:

Kaitlin, Level Nine, and Taylor Rai and Haley, Level Ten, are shown here, after a great competition.

The higher the level, the nuttier!!!!

Level Nine First-Place Individual All-Around Winner Katelin McLain and Level Ten First-Place Individual All-Around Winner Haley Edgin.

Click here for Level Four Results and pictures on Page Two

Friday, January 20,2012- Lady Razorbacks Vs LSU

Saturday, January 21 Session 1

8:30 am                     Level 5 (ages7-8,9,10)- Harlyn, Elizabeth, Makenzie, Lyndi, and Mayla

                                   Level 6 (ages 9,11,13+)- Mia, Morganne, Taylor, and Jenna

Saturday, January 21 Session 2

1:00 pm                     Level 5 (ages11,12,13+) Rani, Scarlett, M'Lynn, Alex, Alexis T, and Alexis C

                                   Level 6 (ages10,12) Sarah, Cami, Ainsley, Miranda, Danielle, Kaitlyn, Sara H, Olivia

Saturday, January 21 Session 3

5:30 pm                     Level 7-10 (all)

Sunday, January 22 Session 4

9:00 am                     Level 4 (ages 6,7,9) Isabelle, Kylie, Chandler, Kayla, Marissa, and Hannah

Sunday, January 22 Session 5

1:30 pm                     Level 4 (ages 8,10 and up) Molly, Carson, Kaitlin, Katie,Madison, Samantha, and Ariana

Please have you gymnast there and ready to compete on time.