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JACKSONVILLE GYMNASTICS TEAM HOSTS LARGE THREE-DAY  COMPETITION  

2012 EMERALD CLASSIC

BIG SUCCESS!!!

2012 Emerald Classic Awards Stand - wouldn't be empty for long!!!

The banner made for us last year got a little crumpled with all the traffic going up the stairs - but we were pleased that it was there and we know that it helped inspire the Jax Gym girls to do their best!!!

Jacksonville Gymnastics hosted its Emerald Classic Competitive Gymnastics Meet this past weekend (March 9 – 11) at the Cabot High School Gymnasium.  The meet which began Friday afternoon and ended Sunday evening, brought much revenue to Cabot and central Arkansas.

This annual early March meet is traditionally one of the largest gymnastics meets held in the state, bringing over 630 gymnasts and families to central Arkansas.  These gymnasts were from twenty-seven teams from Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.  The gymnasts competed Levels Two through Ten and ranged in age from four years to eighteen years.  The gymnasts from each level competed vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor routines.  The home team, Jax Gym, encompasses gymnasts from both the Jacksonville and North Little Rock facilities.  Both gyms and the Huff ‘n Puff business are under the management of Head Coach Laurel Adams.

Coach Adams and the coaching staff have been hosting meets since 1998.  From 2000 to 2008, the meet was known as the Sweetheart Invitational and became the Emerald Classic in 2009.  The meet is so large that the double gymnasiums at Cabot High School are utilized.

Several months and many hours of work went into the preparations for this meet.  On Friday morning, many people--coaches,  parents and volunteers from Little Rock Air Force Base--showed up early to help unload the large truck and set up the equipment in both gymnasiums.  One cannot imagine the physical work required to set up for the meet.  The coaches and staff, however, were ready to go before the first session began at 4:00.

We've all heard about how it takes a village - well this is true of hosting a meet, but it's also really true for coaching a team as large as the Jax Gymnastics Competitive Team.  The coaches for Jax Gym are (in no particular order) Head Coach Laurel Adams, Optional Coaches Stacy Howerton, Dennis Harris and Lindsey Sweet; Compulsory coaches:  Christie Ellis, Kristi Johnson, Jackie York, Kayla Edgin, Jessica Negron, Michal Hodson, and Kerri Hogan. 

Other staff members who helped make the meet such a success were Shelly Soderlund, Andi Holeman, Jessica Holeman, Jackie Cross, LaConya Isaac, and Coaches Michelle McGowan and Bobby Churches. 

Briyana Isaac, Level Seven Gymnast, beautifully sang the "Star Spangled Banner" for several of the sessions.  Michael York played the music for the entire meet.  John Ellis and Glynis Ghormley were responsible for the computer work for the meet.  We are so appreciative of this assistance.

Our own very talented Briyana Isaac sang the National Anthem

Jacksonville Gymnastics made sure that all gymnasts knew that they were important in the Emerald Classic and each gymnast received a medal for each event as well as for all-around.  Banners were made for the Team Awards.  Also, Jax Gym traditionally gives a special trophy to the gymnast who earns the highest score for each session.

Friday Afternoon - First Session - Level Two Teams

The meet began Friday afternoon with 25 Level Two Gymnasts from four Teams competing.  Competing for the Jacksonville Gymnastics (Jax Gym) Level Two team were Anna Baggett, Tristan Brown, Camryn Callahan, Kenzie Howerton, Kasha Lincoln, Sarah Grace Moss, Abby Reed, Lakin Shaw, Isabella Staggs, Whitney Stewart, Parkin Toula, and Tessa West.  These gymnasts were as young as four to seven years old.  This was the last meet of the season for these gymnasts.  They will continue to train and work on their Level Two skills and begin progressing toward Level Three. 

Competing Level Two with Jacksonville Gymnastics were the gymnasts shown here.  From left to right front row are Lakin, Parkin and Kenzie.  Second row gymnasts (left to right) are Abby, Sarah Grace, Tessa, Kasha and Camryn.  Back row gymnasts from left to right are Whitney, Tristan, Anna and Isabella.  These gymnasts did a great job in their Friday afternoon session.

As you may know, in Arkansas there are no team awards given to Level Two teams.  The following top honors (First, Second and Third Place) were awarded to the Jax Gym gymnasts.

Pictured below are the Jax Gym Level Two gymnasts who won First Place Individual All-Around honors.  This means that they had the highest total for the four events.

Kenzie Howerton - the youngest Level Two Jax Gymnast won First-Place Individual All-Around for her age group.

Abby Reed, Level Two Jax Gymnast won First-Place Individual All-Around honors for her age group.

Friday Afternoon - Second Session - Level Four Teams

There were two large sessions held in the meet for Level Four gymnasts.  The first session of Level Four gymnasts was held Friday afternoon at 5:30 with 96 gymnasts from eleven teams competing, including the thirteen Level Four gymnasts from Jax Gym. 

Competing Level Four for Jax Gym were Kylie Belew, Kaitlin Beratto, Molly Boroughs, Marissa Brown, Chandler Dean, Kayla Goldsmith, Katie Groff, Hannah Heflin, Sophie Miller, Isabelle Rhodes, Samantha Stephens, Madison Weeks and Carson White. 

Posing here with two of their coaches, Kayla Edgin on left and Jessica Negron on the right, are the Jax Gym Level Four Gymnasts.  From left to right, front row are Molly, Marissa, Chandler, Isabelle and Kylie.  Back row, left to right, are Carson, Madison, Kayla, Hannah, Katie, Sophie, Kaitlin and Samantha.

Winning top honors for the team were:

Saturday Morning - First Session - Level Three Gymnasts

The sessions on Saturday morning began at 8:00 with 74 Level Three gymnasts from eleven teams competing.  There was another entire session for Level Three gymnasts on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday Morning - Second Session - Some Level Five Teams and All Level Seven Teams

Some Level Five teams and all Level Seven Team gymnasts competed in the second session of the morning.  Many of the Level Seven teams also have a  Level Five team, but their Level Five team may have had too many gymnasts to compete at the same time as their Level Seven gymnasts.  There were ten Level Five teams with 34 gymnasts competing in this session.  There were 37 Level Seven gymnasts from twelve teams competing in this session.

This was an especially exciting session for the Jax Gym Level Seven Team as they not only won the First-Place Team Banner but they won over an out-of-state team who is known for winning at the national level and had five of the six college gymnastics scholarships earned last year from their state.  Hurray for Jax!  Competing for Jax Gym were Sabrina Barger, Madison Cresswell, Emma Faulkner, Joshuline Gaynor, Briyana Isaac, Skylar Martin, Madi Spears, Lynzie VanBrocklin and Caytee Wright.  The youngest team member, Allison Tubbs, has been sidelined with a broken bone in her foot.   

Pictured here after winning the First-Place Team Banner are Jax Gym Level Seven Gymnasts.  From left to right are Briyana, Madison, Sabrina, Joshuline, Caytee, Emma, Skylar, Madi, Lynzie and Allison.  We're so proud of you all!

The following top honors were earned by the team.

Skylar Martin - Level Seven First-Place Individual All-Around

Joshuline Gaynor, Level Seven First-Place Individual All-Around Winner

Saturday Afternoon - Third Session - All Level Six Teams and Prep-Op Silver

Sixty-four Level Six gymnasts from thirteen teams, including the Jax Gym Level Six gymnasts competed in this third session of the day.  Competing for the home team were Sarah Balenko, Miranda Chambers, Mia Faulkner, Sara Heil, Olivia Hodson, Morganane Jumper, Cami Kita, Jenna Mecca, Ainsley Robinson, Daniells Sheesley and Kaitlyn Sheesley.  The Jax Gym Level Six Team won the Fourth-Place Team Banner.

Jax Gym Level Six Gymnasts are shown here after competing and winning the Fourth-Place Team Banner.  Gymnasts from left to right are Sara, Miranda, Sarah, Ainsley, Danielle, Morganne, Kaitlyn, Olivia, Cami and Mia.  Jenna was not available for the photo.

Top Honors were won by the following:

Saturday Evening - Fourth Session - Level Eight, Nine and Ten Teams and Gymnasts

Competing in the last session on Saturday were Level Eight, Nine and Ten gymnasts.  Competing were 26 Level Eight gymnasts from eight teams, five Level Nine gymnasts from four teams and three Level Ten gymnasts from two teams.  Competing Level Eight for Jax Gym were Hollyann Beckner, Taylor Butler, Jessica McDonough, Allison Ramsey, Jordan Rogers and Stephanie Singleton.  Tonie Butler could not compete due to having the flu.  The Jax Team won the Third-Place Team Banner. 

The Jax Gym Level Eight Gymnasts are shown here after winning the Third-Place Team Banner.  From left to right are Jordan, Tonie, Allison, Stephanie, Hollyann, Jessica and Taylor.

Top honors were won by:

Katelin McLain, Jax Gym Level Nine gymnast competed with five Level Nine gymnasts from four teams.  Katelin won First-Place Individual All-Around!!!!  And she also won the following top honors:

Jax Gym Level Nine Gymnast Katelin McLain - First Place Individual All-Around Winner for Level Nine Gymnasts

Taylor Rai Johnson, Jax Gym Level Ten gymnast, won the following top honors:  Vault - Second: Bars - Second; Beam - Third and Floor - Second.  Taylor won First-Place Individual All-Around honors.  Haley Edgin, Jax Gym other Level Ten gymnast is sidelined for the time being with a stress fracture in her ankle.

Taylor Rai Johnson - Jax Gym Level Ten Gymnast - First-Place Individual All-Around Winner

Taylor Rai and Katelin

Jacksonville Gymnastics Team had a very special ceremony honoring three of its team members who have been with the Team for about eight years.  Three of the top gymnasts are graduating this year.  Beautiful bouquets were presented from the gymnasts' mothers and they were each presented with very special plaque from the coaches.  Honored were Jax Gym Team's first Level Ten gymnast, Kayla Edgin; current Level Ten gymnast Taylor Rai Johnson; and Level Eight Floor and Beam Specialist Stephanie Singleton.  Stephanie is also a member of the Jax Cheer Competitive Squad which was formed this year.  This was a very touching and tearful ceremony.  These gymnasts have grown up at Huff 'n Puff and if you know gymnastics, you know how close these girls become - just like family members.  All three gymnasts are college bound and we all wish them the best of luck for when they leave later this summer.

Jacksonville Gymnastics Three Graduating Seniors, from left to right - Stephanie Singleton, Taylor Rai Johnson and Kayla Edgin.

"We are Family"

Coach Laurel with Kayla, Taylor and Stephanie.  Kayla and Taylor have been with Laurel at Huff 'n Puff and Jacksonville Gymnastics for over eight years and Stephanie has been there almost as long. 

Coach Stacy and Taylor Rai

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