JACKSONVILLE GYMNASTICS KICKS OFF 2007 –2008 COMPETITIVE SEASON AT HARVEST INVITATIONAL, WEST MEMPHIS
Gymnasts from the Jacksonville Gymnastics Competitive Team--Levels Three, Four, Five and Six--competed yesterday at the annual Harvest Invitational Meet Competition, hosted by Delta Gymnastics at their home gym in West Memphis. Barry and his gymnasts and parents are always such good hosts and it is a wonderful way for gymnasts to compete, either in their first-time-ever meet, or for experienced gymnasts to get back to the reason they work out so hard at the gym. Although the gymnasts also work very hard to compete at the meets, they and the parents also have a lot of fun. At the Delta meets, while the final scores are being tabulated, the gymnasts are broken down into age groups and handstand contests are held and special ribbons are awarded to the winners. Lot of cheering from everyone encourages the gymnasts, who may either stand on hands or walk on hands. Of course, last one to stand up is the winner for the group. It was said that, in the evening session, the Jacksonville gymnasts swept (well, almost) the handstand contests!!!!
The Level Three gymnasts competed in the morning session, which began at 9:00. Thirteen members of the Jacksonville fifteen-member team did a great job at their first real meet. The Jax Gym Level Three members range in age from five to ten years. No team honors were awarded for the Level Three teams; however, each of the Jacksonville gymnasts was awarded first, second or third in the individual all-around placements. The all-around awards for the Jacksonville gymnasts are:
Hayden Medlock Age Six First Place
Brianna Spurgeon Age Six Second Place
Sarah Balenko Age Five Third Place
Mollie Johnson Age Seven First Place
Alexandria Leirer Age Seven Second Place
Jenna Mecca Age Eight Second Place
Marissa Wallace Age Eight Third Place
Katlyn Grace Age Nine Second Place
Deja Snyder Age nine Third Place
Lindsey Hart Age Ten Second Place
Pictured here with ribbons and their individual all-around trophies are the Level Three Gymnasts who competed this weekend at the Delta Gymnastics Harvest Invitational. Front row, from left to right are Deja Snyder, Lauren Osburn, Keelee Curbo, Lindsey Hart and Katlyn Grace. Standing on the awards stand, left to right, are Mollie Johnson, Hayden Medlock, Sarah Balenko, Alex Leirer, Marissa Wallace, Jenna Mecca, Brianna Spurgeon and Taylor Parker.
Competing in the noon session were fifteen of the 20-member Level Four Team gymnasts. Six teams competed and the Jacksonville Level Four Team gymnasts won the Second-Place Team Award; the following gymnasts won the top individual all-around awards.
Lakyn Powers Age Eight First Place
Abby Houghtaling Age Eight Second Place
Maggie Lee Age Ten First Place
Briyana Isaac Age Ten Third Place
Jessica Gardner Age Eleven First Place
Shown here, in their gorgeous new warmups, are fifteen members of the Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Four Team. From left to right, front row are Allison Ramsey, Skylar Spaeth, Briyana Isaac, Sydney McClung and Jessica Gardner. On the back row, left to right are Maggie Lee, Ashley Hudson, Miranda Chambers, Abby Houghtaling, Sara Heil, Sarah Beavers, Sydney McGill, Jadyn Perkins and Lakyn Powers. In the middle row, is Mattie Taylor. (Shown below is the back of the beautiful new warmup.)
Competing in the evening session were Level Five, Six and Seven teams. The Jacksonville optionals (Levels Seven, Eight and Nine) did not attend this meet, but several individual Level Eight and Nine gymnasts from other teams did compete for the judges. The fifteen Jacksonville Team Level Five gymnasts, who range in age from eight to twelve years, competed and won the First-Place Team Award. The following gymnasts, winning top Individual All-Awards, were:
Jordan Rogers Age Eight First Place
Lynzie VanBrocklin Age Nine First Place
Madi Spears Age Nine Second Place
Bailea Jones Age Ten First Place
Anna Faith Camp Age Ten Second Place
Halle Maddox Age Ten Third Place
Katelin McLain Age Eleven First Place
Sabrina Barger Age Eleven Second Place
Amanda Hicks Age Twelve First Place
Kennedy Driskill Age Twelve Second Place
Posing proudly after winning the First-Place Team trophy, are the Level Five Team Members of Jacksonville Gymnastics. In the front row, left to right, are Katelin McLain, Katy Gorden and Madi Spears. Second row (L to R) are Sabrina Barger, Kennedy Driskill, Amanda Hicks and Hannah Taylor. On the back row (L to R) are Anna Faith Camp, Rachel Flippen, Alex Taylor, Katherine Taylor, Halle Maddox, Bailea Jones, Jordan Rogers and Lynzie Van Brocklin.
Also competing in the evening session were six of the Level Six Jacksonville Gymnastics team members. These gymnasts range in age from eight to fifteen years and they also won the First-Place Team Award. Additionally, they won the following individual all-around awards.
Mackenzie Ellis, Age Nine First Place
Tonie Butler Age Eight Second Place
Tonie and Mackenzie competed in the age eight-nine division and they tied all-around scores. The highest event score is then taken, but they also tied there. In the second highest event score, Mackenzie’s score was .l of a point higher, thus she was awarded the first-place all-around award.
Kendra Lytch Age Ten First Place
Jessica McDonough Age Twelve First Place
Stephanie Singleton Age Thirteen First Place
Carol Walters Age Fifteen First Place
These Level Six gymnasts had a great meet and they are looking forward to many more "Great" meets. From left to right are Tonie Butler, Mackenzie Ellis, Kendra Lytch, Stephanie Singleton, Carol Walters and Jessica McDonough.
The team’s next competition will be the Pepsi Challenge Meet to be held December 7 – December 9, hosted by Hot Springs Gymnastics at the Lake Hamilton High School.
Shown here is the back of our Jax Gym jackets - the photo does not do it justice - the crystals just sparkle and the green gymnast is quite attractive. And the jackets are so soft and plush - the kids seem to love them!!!!