Yankee Doodle Dandy Competition
AT A GREAT MEET!!!
Jacksonville Gymnastics Competitive Team competed this weekend at the Yankee Doodle Dandy Meet hosted by Flip-Flop Gymnastics. The meet, held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, was attended by 378 competing gymnasts from fourteen teams. Levels Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine of the Jacksonville Team competed in five sessions beginning Friday evening and ending Sunday noon.
Eighty-four Level Four gymnasts from six teams competed in the Friday night session, including seventeen members of the twenty-one-member Level Four Jacksonville team. The Jax Gym Level Four scores were way up and the team won the First-Place Team Trophy. Individual all-around top honors were awarded to the following team members.
Allison Ramsey Age Seven Second
Sydney McGill Age Eight, Flight A First
Abby Houghtaling Age Eight, Flight A Second
Lakyn Powers Age Eight, Flight B Second
Sydney Baggerly Age Nine, Flight A Third
Maggie Lee Age Ten Second
Briyana Isaac Age Ten Third
Jessica Gardner Age Eleven Second
These happy Level Four gymnasts kicked off the weekend competition at Yankee Doodle Dandy meet at Pine Bluff Convention Center to a great start. Each trophy won this weekend by our different levels was an "unknown" until the team standings were announced. Proudly showing off their First-Place trophy at the meet, on the front row, left to right, are Sara Heil, Sierra Rohauer, and Abby Houghtaling. Second row standing, left to right, are Briyana Isaac, Skylar Spaeth, Maggie Lee, Jessica Gardner, Sydney Baggerly, and Jadyn Perkins. On the Awards Stand, left to right, are Allison Ramsey, Sarah Beavers, Lakyn Powers, and Sarah Seibel; in front on Stand are Miranda Chambers, Mattie Taylor, Sydney McGill and Ashley Hudson.
(Don't give up - didn't forget the Level Threes - they are at bottom because they competed last.)
Early Saturday morning – 8:00 a.m., the Optionals began their warm-ups for their competition. Thirty Level Seven gymnasts from nine teams competed. Our Level Sevens were almost back to full strength but the hour must have been too early for them (if this can be used for an excuse?) because they weren’t quite up to par. They won the Third-Place Team Trophy. The following individual all-around placements were awarded:
Kimmie Edwards Age Twelve Third
Alyson Ferren Age Thirteen Second
These Level Seven gymnasts can tell you that 8:00 (plus travel time to meet) is an early hour!!! These happy gymnasts who won the Third-Place Team Award, front row and left to right are Taylor Butler, Kimmie Edwards and Mackenzie Powers. Back row, left to right, are Tori Spears, Kelsy Founds, Samantha Sobba, Samantha Gray and Alyson Ferren. Balance beam seemed to be the nemesis of the day for some, but the best or almost best event for others.
Nineteen Level Eight gymnasts from six teams, including four of the Jacksonville Level Eight gymnasts also competed in the early Saturday morning session. The Jax Level Eight gymnasts scores were also lower than previous meets. Everybody is hoping that this was the last early morning session, but not likely to happen that way. The team won the Second-Place Team Trophy. Winning top individual all-around honors were:
Taylor Rai Johnson Age Fourteen Third
Sarah McAlister Age Sixteen Second
Well, at least four of these Level Eight gymnasts are just happy to be at the meet and competing! Great jobs, Girls - they won the Second-Place Team Trophy. From left to right, front, are Tori Hanley and Courtney Ellis. On the beam, left to right are Haley Edgin, Sarah McAlister, Taylor Rai Johnson and Sissy Ghormley.
Kayla Edgin, Level Nine, competed against six other Level Nine gymnasts, each from six separate teams. Kayla did a great job and won the Second-Place Individual All-Around honor.
Also competing in this early morning session were two Level Ten gymnasts from Hot Springs Gymnastics. They were fun to watch and gave all of the optional gymnasts something toward which to aspire!
Competing in the noontime session, were 39 Level Four gymnasts from six other teams, (other than the teams that competed in the Friday night session.) Also competing in the noon session were 38 Level Six gymnasts from nine teams. Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Six Team of seven won the First-Place Team Trophy. The Jax Gym team members also won most of the top individual all-around honors:
Tonie Butler Age Seven First
Kendra Lytch Age Ten First
Mackenzie Ellis Age Nine Fourth
Jessica McDonough Age Twelve First
Stephanie Singleton Age Thirteen First
Carol Walters Age Fifteen First
Our Level Six Team Pride is showing here!!!! Four meets - four First-Place Team Trophies. No expectations though, girls - just one meet at a time!!! Next one will be tough, too. Proudly showing their first-place team trophy, left to right are Tonie Butler, Mackenzie Ellis, Kendra Lytch, Jessica McDonough, Stephanie Singleton, Carol Walters and Tiffany Maxwell. Five First-Place Individual All-Around winners at this meet - Congratulations, girls - Really proud of you.
Competing in the Saturday evening session were 87 Level Five Gymnasts from twelve teams. The fifteen members of the Jacksonville Gymnastics Team won the First Place Team trophy and Individual All-Around awards were presented to:
Jordan Rogers Age Eight Second
Bailea Jones Age Ten, Flight A First
Halle Maddox Age Ten, Flight A Third
Anna Faith Camp Age Ten, Flight B First
Katy Gorden Age Ten, Flight B Third
Katelin McLain Age Eleven Second
Amanda Hicks Age Twelve Second
Kennedy Driskill Age Twelve Third
We honestly had no idea it was a first until they presented the trophy to the team. Congratulations Level Five gymnasts!!! Gymnasts with coaches, Laurel and Lois, are front row, left to right, Bailea Jones, Lynzie VanBrocklin, Katy Gorden, Halle Maddox, and Anna Faith Camp. Back rows, left to right are, Rachel Flippen, Katherine Taylor, Hannah Taylor,
Sabrina Barger, Madi Spears, Amanda Hicks, Jordan Rogers, Kennedy Driskill, Coach Laurel, Katelin McLain, Alex Taylor and Coach Lois.
In the Sunday morning session, several Level Two gymnasts from Hot Springs Gymnastics competed against each other, in the same session that 64 Level Three Gymnasts from eight teams competed, including fourteen of the Jax Gymnastics gymnasts. Jacksonville Gymnastics began competing Level Three gymnasts three seasons ago and the program has been quite successful; however, the team has usually only competed against several other teams. It was good to see that the Level Three program has grown to having 64 gymnasts competing and not all teams were at this meet and some are not yet competing at Level Three. No team awards were given, but the Jacksonville Level Three gymnasts did very well, as they have at each meet this season. The Jax Gym Level Three teams have traditionally done exceptionally well – (another tribute to our great coaching staff!!!) Individual all-around honors were awarded to the following gymnasts:
Hayden Medlock Age Six Second
Sarah Balenko Age Five Third
Mollie Johnson Age Seven First
Alex Leirer Age Seven Second
Taylor Parker Age Eight First
Lauren Osburn Age Nine, Flight A Second
Katlyn Grace Age Nine, Flight A Third
Keelee Curbo Age Nine, Flight B First
Olivia Hodson Age Nine, Flight B Second
Jenna Mecca Age Nine, Flight? Second
Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Three Team and Coaches Christy and Lindsey. Great Meet, Level Threes. From left to right, front row are Kerlee Curbo, Lauren Osburn, Sarah Balenko and Olivia Hodson, on podium, and Molly Johnson, Katlyn Grace and Jenna Mecca. Back row, left to right, Coach Lindsey, Taylor Parker, Rachel Vire, Hayden Medlock, Marissa Wallace, Alex Leirer, Cross Engel, Allie Hodum (new Level Three) and Coach Christy. Mr. Bobby and these coaches have really brought these gymnasts to a higher standard for other gymnasts to meet and top. Lindsey and Deja could not be at this meet.
All in all, Jacksonville Gymnastics Team had another very successful meet. We want to thank Patty and Buzz and the Flip-Flop Team gymnastics family for a wonderful meet. The Convention Center is such a great place to host a meet and you all made us feel so welcome.
Gymnastics friendships are lasting friendships and we appreciate all that you have done for the gymnastics community.
The next competition for the Team will be the Shreveport meet for our Levels Four thru Nine.
Also, the Sweetheart Invitational hosted by Jacksonville Gymnastics will be held at the Cabot High School Gymnasium February 15-16-17. Over 500 gymnasts from Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana are expected to compete.
It is important to get your program ads and photos either for gymnasts or companies turned in right away.