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And yes, there was an Elvis impersonator at the meet!
After all, it was the birthday weekend of Elvis
JACKSONVILLE GYMNASTICS OPTIONALS COMPETE AT
BLUES AND BBQ MEET - MEMPHIS
January 9, 2010
A gymnastic pig - she looked ready to compete her floor exercise!
Jacksonville Gymnastics Optional gymnasts spent Saturday at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee, competing against 23 teams from Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. On the way over, most of us drove at least part way through snow flurries, but since it wasn’t sticking, those of us who weren’t staying over weren’t worried about getting home due to bad roads.
The Blues and BBQ meet is hosted by River City Gymnastics out of Bartlett, Tennessee, and is handled a bit differently than what we are used to. Awards are given in a completely different area and the gymnasts are given their medals before they come out to take the stand. I have heard this is done in other areas, also, but personally, I don’t care for it. It takes every bit as long, if not longer, and is not as exciting as the way we are used to. This is done so the next level can start warming up and competing while the awards are going on. The only problem with that is that those of us who want or need to be in both areas may have to miss part of either the on-going awards or the next competition. The meet, however, went quickly and they were able to compete four sessions instead of three.
Jacksonville Optionals, Levels Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten competed in three different sessions-- mid-morning, mid-afternoon and evening. Each session had two flights, so one flight was warming up for their next event as the other flight was competing the event. All of our gymnasts competed hard and we are so proud of each of them.
Four of the six-member Jacksonville Level Seven Team gymnasts who competed in the mid-morning session were Taylor Butler, Jordan Rogers, Stephanie Singleton and Lynzie VanBrocklin and they won the Fourth-Place Team Trophy. Rachel Flippen and Jessica McDonough were unable to compete. The team competed against 47 gymnasts from fourteen teams. Taylor Butler received first place for her age group on Vault and Beam and was awarded Third-Place Individual All-Around. Stephanie Singleton received first on Beam for her age group and won First-Place Individual All-Around.
From left to right are four of the Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Seven Team gymnasts. From left to right are Jordan, Lynzie, Stephanie and Taylor.
The Jacksonville Level Eight Team, who competed in the mid-afternoon session, also won Fourth-Place Team Trophy, competing against 56 gymnasts from fifteen teams. The four gymnasts who comprise the Level Eight team are quite young for a Level Eight team and compete very difficult skills for their ages; they are only ten, eleven, twelve and thirteen years of age. They are Tonie Butler, Mackenzie Ellis, Kendra Lytch and Katelin McLain. Tonie tied for first place on Beam (for her age group) and Kendra received first place on Vault for her age group and placed Third in Individual All-Around.
Our Level Eight gymnasts proudly smile after receiving their Fourth-Place Team Trophy. Part of their pride also is that they are wearing their brand new gorgeous Team Warmups. From left to right are Tonie, Kendra, Mackenzie and Kaitlin.
The Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Nine Team competed in the evening session and won the Second-Place Team Trophy. They competed against 31 Level Nine gymnasts from eleven teams. The Jax Gym Team members range in age from twelve to eighteen and the skills that they compete at this level are very difficult. The Level Nine Team members are Haley Edgin, Kimmie Edwards, Courtney Ellis, Tori Hanley, Taylor Rai Johnson and Sarah McAlister.
Kimmie placed first on Floor and Taylor Rai placed first on Floor in her age bracket. Haley placed first on Beam and placed Third-Place Individual All-Around. Sarah placed first on Bars and won Second Place Individual All-Around. Tori Hanley placed first on Vault and Beam and won First-Place Individual All-Around.
Level Nine Gymnasts after being awarded the Second Place Team Trophy - from left to right, front row, are Kimmie, Haley, Tori; back row left to right are Taylor Rai, Courtney and Sarah.
Kayla Edgin, our first and only Level Ten gymnast, competed against 11 other Level Ten gymnasts and won first place on Floor and won Fourth-Place Individual All-Around Honors. At Level Ten, Kayla’s skills are even more difficult and she does our team proud on each event. Each of our gymnasts work so hard to achieve their difficult skills and to maintain them, and the skills are both mental and physical. In other words, it doesn’t just happen - many hours are required to develop both aspects of a single skill.
Kayla - Jacksonville Gymnastics First Level Ten Gymnast - shown here after the Blues and BBQ Meet where she competed with twelve Level Ten gymnasts and won fourth-place Individual All-Around honors.
The next meet for the Compulsory Levels, Level Three, Four, Five and Six, will be at Pine Bluff next weekend and all of our levels, Levels Three – Ten, will compete soon after at River City Gymnastics in Little Rock.
Stephanie Singleton, Jax Gym Level Seven First-Place Individual All-Around for her age bracket.
Level Nine Gymnast Tori Hanley is shown here after winning
First-Place Individual All-Around for her age bracket.
Some fun photos - didn't have time for photos of each gymnast - just a few!
The Level Nines always want to have their "funny" photo taken - as hard as they work, they deserve it!!!!