RETURN HOME 2008 - 2009 MEETS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Web Release February 7-8, 2009
LOUISIANA CUP INVITATIONAL
JACKSONVILLE GYMNASTICS TEAM COMPETES IN THE
LOUISIANA CUP COMPETITIVE MEET
AND BRINGS HOME THREE FIRST-PLACE BANNERS
This is a picture of the inside of the Gold Dome - I could not use flash because the warmups had already begun. The dome is probably 80 to 100 feet tall and this star-shaped dome liner covers the top of the dome - you can probably double the amount of picture here to get an idea of how high it is. It has great lighting and is an amazing sight. We were in such a hurry to get to the meet each morning that I did not think about taking a picture from the outside and we left after dark on Friday and Saturday nights. And after sitting in the dome for over 20.5 hours, we were just ready to leave toward home on Sunday afternoon.
This was the award stand that AcroSports used this year honoring the military as well as the gymnasts. The banner was airbrushed by Rod Sims, owner of Simsonite Creations, who airbrushes t-shirts at the meets and who has been there as long as I can remember going to Shreveport.
First-Place Individual All-Around photos are shown at end of article.
The Jacksonville Gymnastics Competitive Team competed at the 2009 Louisiana Cup Invitational Meet this weekend--February 7th and 8th--in Shreveport. Jacksonville Levels Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine attended this meet that was hosted by AcroSports Gymnastics and held at the Centenary College Gold Dome. Approximately 400 gymnasts from 17 teams from Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas attended the five-session meet. Those participants and families who arrived on Friday were invited to attend the meet between Centenary College Gymnastics Team and Air Force Gymnastics Team. It was an eye-opening experience for the local gymnasts and may have inspired them to realize that they, too, might be able to obtain a gymnastics scholarship to help pay for their college expenses.
The meet began early Saturday morning at 8:00 for the 67 Level Five gymnasts from thirteen clubs, including eight of the twelve-member Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Five team. Competing gymnasts were Sabrina Barger, Sarah Beavers, Briyana Isaac, Allison Ramsey, Sierra Rohauer, Sarah Seibel, Skylar Spaeth and Madi Spears. The competition was tough, but the team won the Fifth-Place Team Banner. Sierra placed First on beam, Madi placed Second on beam, Sabrina placed Third on bars and Allison Ramsey placed Third on floor.
Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Five team had a great time at their meet, in spite of the early hour that they arrived. The first morning session of a meet is always a tough time because of the early hour to get up to be ready and arrive in time. Shown here from left to right are Sarah Seibel, Madi Spears, Skylar Spaeth, Allison Ramsey, Sierra Rohauer, Sarah Beavers, Sabrina Barger and Briyana Isaac.
Session Two began at 12:15 for 30 Level Six gymnasts from nine teams and 36 Level Seven gymnasts from twelve teams. Competing Level Six for Jacksonville Gymnastics and winning First-Place Team Banner were Rachel Flippen, Katelin McLain, Jordan Rogers and Lynzie VanBrocklin. Rachel won First-Place All-Around for age eleven and Katelin won First-Place All-Around for age twelve. Top event honors (first, second or third) were as follows: Rachel placed Third on bars, Third on beam and First on floor, and Katelin placed First on vault, bars and floor. Lynzie placed Third on bars.
The Level Six Team Members proudly display their First-Place Team Banner. From left to right are Jordan Rogers, Katelin McLain, Rachel Flippen and Lynzie VanBrocklin.
Twelve Level Seven teams were represented by 36 gymnasts, including six members of the Jacksonville Level Seven Team. Competing for the team and winning the First-Place Team Banner were Tonie Butler, Mackenzie Ellis, Kelsy Founds, Kendra Lytch, Jessica McDonough and Stephanie Singleton. Tonie won the First-Place All-Around for age nine, placing Second on vault with a 9.5, First on bars with a 9.3, Second on beam with a 9.550 and Third on floor with a 9.450, for a total of 37.8 All-Around. Also winning top event scores were Kendra Lytch, First on vault with a 9.625, Third on beam and First on floor with a 9.6. Kelsy placed Third on bars and Stephanie placed Third on Beam.
And happily showing off their First-Place Team Banner are, left to right, Level Seven Gymnasts Kendra Lytch, Tonie Butler, Kelsy Founds, Stephanie Singleton, Jessica McDonough and Mackenzie Ellis.
We are always very proud of all of our gymnasts but winning First-Place Team Banners for each level--Six and Seven—in the same session was especially nice.
In the last session of the day that began at 5:30 were 25 Level Eight competing gymnasts from ten teams, 16 Level Nine gymnasts from seven teams and six Level Ten gymnasts from five teams. The Jacksonville Gymnastics five Level Eight competing gymnasts are Taylor Butler, Kimmie Edwards, Allyson Ferren, Tori Hanley and Krista Carlisle. The team won Third-Place Team Banner and Tori Hanley won Second-Place All-Around with a 36.925. Winning event honors were Taylor Butler with Third on bars, Kimmee Edwards with Second on beam and Tori, Second on Vault, Third on Bars and First on beam.
Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Eight Team Members pose proudly after winning the Third-Place Banner at the Louisiana Cup Invitational. From left to right are Taylor Butler, Tori Hanley, Allyson Ferren, Krista Carlisle and Kimmee Edwards.
The Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Nine team won the First-Place Team Banner. Competing for the team were Haley Edgin, Kayla Edgin and Taylor Rai Johnson. Courtney Ellis and Sarah McAlister were also at the meet to support their team members but could not compete due to injury. Kayla won the First-Place All-Around. Haley placed First on Beam and Taylor Rai placed Second on vault and bars. Kayla placed Second on vault, First on Bars and Beam and Third on Floor.
Proudly posing after a difficult meet and winning the First-Place Team Banner are Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Nine team gymnasts, Kayla Edgin, Haley Edgin and Taylor Rai Johnson.
Competing at 9:00 Sunday morning session, with 83 gymnasts from twelve teams, were the fifteen gymnasts from the seventeen-member Jacksonville Gymnastics Level Four Team. The team was presented the Fourth-Place Team Banner, but a mistake had been made and the team had actually won the Third-Place Team Banner (and barely missed the Second-Place Banner). Competing were Sarah Balenko, Madison Barnhill, Miranda Chambers, Jessica Gardner, Dalianna Gonzalez, Sara Heil, Olivia Hodson, Mollie Johnson, Jenna Mecca, Lauren Osburn, Taylor Parker, Lauren Travis, Marissa Wallace, Madison Williams and Rachel Wyrick. Madison Williams won First-Place All-Around for age nine with a 37.1, and Sara Heil placed Second All-Around for age nine with a 36.7. Mollie Johnson placed Third All-Around with a 36.775 for age eight. Madison Barnhill, age twelve, placed Second All-Around with a 37.825.
Winning Level Four Top Event honors (by youngest to oldest) were Sarah Balenko who placed Second on beam; Madison Williams First on vault; Miranda Chambers First on floor; Mollie Johnson, Second on Vault; Sara Heil Third on Beam and Second on floor; Lauren Osburn Third on vault and Second on bars; and Madison Barnhill with First on vault and First on bars. The Level Fours all had really great scores with many nines, including mid-range and high nines, and again, it was really a tough competition. We are just so proud of our gymnasts!!!
It was a tough meet with tough competition and you all did so well!!!! From left to right, first row are Marissa Wallace, Madison Williams, Miranda Chambers, Jessica Gardner, Sarah Balenko, Rachel Wyrick, Dalianna Gonzalez, and Sara Heil. Second row are Jenna Mecca, Olivia Hodson, Madison Barnhill and Taylor Parker. Holding the banner are Lauren Osburn, Mollie Johnson and Lauren Travis.
LEVEL SIX FIRST-PLACE INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND
Rachel Flippen, Level Six First All-Around, age eleven
We are so proud of Rachel and Katelin!
LEVEL SIX FIRST-PLACE INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND
Katelin McLain, First-Place Individual All-Around, age twelve, Level Six
LEVEL SEVEN FIRST-PLACE INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND
Nine-year-old Tonie Butler, our youngest optional gymnast, won First-Place Individual All-Around, Level Seven, with a 37.8. Tonie competed against nine gymnasts in the age seven-to-eleven bracket. Way to go, Tonie!
LEVEL NINE FIRST-PLACE INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND
Kayla, who last year was our very first Level Nine gymnast, won First-Place Individual All-Around for Level Nine, Senior Age Bracket, age 15 and up. Optional skills (especially at Level Nine) are very difficult and you pulled it off!!!!! Congratulations, Kayla!!!
Our Congratulations to each of our gymnasts, all levels. You did an outstanding job! I wish that I had time to address each of you individually, because you did such a great job, and made your parents, your families, your coaches and the rest of us, so very proud! It was wonderful to hear "so and so from Jacksonville Gymnastics" so many times when the awards were given out. We've been going to Shreveport for a number of years now and the other teams are certainly recognizing who the Jacksonville Gymnastics Teams are!
Our coaches for this great meet were Laurel Spears, Erin Wunderl, Christy Ellis and Lois Bryan.
Our next meet for Levels Four – through Nine will be next weekend at the Fort Smith Co-Ed Invitational meet. We will be competing against teams from not only Arkansas, but Texas and Oklahoma, as well.
RETURN HOME 2008 - 2009 MEETS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Directions to Shreveport from Jacksonville
(assuming you know how to get to Texarkana on Interstate 30 from Little Rock (140.8 miles)
At Texarkana, take the AR-245 exit, EXIT 2, toward Airport - 0.2 miles
Merge onto AR-245 Loop South toward Airport - 6.2 miles
Merge onto AR-549 South - 25.2 miles
Take the US-71 exit, EXIT 4, toward SHREVEPORT/DODD RIDGE - 0.3 miles
Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the US 71 ramp toward SHREVEPORT - 0.0 mile
Turn LEFT onto US-71 S (crossing into LOUISIANA - 42.0 miles
US-71 SOUTH becomes LA-1 S/MARKET STREET - .5 mile
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MARKET STREET - 0.4 miles
MARKET STREET becomes CENTENARY BLVD - 1.3 miles
Turn LEFT onto ATKINS AVENUE - 0.1 mile
END at 100 Atkins Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104-4536
You will see the Gold Dome of Centenary College
TOTAL DISTANCE - 228 51 miles
TOTAL TIME - THREE HOURS, 45 MINUTES