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I sent a Press Release  to the local Newspapers with a little information that I learned after I had written this web release - rather than rewrite this, I have linked this article to the press release.  Click here to read Press Release to newspapers

This is to honor our four Level Nine Gymnasts who qualified for Level Nine Regionals in Denver, Colorado, and competed this weekend - Haley, Edgin, Kayla Edgin, Courtney Ellis and Taylor Rai Johnson -- and our two coaches who went with them - Head Coach Laurel Spears and Assistant Head Coach Erin Wunderl.  Our fifth Level Nine gymnast is Sarah McAlister, who has been injured part of this season, but we're so proud of all of them, including our coaches.

Haley, Kayla, Courtney and Taylor Rai

The regional competitions are held on the date designated by USAG and teams bid for the opportunity to host the meet.  Region Three consists of top level Nine gymnasts from the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The four gymnasts, their mothers and the two coaches left from the airport  Thursday morning and luckily arrived in Denver the night before the  30 - 36 inches of snow hit the area Friday morning.  Streets and highways were clear though, so it didn't keep them from doing what needed to be accomplished.  The gymnasts were able to practice Friday, and the high altitude didn't bother their skills because, as I heard it, lines were so long that they had lots of time to recover before attempting their next event.

Kayla competed Saturday night at 5:00; Courtney and Taylor Rai competed Sunday morning at 8:00 and Haley competed last at noon on Sunday.  Everyone will be back Monday evening.   

Last year, Kayla was our team's first Level Nine gymnast and she qualified to compete in her first year at the Level Nine Regional Competition, which was held in Kansas City.  This year was the first time for the other four gymnasts to compete Level Nine, and  Jacksonville Gymnastics was so very  excited and proud that the four Level nines qualified for Regionals in their first year of competing at that level.  All four of the gymnasts competed really well at the competition and we are so  proud of each of them.  They each competed in different age brackets.  There were about eleven gymnasts in each age bracket with awards being honored for the first three places only and Kayla received second place on the beam in her age bracket.  However, I learned that there were about 20 gymnasts in Haley's age bracket.

Additionally, four gymnasts from Arkansas qualified for the Western National Competition.  The Western National Competition will be held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on Mother's Day weekend.  Region Three is sending nearly 93 gymnasts to Nationals (from the seven states) where they will compete against gymnasts from three other regions.

Kayla and Taylor Rai qualified for the Western National Competition and will  compete with top Level Nine gymnasts from teams from the western half of the United States.  (Gymnasts from Level Nine teams from the eastern half of the United States will compete the same weekend in Tupelo, Mississippi.)  Kayla and Taylor Rai, you have made Jacksonville Gymnastics Team history - you are the first gymnasts from our team to qualify for Westerns!!!!!  Not only that - only four gymnasts from Arkansas qualified for Westerns and two are from our own Jax Gym team.   I have been told that there were many years that Arkansas didn't have anyone qualify for the Western National Competition, so that gives us even more reason to be proud. 

                                                                                                                    (Photo by Brian Rohauer at Emerald Classic)

Kayla - 2009 Emerald Classic Floor Exercise

                                                                                                                   (Photo by Brian Rohauer at Emerald Classic)

Kayla - 2009 Emerald Classic - on Beam

(I have just realized how out of proportion these photos are and will try to take care of it very soon. slz)

                                                                                                                        (Photo by Blake Ramsey at Emerald Classic)

Taylor Rai on Bars

                                                                                                                       (Photo by Blake Ramsey at Emerald Classic)

Taylor Rai - Dismount from Beam - looks as if she were flying!

                                                                                                                     (Photo by Brian Rohauer at Emerald Classic)

Haley at Emerald Classic

                                                                                                            (Photo by slz at Flame Gymnastics Meet, Fort Smith)

Courtney in boot - at Flame Gymnastics Meet.

                                                                                                                                                                              (photo by slz)

Laurel and Erin - hotel at Fort Smith Flame Meet - well, it could have been Denver!

These pictures were taken in the gym after the gymnasts returned to the gym.  I don't have any current pictures of Courtney at this time because she was studying for the tests that she had missed while she was gone.

Pictures later.

Again, Congratulations to our gymnasts and the coaches for your accomplishments and for making history for the team!!!!

Pictures to be posted after the return of the gymnasts.

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