USA Sports, with a team comprised of gymnasts from Hollister and
Gilroy, closed out the regular fall competition season with a
golden performance recently at the Great Pumpkin Caper, hosted by
Performance Athletics of San Luis Obispo.
HOLLISTER
USA Sports, with a team comprised of gymnasts from Hollister and Gilroy, closed out the regular fall competition season with a golden performance recently at the Great Pumpkin Caper, hosted by Performance Athletics of San Luis Obispo.
“I’m really proud of the girls,” USA Sports Coach Melinda Lawrence said in a statement. “They are preparing themselves for postseason competitions. They’re ready for the big meets.”
USA Sports’ Level 4 gymnasts captured the team title in the Great Pumpkin Caper while also dominating the individual awards at the team’s final meet of the regular season.
In the senior division (10 year olds+), Louisa Mantilla, of Gilroy, had her best meet of the season. She won all four events (vault 9.15; uneven bars 9.2; balance beam 9.05 and floor exercise 9.25), which also gave her the all-around title (36.45).
Teammate Leah Hamilton, of Hollister, finished with triple silvers (bars 8.75; floor 8.30; and all-around 34.15). She also finished third on beam (8.6). Camryn Irao, also of Hollister, finished second on vault (8.825), while Gilroy’s Stacy Gaddis competed in her first-ever meet and placed third on vault (8.70) and floor (8.225).
In the middle age division (8 year olds), Sloane Pace, of Gilroy, won vault (9.15), placed second on bars (9.2), floor (9.125) and all-around (36.30), and third on beam (8.825). Teammate Simone Yamaoka, of Hollister, placed third on floor (8.8).
In the youngest division (under 8 years old), Gilroy’s Sonte Stewart lead the team with a first-place finish on vault (8.975) and second on bars (8.95), floor (8.825) and floor (tie 34.95). Ellie Pickford, also of Gilroy, added a first-place finish with a solid beam performance (8.55).
USA Sports’ Level 5 team also did well. Hollister’s Courtney Grow placed second on floor (8.975) and third in the all-around (32.40). Teammates Catharina Ji and Felicia Markfield, both of Hollister, collected third-place finishes. Ji was third on beam (8.675) and floor (8.75) and Markfield won bronze on floor (7.70).
The Level 6 gymnasts also put a scare in the competition with top finishes. Hollister’s Taylor Lawrence won all four events and the all-around (vault 8.525; bars 9.2; beam 8.325, floor 8.5 and AA 34.55). Hollister teammate Marissa Opray placed second on vault (8.375) and third on bars (6.35), floor (8.175) and all-around (30.025).
The Level 4 gymnasts from USA Sports who will go on to the postseason and compete in the NorCal State Championships, scheduled for Dec. 4 and 5 in Rancho Cordova, include Mantilla, Pace, Stewart and Yamaoka. A 34.00 in the all-around in a USA Gymnastics sanctioned meet qualifies a gymnast for the state meet.
The club’s Level 5 gymnasts, including Aubrey Kaho of Gilroy and Hollister’s Kylii Anderson and Sara Dike, will join teammates Grow, Ji and Markfield at the NorCal Zone Championships later this month. Lawrence, a Level 6 gymnast, also qualified for the NorCal Zone Championships.
To qualify for the Zone Championships a gymnast must score a 31.00 in the all-around. A minimum score and placement at the Zone meet qualifies the Level 5 and 6 gymnasts for the state competition.
Information submitted by USA Sports
