Xcel Bronze Team. Back row, from left: Davony Glenn, Elyse Lindbloom, Adelyn Towns, Evie Witkowski, Eliza Quinn, Ella Lloyd, Skyleigh Lawler. Front row, from left: Khloe Pendrick, Adalyn Martin, Avah Linna, June Reinhart, Carmela Moma, Ryah Nichols, Natalie Lloyd, Porter Lane
LOWELL — Flipstar Gymnastics had incredible success at the Michigan Xcel State Championship meet this past weekend sweeping the State Champion Team title at all levels entered (Xcel Bronze, Xcel Silver, Xcel Gold and Boy’s 4X4) in addition to 12 All-Around State Champions and 49 individual event State Champions. All four of Flipstar’s state champion teams beat the runner-up team by over a full point or more, a big margin in gymnastics.
The 48 Flipstar team gymnasts traveled to Lowell to compete in the meet earning 153 Top-3 podium medals with 61 of them being champion titles. Flipstar gymnasts also earned the highest all-around score of the meet at all levels entered.
Flipstar’s Xcel Bronze State Champion Team broke a gym record with a score of 115.6. The Bronze Team was led by Elyse Lindbloom who earned the Xcel Bronze All-Around State Champion title with a score of 38.2 which was not only first for her age division, but also earned her the award for the highest score of the entire meet.
Lindbloom also earned the State Champion title on balance beam (9.6) and floor exercise (9.5) as well as the State Champion Runner-Up title on vault and uneven bars.
Porter Lane also earned the All-Around State Champion title in her age division with a score of 38.0 as well as the Balance Beam State Champion title with a score of 9.5. Lane earned the State Champion Runner-Up medal on floor exercise and third and fifth place medals on the remaining events.
Adelyn Towns, in her first year of competition, earned the State Champion title on balance beam (9.6) and floor exercise (9.5) as well as third and fifth place event medals for the All-Around Champion Runner-Up title with a score of 38.05.
Also in her first year of competition, Carmela Moma earned the State Champion title on uneven bars (9.75) and floor exercise (9.5). She also earned fifth and sixth place event medals for the All-Around Champion Runner-Up title with a score of 37.95.
Avah Linna earned the State Champion title on floor exercise (9.1) as well as the Vault State Champion Runner-Up medal and third and fourth place event medals for an All-Around Champion Runner-Up title.
Ryah Nichols also earned a State Champion title with a score of 9.65 on uneven bars. She earned a third and two fourth place event medals for a State All-Around Champion Runner-Up title (37.65).
June Reinhart and Khloe Pendrick both earned the Vault State Champion titles with a score of 9.8 (tying a Flipstar gym record) in their respective age divisions. They also both earned the State Champion Runner-Up title on balance beam and third place podium medals as well as a fifth place medal for third place podium all-around finishes in their respective age divisions.
Adalyn Martin also brought home a State Champion title on balance beam (9.45) in her first year of competition. She earned two third place podium medals in addition to a fourth place medal for a third place podium finish in all-around.
Natalie Lloyd earned the State Champion Runner-Up title on vault and uneven bars as well as two sixth place medals for a fifth place all-around medal.
Ella Lloyd earned the fifth place all-around medal in her age division. She earned a third place podium medal as well as two fifth place and sixth place medals.
Davony Glenn earned a third place podium medal as well as fourth, sixth and seventh place medals for a sixth place all-around finish in her first year of competition.
Evie Witkowski was only able to compete on two events due to injury, but she had podium finishes on both events with second and third place finishes.
Eliza Quinn and Skyleigh Lawler both earned seventh place all-around medals in their respective age divisions. Quinn earned two fourth and two seventh place event medals and Lawler earned fourth, sixth and seventh place event medals.
The Flipstar Bronze Team has gone undefeated this season bringing home the first place team award at every meet its competed in this year.
Xcel Silver Team. Back row, from left: Jenny Vega, Caitlyn Dean, Emma Burgess, Elyse Tucker, Kimber Carter, Oriana Hill, Olivia Machen. Front row, from left: Nola Randle, Maple Prescott, Araiya Tienda, Gretchen Reed, Ava Webster, Braelynn Sanders
Flipstar’s Xcel Silver State Champion Team had a team score of 116.55, a new Flipstar gym record. The team was led by Oriana Hill who earned the All-Around State Champion title as well as the award for the Highest Xcel Silver All-Around of the entire meet with a score of 38.7 which tied a Flipstar gym record. Hill also earned the State Champ title on balance beam (9.75) and floor exercise (9.7) as well as the Uneven Bars State Champion Runner-Up title and a sixth place medal on the other event.
Braelynn Sanders earned the All-Around State Champion title with a score of 38.5 as well as the State Champ title on uneven bars (9.65) and balance beam (9.75). She earned fifth place medals on the other two events.
Ladies division competitors’ scores don’t count toward team scores, but Kelsey Britton earned the award for the Highest All-Around score of all levels of ladies competitors in the meet. She had an all-around score of 38.9, earning her the All-Around State Champion title for her ladies age division. Britton earned the State Champion title on all individual events with scores of 9.85 (vault), 9.55 (uneven bars), 9.7 (balance beam) and 9.8 (floor exercise).
Maple Prescott and Araiya Tienda each earned the All-Around State Champion Runner-Up title in their respective age divisions both with scores of 38.3 as well as a State Champion title on an event. Tienda’s Champion title was on uneven bars with a score of 9.65. She also earned State Champion Runner-Up title on floor exercise and on vault where she tied the current Flipstar gym record with a score of 9.85. She also earned a fifth place medal on the remaining event. Prescott’s State Champ title was on floor exercise with a score of 9.7. She also earned the Uneven Bars State Champion Runner-Up title as well as a third place podium medal and a sixth place event medal.
Elyse Tucker also earned the All-Around State Champion Runner-Up title in her age division with a score of 38.15. She earned the Balance Beam State Champion Runner-Up title and two third place podium medals as well as a seventh place event medal.
Nola Randle earned a State Champion title on uneven bars with a score of 9.7. She also earned State Champion Runner-Up title on vault and floor exercise as well as seventh place on the other event for a third place podium all-around medal.
Gretchen Reed and Ava Webster also each earned third place podium all-around medals in their respective age divisions.
Webster earned podium medals on three events earning the State Champion Runner-Up title on balance beam and floor exercise as well as a third place medal and a sixth place medal on the remaining event.
Reed earned a third place podium all-around medal as well. She also earned a State Champion Runner-up title on uneven bars as well as two fourth place and a sixth place event medals.
Olivia Machen, Emma Burgess and Jenny Vega each earned the fourth place all-around medal in their respective age divisions.
Machen earned two podium medals with a Champion Runner-Up placement on floor exercise as well as a third place medal. She also earned fourth and sixth place medals on the remaining two events.
Burgess’s consistency earned her top four medals on all events and all-around with a third place podium medal on one event and fourth place on the remaining three events and all-around.
Vega had a third place podium finish on floor exercise and also earned two fourth and a fifth place medal on the remaining events.
Kimber Carter pushed through not feeling well to compete and earned fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth place event medals for a fifth place all-around medal.
Caitlyn Dean, in a very tough age division, earned fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth place event medals for a sixth place all-around medal.
To bring home the State Champion Team title, with a team that has 13 of 14 first year competitors at this Xcel Silver level, is amazing.
Xcel Gold Team. Back row, from left: Millie Boyd, Avonea Johnson, Jade Emick, Hannah Rudzki, Louisa Wilson, Abby Dodson. Front row, from left: Olivia Brandt, Emily Brandt, Finley Watson, Alyssa Landino
Flipstar Xcel Gold State Champion Team earned an unbelievable team score of 116.85, the highest team score in Flipstar history. The higher the level, the harder it is to earn high scores, but the team beat the Xcel Gold Flipstar gym record by over two full points.
Abby Dodson, Finley Watson and Louisa Wilson each beat the previous Flipstar Xcel Gold All-Around gym record of 38.45 and all three of them brought home the All-Around State Champion title in their age divisions with scores of 39.95 (Dodson), 38.9 (Watson) and 38.55 (Wilson).
Dodson’s score of 38.95 is the highest all-around score in Flipstar history out of all levels. The score also earned her the award for the Highest Xcel Gold of the meet. Her score was the highest of all levels of the meet.
Watson and Dodson also each scored 9.9 on vault, setting a Flipstar gym record for Xcel Gold vault. They were also both State Champions on uneven bars (both with scores of 9.65) and balance beam (Dodson 9.7 and Watson 9.75).
Watson earned the Floor Exercise Champion Runner-Up medal and Dodson earned a third place podium medal on floor exercise.
Wilson earned the State Champion title on vault and floor exercise for her age division and had all podium finishes earning the State Champion Runner-Up title on balance beam as well as a third place medal on the other event.
Justine Lofton, a ladies division competitor, also earned the Xcel Gold State All-Around Champion title with a score of 38.4. She was the State Champion on vault, (9.75), balance beam (9.6) and floor exercise (9.75) as well as State Champion Runner-Up on uneven bars.
Lauren Lloyd also competed in the Ladies division at the Xcel Gold level. She was only able to compete in three of the four events due to being pregnant. She (and baby) brought home the Uneven Bars State Champion title (9.35) as well as the Champion Runner-Up title on balance beam and floor exercise.
Avonlea Johnson, Alyssa Landino and Jade Emick each earned the All-Around State Champion Runner-Up title in their respective age divisions.
Johnson earned all podium medals. She was the Vault State Champion (9.75), State Champion Runner-up on balance beam, and earned third place podium medals on the other two events.
Emick also earned all podium medals earning the State Champion Runner-Up title on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise as well as third on the remaining event.
Landino earned the Balance Beam State Champion title for her age division (9.6) and Vault State Champion Runner-Up title as well as third and fourth place medals on the remaining events.
Millie Boyd earned a State Champion title on uneven bars with a score of 9.55. She also earned a third place podium medal as well as sixth place and seventh place event medals for a third place all-around podium medal.
Olivia Brandt and Hannah Rudzki each earned a State Champion title as well as fourth place all-around in their respective age divisions.
Brandt earned the State Champion title on floor exercise with a score of 9.8, a Flipstar gym record. She also earned third place podium medals on two individual events as well as a sixth place medal on the remaining event. Brandt also earned the fourth place all-around medal for her age division. She earned two fourth, a fifth and sixth place event medals.
Rudzki earned the State Champ title on vault (9.8). She also earned a third place podium medal as well as two fifth place event medals.
All of Flipstar’s Xcel Gold competitors placed in the Top-4 all-around and they earned 52 out of 60 possible Top-4 places.
Xcel Platinum Team. Nina Frick, left, and Cara Siemiaszko
In the Xcel Platinum division, Flipstar did not have enough competitors in this meet to compete as a team (three competitors required) due to one team member having a school obligation.
Nina Frick not only earned the State All-Around Champion, but her score of 38.5 also earned her the Highest Xcel Platinum of the meet award and set a new Flipstar gym record. She also earned the State Champion title on balance beam (9.5) and floor exercise (9.9). Her score of 9.9 on floor exercise ties her own current Flipstar gym record.
Frick also set a new Flipstar gym record for Xcel Platinum vault with a score of 9.8. She earned a third place podium medal on the remaining event for all podium finishes.
In her first year as a platinum competitor, Cara Siemiaszko earned a third place all-around podium medal. She also earned podium medals with a State Champion Runner-Up title on floor exercise as well as third on balance beam. She earned fourth place medals on the remaining two events. Both Frick and Siemiaszko recently added a new tumbling pass into their floor routines, so for them to compete this new skill and earn first and second places respectively is impressive.
Xcel Ladies Team. From left: Lauren Lloyd, Kelsey Britton, Justine Lofton, Andrea Shoop
In the Ladies division, Andrea Shoop earned the All-Around State Champion title (37.45) as well as the State Champ title on vault (9.5), uneven bars (9.35) and balance beam (9.2)! She earned the State Champion Runner-Up title on floor exercise.
Boys’ 4×4 Team. From left: Lincoln Gieske, Dexter Gillespie, Colton Carter, Simon Burgess
Flipstar’s Boy’s 4X4 State Champion Team was led by Lincoln Gieske who earned the All-Around Champion title (36.2) as well as the award for the Highest Boy’s 4×4 score of the meet. He earned the State Champion title on three of the four events. Gieske earned this State Champion title on vault (8.9), circles/support (9.1) and floor exercise (9.1). He also was the State Champion Runner-Up on the remaining event.
Dexter Gillespie earned the Bars State Champion title with a score of 9.5 as well as the State Champion Runner-Up title on Circles/Support and All-Around. He also earned a third place podium medal and a fourth place medal on the remaining events.
Simon Burgess earned a State Champion Runner-Up title on one floor exercise and two third place podium event medals as well as a fifth place event medal for a third place podium all-around finish.
Colton Carter earned the State Champion Runner-Up title on vault, a third place podium medal as well as fourth and fifth place event medals for a fourth place all-around finish.
The boys earned 18 out of a possible 20 top-4 state medals in their first year of competition.
“The program started as a “test” program for the gym this year and couldn’t be more proud of these boys for all of their hard work,” said coach Aimee Goff. “This boy’s 4×4 program is an AAU Gymnastics Nation-wide program that uses the same equipment used for girls competitions for the boys. So, they do vault, bars, circle/support (using the balance beam) and floor exercise instead of the typical six events we see in Men’s Olympic gymnastics. This program fits our Flipstar gym perfectly. We are so excited to have this competition option for boys.
“We couldn’t be more amazed at the success of these Flipstar gymnasts and teams,” Goff said. “We never would have dreamed that our Flipstar teams would bring home the Team State Champion title at every level.
“Twelve years ago we had just seven girls on our competitive team, now we have over 60 with 48 of them qualifying for and competing at state meet. Just to have that many qualifying for and competing at the State Championship meet is a huge accomplishment, let alone bringing home over 150 podium medals and earning 61 State Champion titles.
“These girls have worked really hard this season and peaked at just the right time. They hit 186 out of a possible 192 routines with no falls.
“This meet was full of new skills, best performances and personal records for many gymnasts. It is so fun to watch these girls grow both individually and together as a team. Their positive attitudes are contagious. After many great practice hours, our higher level girls spent some time this past week making good luck ‘clips/pins’ to wish gymnasts from other teams good luck at this meet. It was so fun to watch their enthusiasm as they handed these out.
“There was another team that made these also, so it was fun to see them smile as they received them as well. They’re making friends that will last a lifetime.”
All 44 of the youth competitors qualified for Regionals. Due to the timing and location of the meet, about 20 of them will be competing at that meet in the Chicago area in June where five of the Ladies competitors will be competing at Adult Nationals this same weekend.
“This has been the most successful season in Flipstar history! Flipstar owners and coaches couldn’t be more proud,” Goff said.
Current Flipstar Gymnastics come from Mason, Mansitee, Oceana, Lake and Ottawa counties. Click here for more information.
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