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Xcel Bronze, from left: Hannah Mackin, Ryah Nichols, Kylin Vanderputte
SANDUSKY, Ohio — Twelve gymnasts from Flipstar Gymnastics of Ludington recently competed in the Flip into Fright Monster Meet at the Cedar Point Sports Center. They earned 26 Top-3 podium awards, 10 of them being champion titles, with each gymnast earning at least one of these Top-3 medals. Flipstar also earned team trophies at every level entered as a team. All three teams only consisted of three gymnasts, the minimum required to be a team, competing against teams seven-plus times this size.
“With the team score being comprised of the top three scores on each event, this left no room for error as every score counted,” said Coach Amy Rohrbach, co-owner of Flipstar Gymnastics.
Flipstar’s Xcel Platinum, Xcel Bronze and Xcel Silver teams brought home the second, fifth, and sixth place team awards respectively.
Xcel Platinum, from left: Finley Watson, Abby Dodson, Cara Siemiaszko
“Our second place Xcel Platinum Team was led by Abby Dodson who earned the All-Around Champion title in her first year as an Xcel Platinum,” Rohrbach said. “She also earned the champion title on vault, uneven bars and balance beam.”
Dodson earned the third place medal on floor exercise making her a podium winner on all events.
“This is an amazing feat for a first year competitor, especially considering she is coming back from an injury which has kept her to minimal practice the past few weeks.”
Cara Siemiesko earned two podium medals with second place on floor exercise and third place on vaul. She also earned fourth place on balance beam and fifth place on uneven bars for a fourth place all-around medal. Finley Watson, also in her first year as a platinum competitor, was by far the youngest competitor at the Xcel Platinum level, with the others in her age division all being two to three years older than her. She earned a third place podium medal on floor exercise where she was happy to successfully compete a layout full tumbling pass, a very new skill for her! She also earned medals for fourth on vault, fifth on balance beam, sixth on uneven bars and seventh place all-around.
Xcel Gold: Jade Emick
Jade Emick was only Flipstar Xcel Gold gymnast who traveled to the meet. She earned the balance beam champion title. She also earned medals for fourth place on uneven bars, seventh place on floor exercise and 11th place on vault for a fourth place all-around medal.
The Xcel Silver team, earning sixth place, was led by Nola Randle. She earned the champion title on vault and balance beam. Her balance beam score of 9.6 was the highest score of the entire meet out of all events and all levels. She also earned medals for fourth on uneven bars and ninth on floor exercise for a third place podium all-around finish. Braelynn Sanders earned a third place podium medal on floor exercise. She also earned medals for fifth on uneven bars, sixth on balance beam and 10th on vault for a fourth place all-around medal. Kimber Carter earned a second place podium medal on balance beam. She also earned medals for seventh place on vault and uneven bars and 11th on floor for an eighth place all-around medal.
The fifth place Xcel Bronze Team competitors all each earned at least one podium medal as well. In her first competition ever, Kylin Vanderputte earned the vault champion title. She also earned medals for fifth on balance beam, sixth on floor exercise and ninth on uneven bars for a seventh place all-around medal. Hannah Mackin also earned a champion title, hers coming on uneven bars. She earned medals for seventh on vault, eighth on floor exercise and ninth on balance beam for an eighth place all-around finish. Ryah Nichols earned a third place podium medal on balance beam! She earned medals for fourth on uneven bars, fifth on vault and ninth on floor exercise for a sixth place all-around medal.
Two of Flipstar’s boys 4×4 Team traveled to compete in the meet. They each had a podium all-around finish in their respective age divisions. Colton Carter was the champion on bars. He also earned medals for third on vault and floor exercise as well as fifth on balance beam (pommel prep) for a second place all-around award. Dexter Gillespie earned all Top-3 podium awards with second on balance beam (pommel prep) and third on vault, bars and floor exercise for a third place all-around medal.
Xcel Silver, from left: Kimber Carter, Braelynn Sanders, Nola Randle
“We are so proud of all of these gymnasts,” Coach Rohrbach said. “This is very early in our competitive season, so just being ready to compete for this meet was an accomplishment for these athletes. They held their own against some very tough competition. Many of them competed new skills for the first time in a competition. This was a great kick-off to our 2025-26 competition season.”
Boys 4X4: Colton Carter, left, and Dexter Gillespie
Flipstar’s Flip Flop for Fall Meet will be held held at Flipstar Gymnastics, 5909 W. US 10, in Ludington on Saturday, November 22.
The gym will be hosting teams from around the state and will have over 70 of its Flipstar Team gymnasts competing.
Contact Flipstar at 231-845-1385 for times and admission information.
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