Xcel Platinum Team, from left: Finley Watson, Grace Hasenbank, Abby Dodson, Cara Siemiaszko, Laney Bottrell, Alyssa Landino
LOWELL – Flipstar Gymnastics had 44 gymnasts travel to Lowell to compete in the Winter Classic Invitational this past weekend. The 44 gymnasts earned 159 top-three podium medals with 76 of them being champion titles. In addition to individual champions, Flipstar also earned the Team Champion Award at the Xcel Bronze, Xcel Silver, Xcel Platinum and Boys 4X4 levels as well as the third place award for Xcel Gold.
“Our Xcel Platinum Team score of 113.05 was not only good enough to earn the Team Champion award, but was also a Flipstar Gym record,” said Coach Aimee Goff. Flipstar earned the Xcel Platinum All-Around Champion title in all age divisions with Finley Watson, Abby Dodson, Grace Hasenbank and Justine Lofton each earning this title. Finley’s score of 37.45 also earned her a special award for the Highest Xcel Platinum of the meet, edging out Abby by just 0.05 and Grace by just 0.1. Finley and Abby each earned the champion title on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise as well as second on vault in their respective age divisions. Grace was the champion on uneven bars and floor exercise as well as second on the other two events. Justine was the champion on all events and also earned the special award for the highest all-around score of all the ladies competitors in the meet, regardless of level. Alyssa Landino and Laney Bottrell each earned second place all-around in their respective age divisions. Alyssa earned the vault champion title and second on the remaining three events. Laney earned two second and two third place event medals. Cara Siemiaszko earned the champion title on vault and balance beam in addition to third place on the other two events for a third place all-around finish.
Xcel Gold Team, from left: Braelynn Sanders, Rylee Revolt, Olivia Brandt, Millie Boyd, Jade Emick, Emma Burgess, Oriana Hill, Maple Prescott
Flipstar’s Xcel Gold third place team, just .35 behind the first place team, was led by Maple Prescott. Maple earned the balance beam champion title as well as one second and two fourth place awards for a second place all-around medal. In the Ladies didivion, Lindsay Maynard earned the Champion title on all events and all-around. Braeylnn Sanders had a third place podium all-around finish and also earned one second and two third place podium medals in addition to a fourth place event medal. Jade Emick and Rylee Revolt each earned the vault champion title in their respective age divisions. Jade also earned two third place and one fifth place medals for a fourth place all-around medal. Rylee earned a third and two fifth place event medals for a fifth place all-around award. Oriana Hill earned two second place podium medals in addition to two fourth place medals for a fourth place all-around finish. Olivia Brandt earned one second and one third place podium medals in addition to two fourth places for a fifth place all-around finish. Millie Boyd and Emma Burgess each earned a podium medal with a second and a third place respectively. Millie also earned three sixth place event medals for a sixth place all-around award. Emma earned one sixth and two seventh place event medals for a seventh place all-around finish.
Xcel Silver Team, from left: Gretchen Reed, Elyse Tucker, Porter Lane, Olivia Machen, Nola Randle, Caitlyn Dean, Khloe Pendrick, Kimber Carter, Riley Flood, Elyse Lindbloom, Natalie Lloyd
Flipstar’s Xcel Silver Champion team had two all-around champions in Nola Randle and Gretchen Reed. Nola’s score of 38.55 earned her the special award for the Highest Xcel Silver All-Around out of the entire meet. Nola earned all podium medals being the champion on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise and third on the remaining event. Gretchen earned two second and one third place podium medals as well as one fourth place event medal. In the Ladies division, Jenny Vega earned the Champion title on all events as well as all-around. Elyse Tucker was the floor exercise champion in her age division and also earned one second, one third and one sixth place event medals for a second place all-around finish. Caitlyn Dean, Olivia Machen and Kimber Carter each earned a third place all-around podium medal in their respective age divisions. Cailtyn earned two second, one third and one fourth place event medals. Oliva earned two second, one fourth and one sixth place event medals. Kimber earned one second, one third, one fifth and one sixth place event medals. Elyse Lindbloom, Riley Flood and Porter Lane each earned a fourth place all-around medal in their respective age divisions. Porter was the floor exercise champion for her age division and she also earned one third and two fifth place event medals. Elyse and Riley each earned two third place podium medals. Elyse also earned a fourth and a sixth place event medals and Riley earned one fifth and one seventh place event medals. Natlie Lloyd earned a second place podium medal on one event as well as a fourth and two sixth place medals for a sixth place all-around finish. Khloe earned one of each fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place event medals for a seventh place all-around award.
Xcel Bronze Team, from left: Evie Witkowski, Hensley Chavalia, Loren Fisher, Josephine Ryan, Brynn Grothause, Ellie Odegaard, Kylin Vanderputte, Davony Glenn, Stevie Trejo, Kinsey Sanders, Weslynn Sanders, Svenja Siems
Flipstar’s Xcel Bronze Team not only earned the team champion award with their score of 116.3, but also set a new Xcel Bronze Team Flipstar Gym Record with this score. Flipstar also earned the All-Around Champion title in all five age divisions with Weslynn Sanders, Hensley Chavalia, Kylin Vanderputte, Svenja Siems and Ellie Odegaard each earning this title.. In her first ever away competition, Svenja Siems led the way with a score of 38.7 which earned the award for the Highest Xcel Bronze All-Around of the entire meet. Svenja earned the champion title on vault, balance beam and floor exercise as well as third on the remaining event. Also competing in her first away competition ever, Weslynn Sanders earned the Champion title on vault, balance beam and floor exercise as well as second on the remaining event. Hensley Chavalia swept the champion title on all events. Hensley and Kylin, both earned the Vault Champion title in their respective age groups with a score of 9.95 which sets a new Flipstar Gym record. Kylin also earned the champion title on balance beam and floor exercise and third on the remaining event. Ellie earned the Champion title on vault and balance beam and had all podium finishes with second and third on the remaining events. Brynn Grothause and Kinsey Sanders also both competing in their first away competition, each earned all podium medals and earned the second place all-around award. Kinsey was the Champion on uneven bars and floor exercise and earned third place on the other two events. Brynn earned the Uneven Bars Champion title and also earned two second and one third place event medals. Evie Witkowski also earned the second place all-around award. She earned three second and one fourth place event medals. Stevie Trejo had a third place all-around finish in her first away competition. She also earned one second, two sixth and one seventh place event medals. Davony Glenn earned a third place podium event medal as well as three fourth place event medals for a fourth place all-around finish. Loren Fisher earned one of each fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place event medals for a sixth place all-around medal.
Xcel Copper competitor Emily Cluck
Emily Cluck was Flipstar’s only Xcel Copper gymnast who chose to compete in this meet. In her first away competition, she earned the Champion title on 3 of the 4 individual events and second on the remaining event for a second place all-around award.
Boys 4X4 Team, from left: Colton Carter, Dexter Gillespie, Simon Burgess
Flipstar had just three Boys 4X4 team members compete in this meet and they not only earned the first place team award, but also set a new Boys 4X4 Team Flipstar Gym record with a score of 112.65. Simon Burgess and Colton Carter each earned the All-Around Champion title. Simon earned the Champion title on all events. Colton earned the Champion title on bars, circles/support and floor exercise and second on the remaining event. Dexter Gillespie earned the champion title on vault as well as second on the remaining 3 events for a second place all-around award.
Xcel Ladies Competitors, from left: Jenny Vega, Lindsay Maynard, Justine Lofton
“We are so proud of all of these gymnasts not only for their amazing results, but also for their hard work and team support,” Goff said. “For many of our gymnasts, this was their first ever away competition. So there were many nerves going into this meet, but they supported each other to work through this. We also went into this meet with some gymnasts not feeling as prepared as normal considering these girls had two weeks off for Christmas break and then a snow day on Tuesday, leaving only one practice in the three weeks leading up to the meet.
“At that practice we talked about how they do meets because they love gymnastics, not because anyone is vying for an Olympic medal, but how in order to do their best we needed to make every minute of the one practice count. So, they did just that, they showed up and worked hard. We had a few uncharacteristic mistakes at the meet, but they helped each other look past and get ready to put their best foot forward on the next event.
“Bringing home 159 podium medals was an amazing feat. Our next meet will be a home meet, Flipstar’s Sweetheart Snowfest Invitational, on Feb. 7 where over 70 Flipstar team gymnasts will compete with gymnasts from around the state.”
Watch Flipstar’s Facebook page, FlipstarGym Ludington, for a schedule of events when the date gets closer.
“We love the hundreds of Flipstar families and community members that come to support our Flipstar gymnasts,” Goff said.
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