Whistler Gymnastics wrapped up its competitive season this past weekend at a provincial meet in Kelowna.
For the Beginner Provincial Team, Maye Akama led the way with silver medals on vault and beam, a fifth on the floor and a 10 th on the bars to place second all around.
Teammate Alexandra Shuker won the bronze all around after winning a bronze on the floor, placing fourth on beam and placing seventh on vault and bars.
Cate Sproule earned a bronze on bars, and placed sixth on the vault and eighth on beam.
Hannah Raffler was fourth on vault, eighth on the floor, and ninth on bars to finish fifth all around.
Jenya Nordin was ninth on bars.
Averi Willis and Kristina Bell all had their personal bests in different events, but didn’t manage to crack the top-10.
The Beginner Provincial Tyro Team also had a good day, led by Desirae Smith. Smith earned silver on vault and bars, and won the bronze all around medal.
Victoria Jazic was third on beam and fourth on bars, Emily Cankovic was second on the vault and ninth on bars, and Jasmin Budge was fifth on bars and seventh on floor to place seventh all around. Meg Halliwell was fifth on vault.
The Provincial Level 1 Team also found the podium with Sonja d’Artois earning bronze on vault and floor to place 13 th all around. Nicola Halliwell was 12 th all around, finishing fourth on bars and eighth on beam.
Lenka Prochazka competed in her first Provincial Level 2 competition, and placed eighth on vault in a field with over 30 competitors. Rebecca Flynn placed eighth on beam and was 10 th all around.
The LEAP (Let’s Evaluate Athlete Progress) team, which is a pre-competitive program, also headed to Kelowna for physical ability and skills testing. Physical ability testing includes agility drills like the sprint and shuttle run, and strength tests like the rope climbing, and pull ups, while skills tests involves gymnastics skills. Iyla Nordin, Martina Gerson, Eve Von Rosen and Carlin Mann took part and coaches were pleased with their progress.
The KIP (Kids In Progress) group also took part. Jessica Girard, Jessie Budge, Maxine Shuster, Ellie Krasny, Tatiana Fogarty, Cambria Willis and Ali Marriott performed full routines for the first time, and all walked away with bronze, silver or gold ribbons in the four disciplines as well as all around.
"The girls were very excited to go to Kelowna, for some of them it was their third time," said Whistler Gymnastics coach Tami Mitchell. "As a club, the coaches and parents are very happy with the results of the athletes. It is truly amazing what the girls can do with the limitations they have with training times and space."
Whistler Gymnastics will wrap up programs in the next few weeks. Registration is available for the fall, and there is still space at summer camps in July and August. Visit www.whistlergymnastics.com for
