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Whistler Gymnastics off to a strong start

By Tami Ross and Sheila Mozes The Whistler Gymnastics Club is doing backflips over strong results in their first competitive meet of the season.

By Tami Ross and Sheila Mozes

The Whistler Gymnastics Club is doing backflips over strong results in their first competitive meet of the season.

The KIPS (Kids in Progress), our youngest team competitors, competed at the Zone 5 Beam and Vault meet at Renfrew Gymnastics on Feb. 11. These girls trained twice a week for six hours and are coached by Myriam Benn, Karen Allison and Marie-Anne Prevost.

The team, which consists of Riley McSkimming, Ashlen Coombs, Makina Coombs, Hilary Carrell, Angeina Manuel, Annik Tetreault, Madelaine Podborski, Beckie Boese, and Olivia Murray brought home many gold, silver and bronze awards.

The Tyro Zone team, coached by Kerry McArthur, also competed at this meet. For many athletes it was their first time in competition. Christine Brett finished third overall (second on the vault and third on the beam), Meritt Patterson was sixth overall (seventh and third), Abigale Cameron was sixth on the beam, Teagan Turcotte was eighth in both, and Michaela D’Artois was 10th on the beam.

The KIPS will get their next chance to shine at the Pheonix Gymnastics Bars and Floor meet on Mar. 11 in Vancouver.

The Whistler gymnastics Provincial team competed at the North Shore Invitational held at Flicka Gymnastics on Feb. 17 under the direction of their coaches Karin Jarratt and Tami Ross. They train three times each week, between nine and 12 hours. Congratulations to all and especially to Nicola Bennett, a Whistler secondary student who has returned to competition after three years. It was also the first Level 2 meet for Renee Palkovsky and Nickie Sadler.

Frances Moody was the top Level 1 Midget, finishing 10 th all around and seventh in the bars.

In the Level 1 Argo category, Megan McSkimming finished 12 th all around with a silver in the vault. Stephanie Moody was 13 th , with a seventh on the floor.

In Level 1 Tyro, Melissa Manuel finished sixth all around and won gold in the beam. Natasha Quinn was eight overall and fifth in the vault, and Julianna Waters was 10th and fifth on the floor.

In the Level 1 Open, Nicola Bennett finished fifth all around, with bronze medals in the vault and floor competitions.

In Level 2 Midget, Renee Palkovsky finished eighth all around, with a fifth in the bars and Nickie Sadler was ninth and seventh on the bars.

In Level 2 Tyro, Tawnya Robson with 13 th all around, with a seventh on the bars, and Alex Rusimovich was 18 th , with a 17 th in the vault.

The next provincial competition takes place in Delta on March 17.

We are extremely proud of all our competitive levels. They are competing against clubs from B.C. and Alberta who train more hours and in permanent facilities. The potential of our athletes is often recognized and remarked upon at meets by judges, spectators and other teams.

If you want to see the Whistler Gymnastics Club in action, they will be having an intraclub club meet at Myrtle Philip on March 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for KIPS and intermediate gymnasts.