Nelson’s Glacier Gymnastics hosted the Kootenay Zone Championships during May 9-11. Two hundred and sixty gymnasts from Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, Fernie, Cranbrook, Invermere and Penticton participated in the event vying for individual all-around and event titles.
The Glacier Team won 93 medals, 17 of which were podium All Around Championship medals. The Team also claimed the first place team titles in the Canadian Competitive Level 6-8 and Platinum, and the Xcel Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.
Glacier Gymnastics’ recent provincial championships participants continued their winning streak in the Xcel Silver, Gold and Platinum categories.
The Xcel Silver category saw many podium finishes. In the July 2015-2016 age group, Evelyn Kelly won gold all around and on vault, bars and beam, and silver on floor. Fallon Peel took gold all around and on vault, bars and beam in the July-December 2014 age category, with teammate Gemma Pauly close behind with bronze all around and silver on bars and beam. Madeleine Grypma won gold on floor and Mirah Benrabha took silver on vault.
In the January-June 2014 age group, Elodie Kinsman was on top of the podium with gold all around and on bars and beam, and silver on vault. Charlotte Robinson was silver all around and on floor, and gold on vault. Maren Port won the gold on floor.
In the Aprl-December 2013 age category, Glacier dominated the podium, starting on top with Liv Campbell's all around gold and gold on beam and floor, silver on vault and bars. Lux Bourdon captured the all around silver, gold on vault and silver on floor. Rounding out the podium, Thora Suomi with the all around bronze medal and silver on beam. Teammate Lilyanna Hynes won bronze in both the bars and floor. Riley Talbot with a bronze on vault and floor.
Tatijahna Martin won silver all around and gold on beam in the 2012 age category. Teammate Azuli Enciso Irwin was silver on bars.
In the Xcel Gold, 2013-2015 category, Glacier once again was on top of the podium. Paisley Martin won gold all around and on vault, beam and floor. Tui Melville was silver all around and on vault and floor, and bronze on bars.
In the 2011-2012 age group, Paisley Jarvis was silver all around, gold on floor and bronze on bars. Amelia Kinsman was bronze all around and silver on floor. Lia Keely was silver on bars and bronze on floor.
In the Xcel Platinum category, Denali Davis captured bronze in the all around, and gold on beam and floor.
Head coach Sandra Long said that the momentum of the Glacier Team is still building.
“The success of the team this season has been surprising and very motivating. They have an ongoing positive outlook and energy and continue to be persistent in their goals to perfect skills and polish routines.”
In the CCP Level 7 2008-2009 age category, Jersey Skolka took the gold all around and gold on vault, bars and floor, silver on beam. Rebecka van Hellemond also won gold all around in the 2010-2011 age group and gold on bars and floor, silver on beam.
In the CCP Level 8 category, Molly Anderson grabbed gold in all events and in the all around.
The Glacier coaching team is delighted with the success of the team.
“Their dedicated training has paid off for them,” says Long. “If our new and experienced competitors continue their progress we will see a bigger and more successful team attending competitions next season.”
The team is finishing the season strong but the gymnasts are looking forward to learning and preparing new skills for the upcoming Year End Show and next season.
