Submitted by Glacier Gymnastics
Thirteen gymnasts from Nelson’s Glacier Gymnastics Club are celebrating their performances from the 2021 B.C. Provincial Virtual Championships over the Easter weekend. The team won 22 medals, including three all-around titles and 24 top-10 placements.
Nine gymnasts on Glacier’s Junior Olympic Level 6 team, also captured the fourth-place team award.
“This is an incredible accomplishment for these girls who were all competing at a B.C. Provincial Championships for the first time,” said head coach Sandra Long.
The Junior Olympic Level 7 team came in fifth place in the team awards. Three out of the four gymnasts moved to this higher category this season. These gymnasts overcame a tremendous challenge, moving into this advanced level, said Long.
“Despite the shut downs and the restriction of no spotting, they worked through setbacks and fears and their efforts were rewarded with solid performances at the B.C. championships.”
Leading the Level 6 Team was Lumay Plautz claiming the 2006 age group all-around gold medal. She also won silver on bars and beam, and bronze on vault.
In the 2007 age group, Molly Anderson also captured the all-around gold medal and silver medals for bars and floor. In the same age group Selina Kromer-Anton took the gold medal on beam and fourth all-around.
Jersey Skolka won the all-around silver medal, gold on beam, silver on vault and bronze on bars in the 2009A age group. Also in this category, Anni van Hellemond took the gold on bars and bronze on vault and fifth all around. Emerson Mandseth claimed the silver medal on floor and ninth all around.
In the 2009B age group, Anika Denkovski dazzled the judges with her grace to capture the bronze medal on floor and seventh all around.
Sarah Stew took two bronze medals in the 2008 age group, one for vault and one for floor and a fifth place all around.
Glacier’s youngest competitor, Rebecka van Hellemond, placed sixth on floor in the 2010A age group.
In the Level 7 category, veteran competitor Dafni van Hellemond won the gold medal on vault, silver on beam, bronze on floor and sixth all-around in the 2003-2005 age group.
Asia Szczepanski earned the silver medal on beam, fourth on bars, sixth all around and on vault, in the 2007 age group. She was followed by teammate Anouk Prud’homme, who was 0.025 away from a bronze medal, received fourth on beam and floor and sixth all-around. In the same age group, Macy Loutit was seventh on floor, eighth on beam and ninth all around.
Long said the coaches and members of Glacier are overwhelmed by the success of its gymnasts this season.
“These young ladies showed never ending dedication and mental toughness through all the special circumstances they had to adjust too. It has been a pleasure for the coaching team to work with these outstanding, positive and tenacious athletes.”
The Glacier Team will now focus on preparing for the Virtual Kootenay Zone Championships, which the club is hosting April 16 to 21.