Submitted by Glacier Gymnastics
Nelson’s Glacier Gymnastics hosted the 2021 Virtual Kootenay Zone Championships, which took place over the last month. One hundred gymnasts from Trail, Castlegar, Cranbrook and Kimberley participated in the event vying for individual all-around and event titles.
The Glacier team won 93 medals, eight of which were first-place all around championship titles.
Glacier Gymnastics’ recent provincial championship Junior Olympic gymnasts continued their winning streak in the Junior Olympic Level 6 and 7 categories.
Medal highlights in the Level 6, under-13 category, included Jersey Skolka claiming the all around gold medal, just ahead of teammate Anni van Hellemond who won the silver medal, followed by Anika Denkovski winning the bronze. Sarah Stew captured the bronze on floor and Emerson Mandseth took the silver on beam.
In the Level 6, 13-and-up category, Molly Anderson claimed the all around gold medal followed closely by Selina Kromer-Anton winning the silver and Lumay Plautz taking the bronze.
In the Junior Olympic Level 7 – all ages category, Glacier once again swept the podium, with Dafni van Hellemond on the top with the all around gold, Anouk Prud’homme capturing silver and Asia Szczepanski taking the bronze. Macy Loutit won the silver medal on bars.
“This is a great end to a successful season for our Junior Olympic competitors,” said Glacier Gymnastics head coach Sandra Long, who added her athletes added new skills for this competition. “With all the routine changes, the girls still looked polished and performed well.”
The 17 Glacier gymnasts competing in the Xcel category claimed all five of the all around titles. In the Xcel Bronze category, Luciana Brandao won the all around gold medal with Ella Morris taking the bronze.
In the Xcel Silver, under-12 age group, Teija Hartman vaulted to the top of the podium taking the gold medal all around, and Synnove Lansgard was right behind claiming the silver. Anni-Mae Bruce took home a bronze medal on beam.
Glacier cleaned up on the all-around podium in the Xcel Silver, 12-and-up category, with Sasha Eaton winning the gold, Moly Dool the silver and Emily Horn the bronze. Sophia With claimed the silver medal on bars.
In the Xcel Gold, under-13 age group, Jeanne Troutet capture gold all around, Elsa Troutet claimed bronze on bars, Adelaide Maley took the silver on the floor and Lillianna Mucha won silver on bars
Kallie Badry captured the gold all around in the Xcel Gold, 13-and-up age group, Jazmine Mangapot took the bronze. Penelope Dawson won the bronze on bars.
The Glacier coaching team is delighted with the performances of the team’s Xcel competitors.
“Their dedicated training has paid off for them,” says Long. “If our new competitors continue their progress we will see a bigger and more successful team attending B.C. Championships next season.”