Submitted by Glacier Gymnastics
Nelson’s Glacier Gymnastics hosted the Kootenay Zone Championships this past weekend. Two hundred fifty gymnasts from Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, Fernie, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Invermere and Penticton participated in the event vying for individual all-around, event and team titles.
The Glacier team won 104 medals, 11 of which were first-place all-around titles, and swept the podium in four awards categories, taking the gold, silver and bronze all-around medals. Glacier also claimed the team titles in the Canadian Competitive Level 6, Level 7-8 and the Xcel Silver categories, as well as the second-place team award in the Xcel Gold category.
Glacier Gymnastics’ recent B.C. Provincial Championships participants continued their winning streak in the Canadian Competitive Level 6, 7 and 8 categories.
The Level 7 gymnasts, just off of a stellar performance at provincials where they won the first-place team trophy, once again captured the first-place Level 7 and 8 team award with the help of Level 8 gymnast Brianne Stefani.
Stefani also won the gold medal in all events and all around in the Level 8 category. The Level 7 team claimed all the podium spots in the all around: Macy Loutit with the gold all-around medal, Anouk Prud’homme with the silver medal and Anni van Hellemond rounding things out with the bronze medal.
The Level 6 team also claimed the first-place team trophy. The medal highlights in the Level 6, youth age category; Rebecka van Hellemond won the all-around gold medal, capturing gold on the bars and floor events as well.
In the Level 6, junior age category, Glacier dominated the podium again, starting on top, Malaya Tasse-Yarmark with the all-around gold, Jersey Skolka with the all-around silver and rounding out the podium Emerson Manseth with the all-around bronze medal. Teammate Anika Denkovski won bronze in both the vault and bars event.
Glacier occupies the whole podium again, starting with the Level 6 senior age category gold all-around winner, Molly Anderson, followed by teammates Lumay Plautz with the silver all-around and Selina Kromer-Anton with the bronze all-around.
Head coach Sandra Long said the momentum of the Canadian Competitive Program (CCP) 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.”
The CCP team’s last competition of the season is in Okotoks, Alta., on April 29 to 30.
“The team is finishing the season strong but the gymnasts are looking forward to finishing up the competition season and are eager to start preparing new skills for the next season,” said Long.
In the Xcel Gold youth age group, Jeanne Troutet earned the all-around gold medal with Lillianna Mucha claiming the silver all-around. Adelaide Maley won the bronze medal in the bars event.
Glacier secures the top two spots again in the Xcel Gold junior age category, with Penelope Dawson taking home the gold, following behind by 0.05 of a point, Elsa Troutet grabbed the silver all around medal.
In the Xcel Gold senior age group, Kallie Badry scooped up three gold medals, including the all around.
Once again Glacier cleaned up on the podium in the Xcel Silver senior age category, with Ayla Kipkie and Sophia With tying for the gold all-around medal and Ankaret Georget netting the bronze medal. Prairie Marzicola performed a flawless bar routine to earn the gold in that event.
In the Xcel Silver junior age category, Anni-Mae Bruce took home the gold all-around medal and Teammate Keira Badry won the bronze all-around. Teija Hartman powered her way to the silver medal on the vault.
The Xcel Silver youth age category saw another Glacier victory, with Hazel Anderson on top of the podium with the gold all-around medal, followed by Amelia Kinsman who won the silver in all around.
The Glacier coaching team is delighted with the success of the Xcel team.
“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 the B.C. championships next season.”