Strong showing at Judges Cup for Glacier gymnasts
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Glacier athletes did not disappoint their coaches at the annual Glacier Judges Cup this past weekend at the club’s facility in the Civic Centre.
Head coach Sandra Long said many Glacier gymnasts finished in the medals in the competition that attracted 140 competitors from clubs throughout the Kootenays, including Castlegar, Trail and Invermere.
“This was the first competition of the season for many of our gymnasts,” said Long. “There were many personal best achievements and the coaching team was very pleased with the way the team performed.”
The athletes competed in 14 Skill level categories.
In the Performance Plus category Ankaret Georget, Rebecka van Hellemond and Penelope Dawson all took home an All Around Gold.
In the Zone 1 competitive category 9 of Glacier’s up and coming gymnasts received a Gold ranking All Around, Asia Szczepanski, Emerson Mandseth, Marin Smienk, Annie van Hellemond, Sarah Stew, Elsa Troutet, Maggie Kormany, Kate Woodward and Ember Mullin-Topf.
Two of Glacier’s Junior Olympic Level 6 gymnasts claimed All Around Gold, Macy Loutit and Elisa Clark.
And Brianne Stefani also claimed the gold in the Level 8 category.
In the Junior and Senior Highschool Program, Lucca Dehnel claimed All Around Gold in the Level 1 category, Fawn Herzig, Maite Troutet, Selina Kromer-Anton, Nina Usher, Mattaya Oakley, Aiyana Balaza Adamek, Shekinah Parks, Zeva Rushforth and Gabriella Hurst all walked away with All Around Gold in Level 2.
In the Trampoline event, Jace Reid, Quentin and Anni van Hellemond both earned an All Around Gold
Nine of Glacier’s gymnast won special awards; Penelope Dawson & Dafni van Hellemond for Fastest Run on Vault, Shekinah Parks for Highest Dismount on Bars, and Jeanne Troutet and Lumay Plautz for Biggest Smile during their Floor routines.
In the Double Mini trampoline category, Paityn Lake won the Best Stuck Landing and Molly Anderson won the Fastest Run. For trampoline, Anni van Hellemond won for Best Form and Jace Reid won for Highest Jump.
Glacier gymnasts have a few weeks of preparation prior to the next competitive meet, February 8-10 in Castlegar at the Selkirk Kootenay Cup meet.
The Castlegar meet is followed by events in Coeur d’Alene February 21-24 and Cranbrook March 1-3.
