Level 7s Take First At Bay State

The Level 7 team came on strong again, winning 1st place at the Bay State Classic and a trophy taller than a couple of the girls. It wasn't an easy ride to the top of the podium. Most of the girls were having a mix of good-day / bad-day. There were some distracting minor injuries to cope with, some threshold cold/flu symptoms and fatigue. The team was clearly tired. This was their third big meet weekend in a row. They rose above all that, however, and put out a performance to match last weekend.

The 7s didn't dominate any event, like they had in Hartford, but each of the team scattered stellar efforts across all events. Kayla nailed Vault with a 9.425. Team mates Jess, Allison and Melinda were close behind, all with 9s. On Bars, it was Allison taking the lead with a 9.325, team mates LaNaya and Hillary contributing 9s to the team total. Beam was a bit more trouble for almost everyone. Allison led again. On Floor, LaNaya shared the lead with Allison. Both had 9.4s, Courtney and Jess were close behind with 9.25s. Here are some photos of the meet.

Again, the depth of skill among the 7s won the day. Their team total of 110.675 put them in first place, over two sessions of level 7 competition. Way to go 7s! You've earned a break.

Level 6s Power To The Top

OTW's Level 6 team came on strong at the Bay State Classic, clinching the HUGE first place team trophy. All of the 6s were having a mixed day. Good on some events, not quite as good as they've done before, on others. The strain of three big meets in a row was evident, but it did not stop them. The 6s got tough and worked hard.

On Vault, Jamie was hot. She took 1st place with a 9.25. Kelly and Amanda also scored 9s to jack up the team total. On Bars, Amanda, took 1st place. Madison and Jamie's Bars scores ratcheted up the team total. The irrepressible MacKenzie took to Bars again, and did even better! On Beam, Madison was hot, with a 1st place performance of a 9.325. Team mates Morgan and Amanda contributed their Beam scores to the team total. On Floor, it was Amanda's turn to be hot. Her 9.475 took 1st. Madison and Jamie also scored 9s, putting the Level 6 team's total out of reach.

The well-rounded 6s' team total of 108.375 edged out all the others and put them on TOP of the winners' platform. Great job Level 6 Team!

Level 5s Take Home Team Trophy

Like the other OTW teams competing in the Bay State Classic, the Level 5 girls were feeling the fatigue of a third out-of-state invitational in three weeks. Some were feeling the onset of a cold. The 5s were determined, however, and didn't let any of that keep them down. Jackie, in fact, was begging to go compete, despite a 103 fever. Mom and dad said no, of course, but this illustrates the spirit of the Level 5 Team.

On Vault, Anne scored a 9.20. Emma and Jessica F's vaults went towards the total. On Bars, Jess P led the way. Emma and Anne were both in good form and bumped up the team score. On Beam, Anne, Jess P and Jess F had the top three scores for the team total. On Floor, Emily had the high team score. Team mates Anne and Jess F were close behind. Actually, Jess P and Emma were very close behind them too. The whole 5 team looked solid on Floor.

At awards, the 5s all stood up to accept the third place team trophy. Every girl contributed to the team score, so the whole team earned their victory. Congratulations 5s, on a well deserved prize.

Level 4s Round Out Trophy Sweep

The Level 4's showed great poise and composure at their third consecutive out-of-state invitational meet. Despite some very tough competition at this year's Bay State Classic, each of the girls had their shining moments and together they took home the 3rd place trophy. They completed an OTW team sweep in which every level team brought a trophy home to the gym.

In the highly competitive intermediate division, Summer had a great meet, achieving a personal best 33.75 in the all around. Hanna was strong, earning silver on bars, bronze on floor, and 4th in the all-around.

In the junior division Allie had a great meet, placing in all four events, taking 2nd on beam, and 3rd in the all around. Maddie K continues to impress on floor, earning a bronze medal.

In the senior division, Sydney's spectacular vault earned her the silver medal, and she also placed on bars and beam. A tough score on floor kept her out of the all-around placements, but Sydney is definitely on the move! Maddie F. had another strong meet, placing 6th on vault and 8th in the all around. Beam was the event of the day for Cassie, earning her a medal. Hope was also strong on beam, tying a personal best 9.4 for a beautiful routine, strong enough to secure the bronze. Hope also earned silver on bars, and 3rd in the all around.

OTW's youngest team showed they had what it takes too. They brought home team trophies from all three invitationals. Go 4s! Here are some photos of the meet.

Level 8 Medals at Bay State

Alyssa wasn't feeling her best going into the Bay State Classic, but still pulled together some great scores. She took 1st place on Bars with a 9.25 and 1st place on Beam with a 9.05. Her All-Around was good for the 2nd place trophy. A very strong showing for a gymnast feeling a bit off, and in a very crowded field. (There were a lot of level 8 girls there). Great job, Alyssa!

7s Soar Into First Place

OTW's Level 7 team took Hartford by storm. They won first place at the Northeast Invite, held in Hartford Connecticut. It was a crowded field. 104 Level 7 gymnasts from 24 gyms, were spread over two Saturday sessions.

As usual, the 7s were powerful on the Vault. Almost everyone scored in the 9s. In all, the team took one gold, one silver, four bronze and a 6th place medal for Vault.
On Bars, the judging was tough, but evenly so. Every one of the team won a medal on bars. The team collected one gold, two silver, two bronze, two fifths and a sixth.
On Beam, prior troubles were forgotten and everyone put in an extra effort. The result was an OTW girl on top of the winners platform in every age group. Leigh took the gold in the child group. Allison took the gold in Junior A. Kayla took gold in Junior B. LaNaya took gold in Seniors.
On Floor, the OTW 7s were wildfire. Every member of the team scored in the 9s and every one of them won a medal.

In the All-Around, the OTW blue and white was ever-present. Leigh took 4th in the child division. Allison took 4th in Junior A. In Junior B, Kayla, Courtney and Hillary took 1st, 2nd and 4th. In the Senior division, LaNaya, Jess and Melinda took the stand for 1st, 3rd and 4th.

The Level 7 team proved they had the strength and the depth to win. Team scores comprised the top five scores. Every single member of the team contributed at least two of their scores towards the team total. What a solid team!

Level 8 Gathers Medals Too

With only one level 8 gymnast, there was no team score to factor in, but Alyssa was a force to be reckoned with nonetheless. She was cheered on from the sidelines by team mates from other levels. She held her own against a talented field. Her Bars routine scored a 9.35, netting her a sliver medal. Alyssa also brought home medals for Vault and the All-Around.

5s in Hartford

Level 5 competition in Hartford was pretty intense. Gymnasts from 18 gyms filled two full sessions on Sunday morning. Against such a talented field, OTW's Level 5s held their own.

Jackie took home silver medals for Bars and Beam. She stood up for the bronze in the All-Around for 7-8 year olds. Emma's floor routine went very well, giving her her high score for the meet. Emily had a very clean Vault, scoring her meet high score in that event. Jess and Anne were frequently side by side on the winner's platform. They tied for 2nd on Vault, stood 2nd and 3rd on Bars, 5th and 1st on Beam, 2nd and 4th on Floor. In the 12+ group, Anne took the silver in the All-Around. Jess took the bronze. The team narrowly missed placing in the team competition, by only one point!

Given the many talented gymnasts from all over New England who gathered in Hartford, the Level 5 Team made sure the OTW blue & white was well represented. Good job, ladies, we're proud of you.

Level 6 Team Brings Home an Eagle

The Level 6 team took to the floor Saturday morning in Hartford. They brought back the bronze eagle trophy for the third place team victory at this regional scale event.

Scoring was tough on Vault, but Jamie, Amanda and Kelly still managed to bring home a gold medal on that event. Bars was a bit tough too, but Madison and Amanda received the gold for their Bars routines. Beam saw Madison stand up for the gold with her 9.3. On Floor, the sixes were going strong. Madison, Kelly, Amanda, Jamie and Morgan won a medal for their Floor routines.

The big story for the 6's meet was MacKenzie. She has been out for several weeks with her sore knee in a brace. She came to Hartford, intending to cheer on her team mates from the sidelines. The competitor's spirit, however, is not easily kept on the sidelines. She insisted on competing on at least Bars. She omitted skills that were a risk to her knee but still did well enough to win a medal! Way to go, MacKenzie!

In the All-Around, Amanda and Madison took home a gold, Jamie a silver. All those medals added up. Their bronze eagle is proof. Good job 6s!

Level 4s Debut, Catch Eagle of Their Own

After a long wait for their session to begin, the 4's did a fine job at the Northeast Invitational. The girls faced tough competition, unclear age categories, and an utterly confusing awards ceremony with great team spirit and brought brought home a 4th place trophy.

Newest team member Sydney had a terrific meet, placing 2nd on vault and 8th in the all-around. Maddie F had a great vault as well, earning her a 9.27 in a tough age division, and a 7th place medal. Jessica was solid on all four events, and brought home 7th place in the all-around. Allie was strongest on floor and vault, and placed 6th in the all-around. Summer turned in a nice beam routine for 7th place. Maddie K scored an impressive 9.4 on floor, earning her a third place medal. Hope's strongest event of the day was bars, on which she placed 2nd, and combined with other solid events, earned her 5th in the all-around. Hanna was hot, taking home 1st on beam and bars, 2nd on vault, and 2nd in the all-around.

All in all, an impressive showing for this first big "away" meet for OTW's youngest team.

Smiles and Medals at Brestyan's

Check out the OTW Pix Album for photos from the meet.

The Level 5 team took home several medals too. Jess P took the silver medal for Beam (Junior division) and bronze on Bars. Emily took the gold on Vault (intermediate division) and tied for the bronze on Floor. Emma took fifth on Bars and Floor. Jess F. tied for the silver on Vault and took a bronze on floor. Jackie scored a 9.025, taking 6th, on Floor.

Our Level 6 team had some highlights of their own. Madison took home a bronze medal for Floor. Kelly, Amanda and Jamie were all strong on Vault. Amanda's 9.375 was good for the silver. Jamie tied for 4th with 9.175.

The Level 7 team put on the power for Vault. Almost every one of them scored a 9. Allison took 2nd in the intermediate division with a 9.50. Kayla was part of the vault power play scoring her meet-best with a 9.10. Jess and Melinda took the gold and silver (junior division). Courtney took 5th with a 9.175. There were several medals for Bars as well. Jess and LaNaya tied for the bronze with 9.15s. Melinda took home a medal too, for her 9.00.

Beam was plagued by falls. Only two of the team didn't have a fall. Those two had terrific routines. Allison scored a 9.425. Leigh scored a 9.375. The floor judging was tougher, as expected, but LaNaya still took home the bronze with a 9.10. Hillary and Leigh also scored 9s. In the All-Around Hillary took 4th, LaNaya 6th, Jess 7th in the junior division. Leigh and Allison tied for 7th with 36.20s.

OTW's Level 8 was in good form. Alyssa took home the silver on Vault and Beam and the gold medal on Bars. She also took first place in the All-Around (juniors) with a 35.65.

The Level 9s had a bit of a rougher time. Becca opted to sit this meet out, the doctor just clearing her for competition again, in order to be prime for the Hartford meet. Bri took the silver on Vault. Kenna took the silver on Beam.

Level 4's Take 2nd Place Team Award at Brestyan's

The Level 4 team competed on Friday, the first day of the Brestyan's American Classic Invitational. The 4's had a great showing at their first out-of-state invitational meet. They appeared composed and confident amidst the large crowd of gymnasts and the modified warm-up/compete format that was new to them. Thanks to a great team performance, the girls brought home the second place trophy!

Allie earned gold on the beam, and 4th in the all around. Maddie K and Hope were hot on the vault, earning 4th and 1st place medals respectively. Jessica had a great bars routine, turning in a 9.15 to earn a 5th place medal in her age division, while Hanna scored an amazing 9.675 earning the gold and a special judges' award for best dismount. Judging was tough on the floor for the 4's, but Maddie F won them over to take home the bronze. Summer and Cassie both had solid beam routines, taking home 5th and 6th place respectively.

Directions to Hartford meet

Here's info on how to get to the Hartford meet, especially if you're driving direct. Click here Don't forget to take pictures with the yearbook (and website) in mind! :-)

Hartford Meet Update

The site for the Hartford meet was updated today to show a session schedule that is different that what they started out with. Check it out

Drawing Winners

Team girls take turns, after each practice, drawing a ticket from the "magic" pumpkin. (It's not actually magic, btw) Here Jackie draws the slip for the winner of the Body Shop gift basket. These scenes of cheerful chaos will continue throughout the month of January untill all prizes are won. If you bought a ticket, you could be next!