American Flyer: Every Team Wins Trophy

There was some very VERY talented competition at this year's American Flyer's Cup Invitational up in Portland Maine. The teams from Virginia, Excalibur, were very good. The teams from NEGX in Connecticut were even better. Even amid all that power, every one of the OTW teams took home a team trophy. THAT was pretty awesome. The 4s competed Friday. On Saturday, the 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s and 10s competed. On Sunday, the Level 5s had their turn.

The Level 4 Team was scoring big, taking home gold, silver and bronze medals in all four events. Emma took gold in Vault with a 9.60. Maddy took the gold in her age group too. On Bars, Emma took gold again. Ellie and Maddy took silver. Jordan took the bronze. On Beam, Emma took the silver, Ellie the bronze. Maddy and Jessica took home medals too, with a 9.05 and a 9.20. On Floor, it was Emma again at the top with a 9.40. Jordan took the bronze with a 9.20. In the All Around, Emma took 1st, Maddy 2nd, Ellie and Jessica took 4th and 7th. Their overall team score of 110.70 won them the 3rd place team trophy.

The Level 5 Team was especially hot on Sunday morning. Everyone one of them scored in the 9s on Vault and took home a medal for it. Madison won the silver with a 9.35. Hanna and Emma won bronzes in their age groups, also with 9.35s. On Bars, Hope was the star, taking the gold with a 9.35, Hanna took the bronze with a 9.25. Beam was not quite as hot, but still respectable. Allie scored a 9.15, taking home the 4th place medal. On Floor, Hanna wowed the judges, scoring a 9.475 and taking home the gold. Madison scored a 9.15, good for the bronze. All the 5s got up to receive medals for Floor. In the All Around, Hope took the 1st place trophy. Hanna and Madison took home 2nd place trophies. Allie, Emma and Sydney all took home medals for their All Around scores too. Their team score, which everyone one of them contributed to, was 110.025. This won them the 2nd place team trophy.

The Level 6 Team was equally well balanced and strong. Every one of the the OTW 6s contributed to their team score. On Vault, Anne took the gold with a 9.15. Emily took the silver with a 9.05. Ally also medaled with a 9.05. On Bars, Ally led the charge, taking the gold. Anne also took gold on Bars. All the 6s were up for medals on Bars. On Beam, Hanna again took gold, Nicole won the silver with a 9.125. Emily took the bronze with a 9.15. Ally took 4th with a 9.05. On Floor, Ally took the lead with a 9.25. Anne also took the silver, with Emily taking the bronze. IN the All Around, Anne and Ally took the 1st place trophies in their age groups. Emily took the 2nd place trophy. Jackie took 4th. Their team score of 107.925 won them the 2nd place team award, only narrowly missing 1st by 0.3 points! Now that's close.

The Level 7 Team was gangbusters on Vault. Every one of them scoring 9s. Madison took the gold with a 9.50. Amanda also took gold with a spectacular 9.70! Mackenzie took silver in the 14 yr old group with a 9.60. Jamie took the bronze with a 9.60 in the 15 yr old age group. This should give you an idea of how tough the competition was. On Bars, Mackenzie took the gold with a 9.20, but all of her team mates got up for medals too. Beam was a little less hot, but Mackenzie took the silver, nonetheless, and Madison took the bronze with a 9.025. On Floor, the heat was back on again. Mackenzie took the gold with a 9.475. Madison took a silver, Amanda took the bronze. Morgan took home a medal on Floor with a 9.25. In the All Around, each of the girls were up on the platform. Mackenzie and Madison took 1st in their age groups. Jamie took 2nd in hers. Amanda and Morgan took home medals in theirs. Their overall team score of 109.70 secured the 3rd place team trophy for them.

The Level 8 Team needed their considerable skill and depth to run with Excalibur and NEGX. Kayla was her usual very impressive self on Vault, scoring a 9.50 and the gold. Shilanna took the silver with a 9.15 in the 16 yr old group. Melinda took the bronze. In the 14-15 group, Alyssa took the bronze with a 9.35. Allison took 4th with a 9.25. On Bars, Shilanna led the charge with a 9.325. Allison scored a 9.05. Kayla, LaNaya and Alyssa each scored 9.0s. On Beam, it was LaNaya's turn to lead. She took the silver in the 14-15s with a 9.15. Shilanna took the gold in the 16s with a 9.125. On Floor, the Level 8s were in good form. It was Courtney's turn to lead. She took the gold with a 9.20. Shilanna took a silver, LaNaya took a bronze, but all the girls were up for medals on Floor. In the All Around, Shilanna took 1st in the 16 yr olds. In the 14-15s, it was Alyssa, LaNaya, Kayla and Courtney taking 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th. Allison took 5th. Their team score of 110.20 took home the 3rd place trophy, but they were within a point or so of 1st. A very close contest.

A very impressive showing, all in all. Not to count any chickens, but this strength bodes well for the upcoming State Meets. Keep up the good work girls!

(BTW: We're still waiting for scores for the 9s and 10s. If you have some, send 'em in. Email us. Thanks to Mary, Fred, Al and Trish for help with the scores.)