Hartford Highlights Updated

Level 7 Wins Banner
The Level 7 Team brought home the 3rd place team banner from this year's Northeast Invitational, held at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Talented teams from all around the northeast were present. With only five of the team present, every one of their scores would count towards their team total. The 7s rose to the occasion, to win the 3rd place banner. Individually, each of the Level 7 Team went home with at least one medal. Nicole earned a medal for her Bars routine. Jackie took 4th on Beam with a 9.1 and a medal for Floor and the 4th place trophy for All Around. Ali took medals for Vault 9a 9.2!), Bars and Beam. Amanda took the gold for Vault with a 9.35, a bronze on Beam and another gold on Floor. Jamie took the silver for Beam, bronze for Floor, and the 1st place trophy in the senior's All Around. All together, the Level 7 girls edged out some other talented teams to earn themselves a banner.

Level 9s Win Banner Too -- Updated!
With three 9s competing, the OTW girls had just enough for a team (3 scores counted at Level 9). Alyssa, Allison and Kayla made every score count and brought back a 3rd Place banner of their own. Allison scored a 9.125 on Vault, to take 4th place. Kayla took 6th on Vault. Bars was tough for the 9s. Beam went much better. Allison took the silver with a 9.3. Kayla took 5th with a 9.0 and Alyssa took 6th. Floor was tough too, but Allison and Kayla took home medals. Allison took the 4th place trophy in the All Around.

Level 6 Action
The OTW 6s faced the same tough judging, and talented field of competitors. Amid all that, they also brought home many medals. Hanna medaled on Vault, Bars and Floor (a 9.2). Allie was back with the team after an illness, and did her best score on Bars. Emma and Hope also shone on Bars, earning a trip to the winners' platform. Maddie won medals for Vault and Floor.

Level 5 Action
The five OTW Level 5 girls held their own among the crowded ranks of level 5 girls at the Northeast Invitational. Each of them got to add a medal to their trophy shelves. Ellie took the silver medal for her Bars and a medal for Vault. Summer and Maddy took the 3rd and 4th place medals on Beam. Jordan was in good form for the meet. She took the silver on Bars (9.2) and bronze on Beam. She also took 1st place in the All Around. Sydney was hot as well, taking the bronze on Vault (9.1) and Bars (9.15) and the 2nd place trophy in the All Around.

Level 8 Action
With only two girls competing, the 8s weren't in the running for a team award, but they managed to do pretty well for themselves individually. Both Melinda and LaNaya won a medal in all four events. The high point being Bars, where Melinda took the silver and LaNaya the bronze. They both placed in the All Around too, with LaNaya taking home the 3rd place trophy.

Level 10 Action -- Updated!
Bri and Becca looked strong at the Northeast Invitational. They both had some amazing Vaults, and both scored 9.4s. Becca took the gold in her age group, Bri took the silver in hers. On Bars, both scored an 8.1 and took the bronzes. On Beam, Becca took 4th, Bri took 5th. Becca's Floor routine was very clean and scored a 9.05, taking the gold. Bri took the silver. In the All Around, both took home 3rd place trophies.

(Thanks to Rita, Pat and Cara for scores from their level's sessions. A special thanks to Jeanie for the 9s and 10s' scores)

Two Bay State Trophies

While the optional times were at the Brestyans Invitational, the OTW compulsory teams were working hard at the Bay State Classic in Lowell. The scoring was a bit on the strict side, and the competition strong. Nonetheless, the OTW girls brought home two trophies and a pile of medals.

Level 5 Team Takes 4th
The 5s made their presence felt in Lowell. They took home the tall 4th place team trophy, amid strong competition. Every one of them got to go up to the winners platform. On Vault, in fact, everyone on the team got to go up. On each of the apparatus (apparati?) an OTW girl took a gold medal. Jordan took the gold on Vault with an 8.80. Sydney took a bronze with an 8.60. Summer, Maddy and Ellie were also up for Vault awards. On Bars, Maddy took the gold with a 9.00. Sydney took the bronze. On Beam, Jordan took the gold and Ellie won 5th. On Floor, Sydney took the gold with a 9.00. Maddy placed on Floor as well. All in all, quite a showing!

Level 6 Team Takes 3rd
The Level 6 Team was operating shorthanded, as Allie was out sick. This meant that every routine was important. Despite the generally lower scores, (tougher judging) each one of the OTW 6s, got to go up front during awards. Emma led the team on Vault, taking the bronze with a 9.0. Hanna took 4th. Bars was a bit of a problem for the team, but Hanna did place 5th. On Beam, Hanna took the silver with an 8.80. Hope won 4th. On Floor, Hanna took the bronze. Both Hope and Maddie F. won 5th in their age divisions. In the All Around, Hanna took 2nd. All of this medal harvesting added up to the team taking home the very tall 3rd place team trophy.

Level 4 Team
The Level 4 Team had a great time too, with each girl going home with a medal. Sarah took the bronze on beam with a 9.25, and the bronze for Bars and the All Around.

You did well, girls. Your hard work and determination is inspiring.

Brestyan's Report

This year's Brestyan's Invitational had, as it has in years past, brought together highly talented gymnasts from around the east coast. For the spectators, there was a lot of great gymnastics to watch. For the gymnasts, there was a lot of very tough competition. The OTW girls held their own and had their turns on the winner's platform. The venue was different this year. Instead of being held in Wellsley, it was set up in the old gymnasium of Tuft's campus in Medford, Mass. Being all on one level (no bleachers or stands), the viewing was marginal (except for Vault).

Level 7 Action
The 7s started on Floor, but the scoring was pretty tough. Jackie led the team with a 9.10. On Vault, the team was heating up. Jackie scored a 9.0. Emily scored a 9.075. Ali's 9.175 brought her a medal. Amanda's 9.25 brought her the first place medal. Bars was the Level 7 Team's strong event. Mikayla scored a 9.05. Jackie scored a 9.075. Ali took a medal with a 9.1. Emily and Jamie also took home medals for Bars. Nicole led the team with a 9.20, taking 4th. By the time the rotation came to Beam, the team was beginning to show some fatigue. The exception to this was Nicole, who did a very clean Beam routine, scoring 9.3 and winning second place.

Level 8 Action
Jess had to stay home, still sick. Though a bit lost amid the large teams from other gyms, OTW's two Level 8s managed to make their mark. Both Melinda and LaNaya brought home a medal too. Melinda's full on Vault looked good. Good enough to take 3rd place! Go Melinda! Her Bars routine netted her another medal too. LaNaya held onto her series on Beam, earning her a 4th place medal.

Level 9 Action
Alyssa was still suffering from a bruised heel, but wanted to compete on at least one event, so she opted for Bars. Gymnasts can be a determined lot. Team mates Allison and Kayla were both hot tickets on Vault. Allison took 1st place with a 9.1. Kayla was right behind her, taking 2nd with a 9.075. Bars was tough for the 9s. On Beam, Allison took home a medal on Beam too.

Good job, girls. The competition was pretty tough. It was great to see you shoulder to shoulder with the region's talent.

(Thanks to Jeanie, Linda and Rita for scores)