Regional 8 Team Workout

On Saturday, all the Level 8 Regional qualifiers met at Off the Wall's gym for their Regional Team Workout. Of special interest to OTW fans is the "Seniors" team (15+) which includes our own Jess, LaNaya and Melinda. The rest of this Senior Team includes, Tori, Eliza and Hayley from Atlantic and another Haley from Lakes Region. They started out the practice with some team-building exercises, like the hoola-hoop-pass challenge on Beam, as pictured here. Despite the heat, they worked on their routines as they would at any other practice. What was added was getting familiar with each other a little more. Having competed against each other all year, these seven girls knew each other and were already on good sportsmanship terms with them all. Saturday's practice helped them exchange the prior friendly rivalry for team spirit. On next Saturday morning (bright and early at 8 a.m.), these seven girls will be the New Hampshire Team, competing against the best gymnasts that six other states can muster.

Go get 'em Jess, LaNaya and Melinda. It's really cool that OTW's entire Level 8 team is part of the New Hampshire Team at this year's Regionals.

Tag Day 2: Big Success

Seems like many of our Tag Day stories had an armored car photo on them, so, in keeping with the apparent tradition... Actually, the armored car fits pretty well for this Tag Day. The weather was bright and the shoppers were generous. The girls showed up in good numbers such that we were able to cover all three stores pretty well. The result was the club taking in more than originally expected.

Back in the earlier budget process, the club had estimated what this Tag Day might bring in. That amount seemed unlikely when we learned of WalMart's new policy was. The girls had to stand waaaay off to the side -- no where near the doors. Since WalMart had usually been our big earner, the original estimate seemed in doubt. But, not to worry. The shoppers were clearly buoyed by the beautiful day and quite generous. Even posted at the far end of the walls, people would go out of their way to come over and put some dollars in the girls' cans.

At the end of the day (a very long hot day), the club took in more than even originally estimated. All the girls did a great job, from the littlest big-eyed Level 4s, to the high school seniors. Bright smiles and friendly greetings did magic. Now the booster club can send Becca to Nationals and Aylssa to Easterns and still provide the year-end perks for the girls, that we always like to provide.

A special thanks, too, to all you parents who helped out with watching the girls, buying them waters and restocking the lollypop supply. We were all one big team Saturday, and we won! Go Team!

Regional Champions, Nationals Next

The results were just posted on the Level 9/10 Regionals in Danvers. Becca scored a 9.625 on Vault to become the Region 6 Vault Champion. She also took 2nd on Beam with a 9.40. Quite the day already. Her All Around placed her 8th which would normal have made her an alternate, but the #7 girl was said to not be able to attend Nationals, so Becca just might be going. How cool is that?

But, before you answer. There's more. In the Level 9 Senior 1 group, Alyssa placed 3rd in the All Around, so is bound for Easterns. Allison placed 7th in the Junior 7 group, making her an alternate (top 6 go), but she took the bronze medal on Vault with a 9.30. Kayla placed 7th in her age group (Senior 4) so is also an alternate. But wait, there's more. She is once again a Regional Vault Champion, taking 1st place with a 9.20. Kayla took the Regional silver medal on Floor with a 9.20.

What a great Regionals this was. Two Vault Champions, a Silver medalist and a Bronze medalist. Two bound for Nationals for sure and two alternates.

Now we'll need a high-yield Tag Day to help get them all there. (sign-up sheet upstairs on the booster board)

8s: 4th and Regionals to Go!

This was an amazing State Meet for our little team of three Level 8 gymnasts. With only three of them, every score counted. But they made them count well. Melinda was having her best meet of the year -- and a great time to do this too. She had her season high on all four events and her highest All Around. Jess, still working her way back from this winter's illness, put out a solid effort, becoming the State Bronze Medalist on Vault with a 9.00 and tying for 5th on Floor with a 9.075. LaNaya was also having her best meet of the year, taking the silver on Bars and Beam, and All Around, and hanging onto 1st on Floor with a 9.40 to become the State Floor Champion. Their combined scores earned them the 4th place team trophy! Not bad at all for the little team beset by illness and injuries most of the year.

All of this was plenty to be happy for, but the best news was yet to come. When they were reading off the qualifiers for the NH Regional Team, they called LaNaya second, then called Jess and Melinda as ties for 6th. They all three qualified for Regionals! There were lots of hugs and tears of joy, okay, and a few more hugs. They are pictured above beaming in their Regionals warm-ups and holding their team trophy. What a great way to wrap up the last year of our two long-time and hard working seniors.

Congratulations LaNaya, Jess and especially Melinda. This will make Regionals a great event.

7s Take 4th at States

The Level 7 Team stayed in the top four, as they had been at the last Sectional, taking home the 4th place team trophy. They improved their team score a bit since last meet, but the other three tweaked their just a wee bit more. Still, our 7s gave us plenty to be proud of.

Three State Champions
Jackie had an awesome Beam routine, which scored a 9.575! (gasp) This high mark was never topped, so Jackie took home the gold as the State Beam Champion in the 8-11 age group.
Mikayla was doing excellent Bar routines during warm up and continued when it mattered most. Her 9.20 earned her a climb to the top of the podium to receive her gold medal as State Bars Champion in the 12 year old group.
Amanda was the hot ticket of the gym. She took the gold on Vault, with a 9.35, Bars, with a 9.30 and the All Around with a 36.375. She is our State Multi-Champion.

But there is more glitter than just gold. Ali took the bronze medal on Bars and Beam, then the silver in the All Around. Nicole was no stranger to the awards platform. Her best was a 9.10 on Beam. Jamie took two bronze medals, Bars and All Around, and two silvers, Vault and Beam.

The OTW 7s faced a very talented field of the best gymnasts in the State. They brought home a big batch of medals and ribbons to prove that they are very much among the best. Great job girls!
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