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.

6s take 3rd at States

The OTW Level 6 Team took home the 3rd place team trophy from this year's Spring State Meet, held in Dover. The 6s were up against a field of excellent gymnasts from around the state, but they put up an equal effort, with two of our 6s becoming State Champions. Nicole is State Champion on Beam and Floor and All Around in her age group. Emily is State Champion on Bars. Anne is State Champion in All Around in her age group.

A few of the highlights include, Anne taking the bronze medal on Vault with a 9.075. Allie took 4th on Bars with a 9.15. Emily took the gold with a 9.45. On Beam, Jackie took 5th with a 9.35, Anne the silver with a 9.30. On Floor, Jackie scored a 9.125. Emily took the bronze with a 9.225. Nicole took the gold with a 9.0, and Anne took the silver.

Their combined team score of 109.50 earned them the 3rd place team trophy. Good going, 6s. We're proud of you.

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.)

Sectional #2 in Review

OTW's Level 4 Team is simply on fire. They all outperformed themselves at this second Spring Sectional. Once again, the 4s were in great form on Vault. Every one of them scored in the 9s. Maddy led the blitz with a 9.55, tying for 2nd. The Vault was Summer's best event too, with a 9.175. On Bars, the 9s were flying again. Emma took 1st in the 6-8 yr old group with a 9.45, but Ellie was not far behind with a 9.175. Jordan tied for 3rd in the 9-10 group with a 9.50. On Beam, it was pretty much the same picture. Maddy, Jordan and Jessica swept the platform, taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd. On Floor, Emma took 2nd with a 9.30. Maddy, Jordan and Jessica were together again on the platform, taking 2nd, 3rd, 4th. In the All Around, OTW blue was at top. Emma took 1st in the 6-8s. Ellie took 4th. In the 9-10s, it was again Jordan, Jessica and Maddy taking the top spots. Their hypothetical team score of 111.750 was even higher than last time. Sakes! What a blazin' batch of 4s!

OTW's Level 5 Team had a mixed day at this second Sectional, held at Brentwood. In some cases their scores were improved over the first Sectional. In other cases about the same. On Vault, the team showed some improvements. Hope took 1st in the 11-12 yr old group. Hanna and Madison took 2nd and 3rd in the 9-10s. On Bars, Emma turned in a very clean routine for a 9.175. Hope took 1st again in her age group. On Beam, it was Allie's turn to be the star. She took 1st with a 9.025. Sydney scored well too, taking 4th. On Floor, Hope topped the winner's platform again. Hanna took 2nd with a 9.05. Madison took 4th with a 9.00. Cassie, who showed notable improvements, scored her best on Floor. In the All-Around, it was no surprise that Hope took 1st. Emma, Hanna, Allie and Madison took 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.

OTW's Level 6 Team showed improvements on all four events. They were stronger on Vault, compared to the first Sectional. Anne scored a 9.175. Ally took 1st in the 11-12 yr old group with a 9.00. Emily took 3rd. On Bars, all of the turned up the heat. Emily took 1st with a 9.00. Jackie took 4th. On Beam, the team's performance was pretty close to last time, though this time, Jackie took 1st with a 9.175. On Floor, their scores were overall higher. Ally scored a 9.075. Emily took 2nd. In the All Around, the blue ribbons were flying. Nicole, Anne, Ally, and Emily took 1st in their age groups. Jackie was close behind with a 3rd. Their team score improved by well over a point.

Looking good, ladies. Next stop, Maine!

Compulsories getting sharper

OTW's Level 5 Team was having a good day at the local qualifier held at Granite State in Bow. Scores looked a little low on Vault overall, but Hanna took 2nd with an 8.70, Emma 3rd with an 8.60. Hope took 1st in the 11-12 yr old group with an 8.65. On Bars, the team had some struggles, but some excellent routines too. Hanna took 1st with a 9.35, Emma took 3rd with a 9.20. Hope took 1st with a 9.40. On Beam, they got even stronger. In the 9-10 yr old group, they swept the top three slots. Allie took 1st with a 9.35, Emma 2nd and Hanna 3rd. Cassie turned in her score of the meet on Beam too. On Floor, they swept again, but shuffled positions. Hanna 1st, Emma 2nd, Allie 3rd, Sydney 5th. An OTW girl topped the podium in both age groups. Hanna took 1st, Emma 2nd, in the 9-10s. Hope took 1st in the 11-12s. These three also scored All Arounds in the 36s. Impressive performance 5s. You're looking like contenders for a high finish at States.
OTW's Level 6 Team was gathering quite a harvest of blue ribbons themselves. Nicole took home a blue ribbon on all four events, most notable being her 9.40 on Beam. In the 9-10 age group, Emily took 1st on Vault and Bars (9.15), 3rd and 2nd on Beam and Floor, 1st in the All Around. Jackie took 3rd on Vault, 1st on Beam wit ha 9.50(!) and 3rd on Floor, to secure 2nd in the All Around. In the 11-12 group, Ally took 3rd on Bars, 1st on Beam with a 9.20 and 1st on Floor. She took 1st in her All Around. Anne took 2nd in the 13+ group on Vault, Bars and 3rd on Floor. She placed 3rd in the All Around. The Level 6 Team is a good mix of skills on the four events. Looking good 6s!

First Sectional Highlights

OTW's compulsory teams had their first Sectional of the Spring '08 season this weekend at Granite State in Bow. After a couple of out-of-state invitationals, this was the girls' chance to get focused on the state competition again.
The Level 4 Team were quite the tigers. All of them easily qualified for States, but went above and beyond that. Maddy took 1st on Vault. Jordan scored a 9.25. On Bars, Jordan scored another 9.25, taking 1st. Maddy and Summer shared 2nd. On Beam, the whole team was hot -- all of them scoring in the 9s. Ellie, 9.00, Summer 9.025, Maddy a 9.20, Emma a 9.35 and Jordan a 9.475. Sakes! On Floor, the team put up some more impressive scores. Maddy took 1st with a 9.425. Emma racked up a 9.50. In the 9-10 age group, the OTW girls swept the platform with Jordan, Maddy and Summer taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Emma took 1st in the younger group.
The Level 5 Team also took home many ribbons. On Beam, Hope placed 1st, Emma tied for 3rd, Hanna took 4th. On Vault, it was Hanna's turn to take the blue ribbon, Hope took 2nd in her age group. Emma took 3rd. On Beam, Allie wowed the judges, taking 1st with a whopping 9.50. Hope again took 1st in her age group. Emma took 3rd with a 9.025. It was on Floor that the whole Level 5 Team hit their stride. Everyone placed. Hope took 1st (again). Hanna took 2nd with a 9.15. Emma and Madison tied for 4th with a 9.05. Allie took 3rd with a 9.075. Sydney took 6th.
The Level 6 Team had its ups and downs but also brought home a harvest of ribbons, many of them blue. Ann took 1st on all events in her age group. On Vault, Allie tied for 1st. Emily took 6th. On Bars, Allie took 2nd, Emily 7th. On Beam, Nicole took 1st in her age group, Jackie 5th, Allie 1st (with a 9.20). On Floor, Jackie took 1st with a 9.125, Allie took 2nd. Both Ann and Allie took 1st in their All Arounds. Nicole and Jackie took 2nds in theirs.

Good work girls.

(Thanks to Fred, Pat and Mary for the scores and placings. Thanks to Pat for the photo)

Vermont: Level 6 Takes 3rd

OTW's Level 6 Team came on strong at the Green Mountain Invitational late Saturday night. They placed 3rd as a team in a hotly contested race. With less than .7 points separating 1st and 3rd, the OTW 6s were clearly winner material. At this meet, the 6 team were really coming together as a team. Each of the five girls contributed at least two of their scores to their team's total. Where one was off, another was on.

Anne and Emily took the lead on Vault, scoring a 9.10 and 9.05. On Bars, Emily took 1st in the senior division with a 9.10. Jackie placed 3rd on Bars, Anne took 2nd. On Beam, the OTW 6s were hot. Emily took 2nd with a 9.35. Jackie took 3rd with a 9.30. Nicole took 4th with a 9.20. Ally was the floor star, taking 1st place with a 9.375. Jackie took 3rd with a 9.35. Nicole's 9.00 on Floor rounded out the set.

Great job, 6s. You're quite a team!

Hartford: 6s Hold Their Own

The OTW Level 6 Team took their turn Saturday afternoon facing the tough going of this year's Northeast Invitational. 82 gymnasts from 21 gyms all around the northeast. There was a lot of skill in the building. Add to that, the tough (but consistent) judging and it was clear the 6s would see very few 9s this time around. Did they let it get them down? No. They just got to work and did their best.

At awards time, their effort was rewarded. Every one of them went home jingling with multiple medals. Nicole was a hot ticket on Floor. She scored a 9.20 and took the silver medal. Jackie was equally hot on Beam, scoring a 9.175. She took the silver on Vault and Bars, as well as the 2nd place trophy in the All Around. Ally's collection of medals included the bronze for Bars. Emily's medals included a 4th place finish on Bars.

Nice going 6s. You really shine under pressure.

Level 6 team getting stronger

OTW's Level 6 team also added a new member, Emily. They also upped their collective team score a bit too. Nicole pushed up her scores on Vault, Bars and Floor, adding over a half point to her All Around. She took home the 3rd place medal in her age group. Jackie had a couple wobbles, but took home the 1st place medal on Beam with a 9.375. Ally improved her scores on Vault and Bars. She took home the 3rd place medal on Beam. Anne took 2nd on Vault with a 9.00 and 1st on Beam with a 9.10, securing 2nd in the All Around. Emily got right to work taking 3rd on the Vault and 2nd on Bars.

Go sixes!