Bringing Home the Medals

In some ways, this all-teams meet at Atlantic was a tough one, with some stricter judging in play, apparently. Scores were generally lower for most of the girls from all nine gyms competing. There were many low 8s flashed and quite a few 7s too.

The Level 4s felt that tougher judging, especially on floor. Despite the lower-than-average scoring, the 4s managed to post some high point scores. The OTW 4s were strong on Beam. Allie's 9.45 and Madison & Hanna's 9.35 stood out. Summer had a good Vault and Beam routine. Her Floor was better than the score suggested. Jessica scored 9s on Bars and Beam. Madeline took 5th on Floor. Hanna posted 9s in all four events, taking 1st in three of them, and 1st in the All-Around. Hope, similarly, took three 1st places in the 9-10 age group, and 1st in her group's All-Around.

The Level 5s had their burden with the lower scoring climate, but like the others had their highpoints too. Emma tied for first on Vault, taking home a medal. Jessica F took home the silver on Vault. Jackie took home a sliver on Beam with a 9.025. Jessica P also took home silver for Beam (11-12 yr olds) with a 9.025. Jessica P also took the gold in the All-Around.

The Level 6s were bringing home their share of medals too. Madison took 1st in the All-Around (11-12s), with Kelly taking 5th. Jamie and Amanda were having rather good days, taking home gold and silver medals in the 13+ All-Around.

The Level 7 team pressed on, and despite not having the best of meets, did quite well. A few notable exceptions to the generally lower scores were on Beam, with Allison scoring a 9.5, and Courtney with a 9.3. Kayla and Leigh dominated the Vault with a 9.45 and a 9.40.

When it came to awards, it was apparent that the OTW 7s were in better form than the scores implied. In the 7-11 yr old group, Leigh took 1st on Vault, 4th on Beam, 2nd on Floor and placed 2nd in the All-Around. Among the 12 yr olds, Allison took 1st on Bars and Beam, as well as 1st in the All-Around. In the 13 yr old group, team mates Kayla, Hillary and Courtney shared the podium, taking 1st, 2nd & 3rd on Vault. Hillary took 2nd on Bars. Courtney took 1st on Beam. Kayla took 2nd on Floor. In the All-Around, they took 1st, 3rd and 4th. In the 14+ age group, team mates Jess, LaNaya and Melinda swept 1st, 2nd and 3rd on Bars.

In Level 8, Alyssa was no stranger to the awards podium either. She took 2nd on Vault with a 9.1, 3rd on Bars and 4th on Floor with 9.0s. Her All-Around placed her 5th.

All in all, the girls did an excellent job with a rough day. Congratulations every one of you!

Thanks, Pat, Lori, Jeannie and Linda for the scores

Strong first meet for Optional Teams

As this first meet of the season, many of our gymnasts felt that familiar mixture of anxiety, excitement and determination. In the first rotation, it was clear that determination took over.

In Level 9, Kenna took third on Bars, 4th on Beam and placed 2nd in the All-Around. Bri took blue ribbons on Vault, Beam and Floor.

In Level 8, Alyssa's first meet as an 8 was great. She placed 3rd on Vault, 1st on Bars with a 9.225, 2nd on Beam with a 9.075 and took 1st on Floor. Her All-Around of 35.85 took first place too.

The Level 7 team got off to a strong start too. In the 12 yr old group, Allison and Leigh took first and second in the All-Around. Leigh scored a 9.3 on Beam. Allison had a 9.375 on Vault. The Beam was not going well for many of the rest of the team.

Vault, however, was blazing. Every member of the Level 7 team scored 9-somethings on Vault. Jess topped the charts with a 9.6. Hillary and Kayla weren't far behind with a 9.5 and 9.45. Bars went pretty well too, with OTW girls taking the top three on the podium. LaNaya took 1st with a 9.5, Jess 2nd with 9.4 and Melinda 3rd with 9.35. In the 13-14 yr old group, Kayla, Hillary and Courtney took their turn dominating the podium, taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the All-Around.

Level 4 Team Captures 2nd Place at States

The level 4 girls had a great day at States, bringing home the 2nd place trophy with pride!

Vault was particularly strong for many of the OTW 4’s. Allie, Summer, Jessica and Madeline all turned in personal best scores on this event. Allie earned a 9.5 for 5th place, Summer a 9.425 for 7th place, Jessica a 9.325 for 10th, and Madeline a 9.275 for 11th. Cassie earned a solid 8.75, placing 8th in her age division. Hanna and Hope both had great meets, earning state titles on both bars and in the all around in their age divisions. Hanna also earned a silver on beam, while Hope captured silver on vault, and bronze on beam. Congratulations girls!

In Level 5, there were several good placings. Among the 7-8 yr olds, Jackie took 4th place in the State on Floor. In the 9-10 yr olds group, Kelly took 3rd on Bars with a 9.175 and placed 5th in the All-Around. In the 11-12 yr old group, Jessica F took 7th on Floor. Jessica P took 3rd on Beam with a 9.0. Team mate Anne took 2nd on Beam with a 9.05. Anne took 3rd place in the All-Around. Good work, 5s!

In Level 6, 11-12 yr olds, Madison scored her personal best on Vault. Morgan matched her personal best on Floor. In the 13+ group, Amanda and Jamie were both still in top form. They took first and third in the Vault with a 9.65 and 9.375 (Great vaulting, girls!) They also took first and third in the All Around.

2nd Sectional

The second sectional of the winter season, held at Tristar, was a mixed bag for many of the OTW gymnasts. Some events went a little less well as usual, but some events went better than usual. That's how it goes sometimes.

The Level 4 team were all having a good day on vault, with many high scores. Cassie had her second best vault score and set new personal bests on Bars, Beam and Floor. Hanna took 1st on Floor (6-8yr olds) with a 9.2. Hope didn't have one of her best Floor routines, but did excelled at Bars, 9.5. Summer scored a 9 on Vault and had her highest All Around yet. Jessica had two 9s, Vault and Bars. Both Allie and Madeline also turned in 9s on Vault.

In the Level 5 session, the Vault was not as friendly to anyone. Jessica F. took first place with an 8.9. Emma showed continued command of the Bars, with her second highest score. Anne and Jessica P took 2nd and 3rd on Beam with 9s. Kelly took first on Bars with a 9.35. Emily was very close to a new personal best on Floor. Jackie was having a good day on Bars, scoring her personal best.

The Level 6s team had its share of moments too. Madison took first on Floor with a 9.2 and first in the All Around for the 11-12 yr olds. Team mate Morgan was close behind her, taking third on floor. Among the 13 yr olds, Amanda and Jamie were both having very "on" days. Amanda took 1st on Vault with a 9.5, as well as firsts on Bars and Floor. Jamie was in-the-zone too, with a 9.35 on Vault, taking 2nd on Beam and thirds on Bars and Floor. Amanda and Jamie took first and second in the All Around.

Good job girls.

Whole Team Going to Sectionals

Levels 4, 5 and 6s competed at a qualifier in their home gym, against teams from Atlantic and Kelly's.

The two new Level 4 team girls, Allie and Madeline, did well, qualifying for Sectionals in their first meet. Cassie had her best Beam routine yet and added over a half point to her All Around score. Jessica scored a 9.0 on Bars. Summer's strong vault was her best score of the meet. Hanna and Hope were both in great form, scoring 9.4s on Bars and Beam, respectively.

The big story of this meet was Emma. Things started out kind of gloomy, with a very disappointing Beam. This was the last qualifying meet, so going to Sectionals seemed out of reach. Emma, however, showed the heart of a champion. On the next event, Floor, she turned in a 9.05. She did her personal best Vault thus far. Bars had been a struggle for Emma this year, but the champion heart kicked in again. She turned in her personal best on Bars too, 8.8, taking third place. She qualified for Sectionals! The whole OTW team and many in the crowd burst into loud cheers. Way to go, Emma!

The other Level 5s kept up the pace, all easily qualifying for Sectionals. Jessica P and Jessica F were both strong on Floor. Kelly was hot on Bars and Beam. Anne, too, had a good Bars routine. Emily scored her personal best on Beam. Jackie scored her personal best on Floor. Go get 'em, Fives!

Level 6s had highlights too. Madison and Amanda, both scored 9s on Bars and Floor. Mackenzie scored a 9 on Floor too. Morgan and Jamie were both strongest on Vault. It looks like the Level 6s are primed for Sectionals too.