Banquet and News Bits

This year's year-end banquet will be held at the Atkinson Community Center. See the directions page for more info.

The Team page has been updated to use the shots we took for the yearbook. You can see them at: The Team Page.

Tag Day 3 -- Despite the rain, and the reduced number of shoppers, the girls did a good job. Receipts were only a bit under projections. Not bad for a wet gray day. Thanks girls (and parents)

Fun Meet -- This year's Fun Meet was a hot one. Temps in the 90s meant that water and juice boxes were big sellers. The Fun Meet has never been a big money maker for the Booster Club, but we did pretty well. Thanks to all you parents who donated goodies.

See you at the banquet!

Great Times at Regionals

The best Level 8 gymnasts from the seven state region were gathered in URI's Keany Gymnasium on Saturday. There was clearly a lot of talent on the floor. This year's Level 8 Regionals was a big one for Off the Wall. We had six qualifying gymnasts -- the most OTW girls in many years. OTW's girls were evenly split onto two New Hampshire teams. Courtney, Alyssa and Allison were part of the NH Intermediate Team. Jess, Kayla and LaNaya were part of the NH Seniors Team.

Both NH Teams Take 4th
The top four scores were counted. New Hampshire's "senior" team placed 4th with 141.90, not too far behind Massachusetts and New York with 144s. Connecticut took 1st with a 148.75. Plaques were handed out to the girls on the top four teams. The NH Intermediates also placed 4th with a 146.05. Mass took 1st with a 149.65. NY took 2nd with a 148.25. CT took 3rd with a 147.275.

Kayla is Regional Vault Champion

The Seniors started rotations on Bars. While many of them looked in good form, the scores seemed unusually low. LaNaya led the team with an 8.55. This was their weakest rotation. On Beam, things were getting better. LaNaya led the team scoring with a 9.05. On floor, they were gaining speed. Kayla led the team scoring with a 9.15. On Vault, the team was hot. Kayla had her Tsuk in great form. She took 1st place on Vault with a 9.55. She also took home a medal on Floor for a 9.175. LaNaya (whom the announcer called "La-Nadia") took home medals for Bars and Beam. Jess took home a medal for Beam.

Alyssa is Regional Bars Champion

The Intermediates started rotations on Floor. Isabel Goodwin led the team with a 9.20. Allison, Alyssa and Courtney's Floor routines looked very good. On Vault, Ellen Seidel led the team with a 9.30, followed by Allison's 9.20. On Bars, Alyssa stole the show with her 9.575 gold medal routine. (the crowd went wild). On Beam, it was Allison in the spotlight with her silver-medal-winning 9.425. Hope and Jackie were on hand to cheer. Jackie's calls of "Go Courtney!" carried through the whole gym.

All in all, this was a great experience. In a gym full of the best gymnasts, the OTW girls were right in there. Having both the Regional Vault Champion and Regional Bars Champion is great stuff. Add in a silver and two other medals for Beam, another for Vault, two more for Bars and three in the All Around. That adds up to a very good meet for the OTW girls. Way to go girls, you've provided a spectacular finale to this competitive season.

Medals at Level 9/10 Regionals

At this year's Level 9 & 10 Regionals, held in Syracuse, New York, OTW was able to send all three of our Level 9 and 10 gymnasts. Kenna competed first, in the 2nd session on Saturday. Of course the competition was talented, they'd have to be just to BE at Regionals. Kenna placed highest on Beam, but her highest score was on Floor. Becca competed in the Senior B group, in the 4th session on Saturday. She won two bronze medals, one for her 9.30 on Vault, and another for her 9.30 on Floor. Bri competed in the 4th session on Sunday, in the Junior D group. She won a silver medal for her 9.40 on Floor.

We're proud of you all, ladies.

OTW Girls Win Again!Tag Day Successful

Okay, maybe we didn't exactly need an armored car to transport the Tag Day proceeds, but it felt like it. Saturday's Tag Day was a huge success -- our best ever. The beautiful weather helped, as did the enthusiasm of the girls. Altogether, the girls took in more than the booster club had anticipated and accomplished our goal of raising enough to make sure all the girls who qualified for Regionals will get some support. This was no small task either. OTW has NINE girls going to Regionals. It has been a long time since OTW has sent this many gymnasts to Regionals. It was great to see many of their team mates, even some Level 4 and 5 girls, turn out to support them. Such team spirit is inspiring.

Thanks to all you parents who helped out with taxi service and chaperone duty.

A big thanks to you girls! Emma T., Ellie, Maddie K., Hanna, Hope, Allie K., Kalley, Nicole, Jackie, Allie A. Emma L, Anne, Amanda, Morgan, Jamie, Kayla, Jess, LaNaya, Alyssa, Courtney, Kenna, Becca and Bri.

(I can't help but think I forgot someone, but I lost my list and was going from memory. (Risky) If I left anyone out, I apologize. Use the comments feature below to set me straight. I'll fix it.)

Eights Excite !

It couldn't get much more exciting than this. Forecaster Jim Nast sure called this one, when he said it would be BIG! The championship came down to the last competitor on the last event of the meet. Total nail-biter material. In the morning, the Level 7 Team pulled off a victory that also went down to the last event. The 8s found themselves in almost the exact same situation. The Atlantic 8s were in good form. Atlantic started on Vault, OTW started on Floor. After the first rotation, OTW had a narrow lead. After the second rotation, OTW still had a small lead. There was some very high scores on both sides. At the last rotation, Atlantic was on Floor -- their strongest event. OTW was on Beam -- their weakest event. The Atlantic girls were excellent, turning some very high Floor scores. OTW wasn't having too good a start on Beam.

High Drama on Beam
What lead OTW had, was gone halfway through the last rotation. Atlantic's girls were red hot on Floor. All other gymnasts were done competing, except OTW's last four competitors on Beam: Courtney, Alyssa, Allison, and LaNaya. The team needed a rotation score of 27.45 to win. Courtney gave them a good start with a 9.125. Alyssa turned in an awesome 9.325 on Beam. With that big boost, it came down to the last competitor: LaNaya. No one else was competing. All eyes were on her. (no pressure!) OTW needed a 9.00 from LaNaya. She stuck her series, but on her full turn, she looked like she was going to fall. A collective gasp rose from the many OTW fans in the stands. LaNaya held on. The rest of her routine went smoothly. Her final score of 9.05 was enough to push the OTW team ahead by 0.075. Talk about close! Where are those defibrillators? Open some windows!

Heavy Medal
After such a championship effort, it was only natural that all of the girls were up for awards. Melinda was up for her Vault and her very nice Bars routine. OTW's golden girls were Kayla, gold on Vault (9.55!) and Floor in the 15+ age group, and Alyssa, gold on Vault, Bars (a 9.70!!) and All Around, 13-14 age group. Silver medals went to Alyssa for Beam, Allison for Bars, LaNaya for Bars and Beam and Kayla for All Around. Bronze medals went to Courtney for Beam, Allison for All Around, Jess for Floor and LaNaya for All Around. What an awesome team!

Nail Biting
At the awards ceremony, everyone knew it was very very close. Tristar took 5th. Granite State took 4th. Gym Village took 3rd. It was down to just Atlantic and OTW. On paper, OTW's 111.950 had narrowly edged out Atlantic's 111.875, but there was still the possibility that one of the scores had been flashed wrong. The many OTW fans in the stands, clutching their score sheets in nervous hands, knew that their numbers were unofficial. No one could relax yet. When the announcer called Atlantic up for 2nd place, the fans erupted into cheers. The OTW girls (who had been locked in a tightly clinched pinky ring) burst into screams of amazed delight. Oh sure, the meet organizer left the banners at home (hence the pasted over one on the photo above), but no matter. They were State Champions -- again! This is the same team that was Level 7 State Champion in 2006 and again in 2007. There's no doubt about it. They've all proven that they've got what it takes. They're all champions.

Way...To...Go...Girls! It's going to take a solid week for your many fans to calm down.