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| Left to right: Olivia Flores, Rachel Ovalle, Kayla Jackson, Amy Davis, Samantha Neddo |
The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Level 6 girls gymnastics team won a total of 20 medals at their state meet held this past weekend at Traverse City West High School. Among the medals were first place gold awards to Olivia Flores on bars and floor and a first place gold medal on floor for Amy Davis.
The YMCA’s team placed fifth all-around with a combined score of 110.725.
Kayla Jackson once again led the YMCA team with a 37.075 second place all around finish behind a second place bars performance, a third place beam routine, and medals for 8th and 9th place on vault and bars. Olivia Flores was in contention for the state crown in her age division with her two first place gold performances and a third place vault, but with a fall on beam she had to settle for third place all around.
Rachel Ovalle’s third place vault and sixth place bars helped her take eighth place all around, and Samantha Neddo placed fourth all around behind Flores with a third place bars score, fourth place medals on beam and floor, and a fifth place vault.
“To bring home three gold medals at state and individual all around awards for second, third and fourth place was awesome,” said coach Jennifer Van Deinse, adding, “I was so proud of Amy for coming back from her mid-season injury to win floor at state, and so proud of Sam [Neddo] for her top five scores on every event, and so proud of Kayla for her best bars performance of the season. Rachel [Ovalle] performed solidly for us all year, and her score helped us secure firth place. Olivia [Flores] was just one fall away from a state all around championship. All the girls did great.”
The YMCA’s Level 5 team competes next at their state meet May 7 – 8 in Freeland. The Level 7 state meet will be held May 14 – 15 in Kalamazoo. For more information about Y gymnastics, visit http://www.gtbayymca.org/ , or call Y Gymnastics supervisor Betsy Van Deinse at 929-2869.
