The A-Train Returns Home Caring Gold
Four level 10 gymnasts from Texas East Gymnastics competed in the National Championships this past weekend. Coach Parsley said, “This competition has never been held in Texas before so it almost didn’t feel like Nationals since we didn’t have to get on a plane.“ There was however lots of training, competition, standing around on concrete, sadness, joy and most of all excitement and anticipation right up to the last beam routine!
You see, for two of the four TEG gymnasts this competition was more than just another meet. In fact, this was their last meet; at least until they go off to college. Morgan Key of Nacogdoches will be headed west to the University of Alaska and Alaina Johnson of Tyler will be headed east to the University of Florida. Despite the immense distance between them the girls vow to stay up with each other’s success.
Morgan brought home a silver medal for her outstanding balance beam performance as well as a 5th place finish on the floor. All the while coach Paul Stokles from Alaska looked on! His advice to his new recruit after the meet was “Go home and study hard for your finals! And stay healthy!” Coach Parsley knew Alaska was a good fit for Morgan when she returned from her official visit last August saying “I didn’t even want to come home!” Morgan is a hard worker and has a big heart. She will surely be missed here in Tyler.
Her teammate Alaina will also be missed. Alaina was an Elite gymnast the last 4 years and also competed in the 2008 Olympic trials where she placed 12th. For her Senior year Alaina decided to allow her body a small break and stepped back to level 10 competition, a common trend from most Elites. Alaina was ready to compete alongside her TEG teammates and really take in every bit of fun she could. Fun is fun, but when it comes time to compete the A-Train has what it takes. This weekend at Nationals Alaina was on beam first and put in a solid 9.5 performance followed by a 9.625 on floor, 9.7 on vault and a 9.625 on bars. After Alaina’s stuck landing on her last event coach Parsley walked to the back to look at the score postings. As fate would have it Alaina was sitting in the Gold medal position with only one possible athlete to de-rail her efforts. This athlete was no stranger; in fact it was long time friend Kymberly Jacobs of Superior Gymnastics in North Carolina. Alaina and Kymberly trained and competed together as Elites so Parsley and Johnson knew she was indeed a threat. With a bit of quick computing they knew if Kymberly scored a 9.625 or higher she would be National Champion; a 9.6 would tie them and anything less would mean Alaina had the title for herself. They nervously looked on as Kymberly saluted the judge knowing she is an accomplished beam worker but also knowing they didn’t want to give up that championship title. A wiggle here a wobble there a low dismount landing and then the score flashes……a 9.6!.....a tie, both former Elites stepping back to relax and enjoy before college will now go off to college as level 10 National Champions. There could not have been a tie between two more deserving girls.
Alaina Johnson 2010 JO Uneven Bars
Johnson interview after 1st Place finish
Tyler’s Level 10 Gymnastics Team 2nd Best in State
Texas Women’s University hosted the Level 9 and 10 Gymnastics State Championship meet this weekend. By days end on Saturday Texas East Gymnastics’ Level 10 team proved that they are the second best team in Texas. The team, comprised of Erin Odom (Whitehouse), Emily Rickman (Tyler), Alaina Johnson (Tyler), Haven Hughes (Bullard) and Morgan Key (Garison) is proud of their performances and also knows that they can make huge improvements going into Regionals. “There were uncharacteristic falls and some missed elements that definitely have to be cleaned up if these girls want to secure a spot for Nationals,” said coach Martin Parsley. He also added, “I have no doubt that these girls can take the next step but competition in Texas is the best there is and at Regionals anything can happen. Only the top 7 All Around spots from Regionals continue on to the National competition and when you factor in nerves, pressure and stress all of a sudden things that seem easy are strangely difficult.”
Also competing at the meet were the level 9’s from TEG, Drew Watson (Nacogdoches) and Sidney Dukes (Tyler). Instead of advancing to a National competition like the Level 10’s, Level 9 gymnasts west of the Mississippi finish their season at the Western Championship. Both girls are expected to advance given their placement in the All Around and events. Sidney executed quite well on all 4 events and brought home the silver medal in the All Around. Remembering that Texas is the most competitive state, Sidney is sitting in a nice spot going into Westerns. Her teammate Drew will be polishing and honing her skills and combinations and will be right along side Sidney at Westerns.
WATSON |
DREW |
9 |
9.375 |
|
9.400 |
5 |
9.250 |
8 |
8.800 |
10 |
36.825 |
10 |
DUKES |
SIDNEY |
9 |
9.275 |
6 |
9.325 |
6 |
9.500 |
3 |
9.675 |
2 |
37.775 |
2 |
RICKMAN |
EMILY |
10 |
9.475 |
|
9.000 |
|
8.675 |
|
9.350 |
|
36.500 |
10 |
ODOM |
ERIN |
10 |
9.400 |
6 |
9.050 |
7 |
9.150 |
7 |
9.425 |
8 |
37.025 |
7 |
KEY |
MORGAN |
10 |
|
|
8.000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HUGHES |
HAVEN |
10 |
8.650 |
|
8.700 |
|
8.675 |
|
8.275 |
|
34.300 |
|
JOHNSON |
ALAINA |
10 |
9.725 |
1 |
8.750 |
|
9.250 |
6 |
9.900 |
1 |
37.625 |
2 |
Local Gymnasts Make Tyler Proud; even in Albuquerque!
Texas East Gymnastics now has a Level 10 regional All-Around Champion, a Level 10 regional Beam silver medalist, a Level 10 first alternate to Nationals and a Level 10 National Invitational Tournament qualifier.
TEG spent last weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico where their Level 10 Team performed very well. Coach Martin Parsley has been stressing to his athletes to, “just go out there and do your job.” Gymnastics is a very subjective sport so it is crucial for the competitors to only concentrate on things in their control. TEG gymnasts strive hard to perform their routines in a normal fashion despite all the stress and pressure of the competition. Erin Odom said it best after dismounting her last event, chalky hands clasped around her coach and still panting from the clean bar set and double back tuck dismount, “I have no regrets; I did 4 normal, clean routines!” Teammate Emily Rickman echoed the sentiment after her meet, “it feels good to have a clean meet!”
Sidney Dukes and Drew Watson watched their teammates from the stands knowing their turn was coming. They are Level 9 gymnasts for Texas East Gymnastics and were vying for spots on their Western Championship team. Sidney qualified clean and green as she clenched 3rd in the All Around. Her hi-light of the meet was probably her floor routine where she wowed the judges and entertained the spectators with her contagious smile and bouncy floor routine receiving a 9.8!
Drew, only 11 years old, felt all the pressure Sunday morning of her teammates’ successes as she walked into the arena with her stomach in knots so tight she wanted to throw up. Coach Parsley again assured her, like the others, that all she had to worry about was herself. He reinforced that she, and her skills, was good enough to qualify to Regionals and that she, and her skills, are certainly good enough to qualify to Westerns. His words worked as Drew performed 4 steady events and became the first alternate to 2 regions for Westerns.
Level 7 Success at State Championships
The Level 7 gymnasts from Texas East Gymnastics completed their season with several personal bests at the State Championships. The competition was held in Frisco and featured all Level 7 gymnasts from the state of Texas. Georgianna DePugh of Corsicanna enjoyed finishing the season with TEG and is looking forward to a long and successful career with them. “Georgianna is a nice addition to our team and we look forward to her future,” said Coach Parsley. At state, she had a fantastic meet scoring 9.275 on vault, 9.225 on bars, 8.775 on beam and 9.30 on floor which gave her an All-Around total of 36.575. She placed 7th overall in her age group. Way to go Georgianna! Kinzie Creath of Tyler put all her hard work together and came out shining at State. She scored a personal best on vault with a 9.45 and placed 5th. Along with a great vault, she scored 9.15 on bars, 9.025 on beam and a 9.075 on floor giving her an All-Around score of 36.675 and placing 6th overall in her age group. We at TEG are proud of both girls and look forward to watching their progress through the summer as they take on bigger challenges.
Sidney Dukes Named Best of the West
Sideney Dukes, Level 9 gymnast from Texas East Gymnastics traveled to Des Moines, Iowa for the Western Gymnastics Championships. That means that she, and other gymnasts west of the Mississippi who qualified top 6 in their respective Regional Championships all met in this “semi-national” meet to see who really is the best of the west!
Turns out “the best of the west” is right here in little old Tyler Texas! Sidney Dukes, daughter of Susan and Rory of Tyler, proved to be the best tumbler and dancer at Level 9. She flipped, spun, pirouetted and twisted her way to balanced, stuck landings with such a smile and a twinkle in her eye that allowed the judges to award her a 9.45 and that was better than everyone else in Iowa! Likewise, Sidney flip flopped, back tucked, leaped and round-off full twisted her way to the second highest beam score of the meet and took the silver medal.
Traveling with Sidney was teammate Drew Watson. Drew was the first alternate to her Regional team and was available in the case of injury or no show of any of her Regional teammates. While the team was in tact and healthy for competition Drew still enjoyed being a part of the excitement by cheering and encouraging everyone.
With all the hours of sacrifice and training these high level gymnasts partake in one of the nicest pay offs is being able to travel the US and possibly other continents too. Sidney and Drew traveled to Nevada, New Mexico and Iowa this year alone; all for gymnastics related events. While there, parents and coaches alike feel it is important that everyone take in the sights and history of the area; after all, why else would anyone “vacation” in Des Moines, Iowa right? The girls enjoyed a new outdoor sculpture museum in Des Moines as well as the science center. They were able to take in an Iowa Cubs triple A baseball game where they witness a marriage proposal on the big screen and even made it to the famed Des Moines Farmer’s Market before catching their flight home!
Level 10 will be here before these girls know it and coach Parsley feels they will be ready to attack the new level.
Scores
Vault 8.9
Bars 8.375
Beam 9.55 Placed 2nd
Floor 9.45 Placed 1st
3 Times GOLD for Texas East Gymnastics
This weekend in Coppell the Level 8 girl’s gymnastics team from Texas East Gymnastics competed in the State Championships. As the name of the competition implies this meet was for every Level 8 female gymnast in the state of Texas. The girls were divided into age groups and competition began.
Texas East Gymnastics began the meet Saturday with Sarah Shaffer of Tyler and Kortlyn Hill of Flint. Vault was their first event and Kortlyn scored a very nice 9.65 with a Yurchenko back pike. In gymnastics, as in other sports with human judges, scores have a way of escalating as the competition goes on so while Coach Martin Parsley was very pleased with Kortlyn’s Vault score he was suspect as to if the score would “hold up.” Rightly so though, it did and by night’s end Kortlyn Hill or Flint was the Level 8 Vaulting Champion! This accomplishment is far more gratifying for Kortlyn and her coaches because they recall how she began the season on Vault. Coach Shelly Dalene says, “Kortlyn rolled her ankle prior to the team’s kickoff evaluation competition in December and getting it back in shape was not an easy thing. When you Vault it requires full trust of your lower extremities to support you so it took Kortlyn quite some time to be able to Vault to her potential again----but now look, a State Champion!”
Kortlyn’s teammate Sarah Shaffer Vaulted quite well herself, she scored a 9.55 and place 4th. She placed 8th on Floor and in the All Around with a fabulous 30.025.
As the sun rose on Sunday Team TEG headed back into the gym with Savannah Maradiaga of Tyler and Angela Rogers of Whitehouse. Knowing the strength of his girls coach Parsley was inwardly hopefully about not 1 but 2 more gold medals. Since Angela has very long, pretty, straight lines and is also unbelievably powerful so Parsley was banking on a good Floor performance from her and she delivered with a 9.65 to take gold. Angie’s teammate Savannah is equally as talented on the Uneven Bar apparatus. She was up relatively late in the meet which usually works to your advantage but Savannah proved she didn’t need any help at all. Savannah smoothly swung around the Bar and stuck a landing which forced the judges to award her an astounding 9.8 and got her gold.
Danica Abanto Earns GOLD as Level 7 Gymnast
Texas East Gymnast Danica Abanto of Tyler finished her Level 7 gymnastics career in Frisco last weekend. Level 7 gymnasts from east to west and north to south in Texas gathered at WOGA to battle out the best of the best on Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor and the All Around.
While Danica is just a wee of a thing she certainly fits the saying about “big things coming in small packages!” Coach Parsley says, “she is very strong and best of all she has fast twitch muscles. That makes for a “punchy” tumbler and quite often those are the winners. The downfall of that type of gymnast is that sometimes their body moves quite a bit faster than their brain so we really train spotting and awareness, kind of like a cat.”
We borrowed our team motto this year from the PX90 workout tapes, it is to “do our best and forget the rest.” In gymnastics competitions the judge’s opinion is completely out of the competitor’s control so we just focus on doing our skills the best we can and being pleased with that. Danica did just that, using her que words and focus she performed her way to the first place podium for Bar awards and third place podium for the All Around.
Danica and her coaches are looking forward to increasing her skill repertoire this summer and to a fantastic Level 8 season next year.
Scores:
Vault 9.575 4th
Bars 9.7 1st
Beam 9.5 6th
Floor 9.475 5th
All Around 38.250 3nd
Optional gymnasts from Texas East Gymnastics traveled to Sulphur, Louisiana for some sea food gumbo and to do gymnastics. The meet was small and hosted several gyms TEG is not used to competing against. It was nice to get away from the usual competition and see who else is out there said coach Parsley.
Next they competed in Plano at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Classic. Coach Parsley knows his gymnasts’ fiercest competitors are in his own back yard---Dallas. In general, Texas is the world’s hot spot for gymnastics and more particular than that we can say Plano since the last two All Around female Olympic gymnasts have been from the WOGA gym in Plano.
TEG was not intimidated though, they competed well thanks to strong preparations and their hard work shone through in the form of gold, silver and bronze metallic hardware!
Also competing at this international competition were teams from Australia, Turkey, Ukraine, Mexico, Japan and even Canada! When asked if it felt “wrong” to be in the US when the Olympics were taking place back home the gymnasts and coaches unanimously said “YES!” They are traveling home Sunday and will likely be a part of the festivities in one way or another. The TEG gymnasts enjoy the opportunity to make friends with kids from all over the world who go into the gym and work hard everyday just like they do but on the other side of the planet! Sport is universal.
| LAST NAME | FIRST NAME |
LEVEL |
VAULT |
PL |
BARS |
PL |
BEAM |
PL |
FLOOR |
PL |
A.A. |
PL |
HUGHES |
HAVEN |
10 |
8.55 |
|
6.75 |
|
8.25 |
|
0 |
|
23.55 |
7 |
KEY |
MORGAN |
10 |
9.3 |
2 |
8.2 |
4 |
9.375 |
1 |
9.1 |
3 |
35.975 |
2 |
ODOM |
ERIN |
10 |
9.575 |
1 |
9.375 |
1 |
9.175 |
2 |
9.3 |
1 |
37.425 |
1 |
WATSON |
DREW |
9 |
9.2 |
2 |
8.825 |
3 |
8.275 |
2 |
9.15 |
2 |
35.45 |
2 |
DUKES |
SIDNEY |
9 |
9.625 |
1 |
9.55 |
1 |
9.475 |
1 |
9.575 |
1 |
38.225 |
1 |
RODGER |
ANGELA |
8 |
9.55 |
1 |
8.95 |
3 |
8.925 |
|
9.55 |
1 |
36.975 |
3 |
MARADIAGA |
SAVANNA |
8 |
8.85 |
4 |
9.725 |
1 |
9.5 |
1 |
9.25 |
3 |
37.325 |
2 |
HILL |
KORTLYNN |
8 |
9.4 |
2 |
9.475 |
1 |
9.025 |
3 |
9.525 |
1 |
37.425 |
2 |
SHAFFER |
SARAH |
8 |
9.6 |
1 |
9.475 |
1 |
9.225 |
1 |
9.5 |
2 |
37.8 |
1 |
| LAST NAME | FIRST NAME |
LEVEL |
VAULT |
PL |
BARS |
PL |
BEAM |
PL |
FLOOR |
PL |
A.A. |
PL |
ABANTO |
DANICA |
7 |
9.400 |
10 |
9.575 |
2 |
9.100 |
10 |
9.625 |
6 |
37.700 |
6 |
HILL |
KORT |
8 |
9.300 |
4 |
9.550 |
10 |
9.125 |
|
9.525 |
8 |
37.500 |
7 |
SHAFFER |
SARAH |
8 |
9.450 |
2 |
9.825 |
1 |
9.075 |
|
9.250 |
5 |
37.600 |
3 |
MARADIAGA |
SAVANNA |
8 |
8.600 |
8 |
9.525 |
3 |
9.300 |
3 |
8.700 |
|
36.125 |
8 |
ROGERS |
ANGELA |
8 |
9.500 |
2 |
8.050 |
|
9.450 |
2 |
9.775 |
1 |
37.775 |
2 |
DUKES |
SIDNEY |
9 |
8.650 |
6 |
9.050 |
4 |
9.200 |
3 |
8.650 |
12 |
35.500 |
4 |
WATSON |
DREW |
9 |
9.250 |
2 |
8.400 |
8 |
8.850 |
7 |
9.000 |
7 |
35.500 |
4 |
ODOM |
ERIN |
10 |
9.000 |
7 |
2.000 |
|
8.650 |
5 |
9.250 |
3 |
28.900 |
8 |
RICKMAN |
EMILY |
10 |
9.400 |
1 |
8.350 |
2 |
9.250 |
1 |
8.700 |
7 |
35.700 |
2 |
HUGHES |
HAVEN |
10 |
8.200 |
9 |
8.650 |
5 |
7.250 |
10 |
7.750 |
9 |
31.850 |
9 |
KEY |
MORGAN |
10 |
8.800 |
5 |
7.850 |
9 |
9.175 |
1 |
9.300 |
4 |
35.125 |
5 |
Emily Rickman, Sidney Dukes, Savanna Maradiaga, Sarah Shaffer, Danica Abanto-Tyler; Kortlyn Hill-Flint; Erin Odom, Angela Rogers-Whitehouse; Drew Watson –Nacogdoches; Haven Hughes-Bullard; Morgan Key-Garrison
The entire Optional Team from Texas East Gymnastics traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to participate in the Lady Luck Invitational. This team didn’t need luck, they had skills! A total of 17 gold medals were won and 5 of those were in the All Around competition and 1 was the Level 10 Team Championships!
The Level 10’s from TEG are Emily Rickman (Tyler), Erin Odom (Whitehouse), Morgan Key (Garrison) and Haven Hughes (Bullard). These girls had the opportunity to watch a college competition prior to their meet and brought that same energy and enthusiasm to their routines. They worked hard and supported each other all the way to first place in their age groups and the team competition. The team gave Haven Hughes the trophy as a congratulations to her for her hard work and perserverance through some trying times lately.
The Level 9 team comprised of Drew Watson (Nacadoches) and Sydney Dukes (Tyler) also competed well and took 3rd and 4th in the All Around respectively. This is the first year for both girls to compete this level and perform their new twisting flip combinations in front of judges.
The Level 8’s from TEG are Sarah Shaffer and Savanna Maradiaga (Tyler), Kortlyn Hill (Flint) and Angela Rogers (Whitehouse). Angela stood out on the team taking gold on Beam, Floor and the All Around. Kortlyn performed well on Vault while Savanna and Sarah both put in nice Bar routines with Savanna taking gold.
The final member of the TEG Optional team is Danica Abanto of Tyler. She is a their Level 7 and swept her age group with golds on Vault, Bars and the All Around, silver on Floor and Bronze on Beam. This is Danica’s first year as an optional gymnast and her future looks quite bright.
While in Las Vegas the Team bonded while touring the Hoover Dam. “Wooow” was probably the word heard over and over again on that outing. Next, the team bonded while bouncing in a trampoline gym. Of particular interest to the gymnasts this gym that was covered with 66 trampolines, they were wall to wall over the floor and 45 degrees up the wall too! The girls were quite literally “all over the place.” Of course, a trip to Vegas would not be complete without taking in a show, naturally then the Texas East Gymnasts were quite impressed with Cirque de Solei’s production of “O”.
Level 8 Gymnastics Team First Place in Houston
The Level 8 gymnasts from Texas East Gymnastics brought home the 1st place trophy this weekend from the Ricky Deci Invitational in Katy. Champions Gymnastics hosted the competition in memory of their fallen gymnast, Ricky Deci. Ricky was an outstanding gymnast who always strived for excellence, he was a strong Christian and was full of life when he suddenly passed away at the age of 13. This competition honors his memory and attitude and helps fund the annual Deci gymnastics camp.
Gymnasts were motivated to be their best after watching a photo montage of Ricky and then they did just that. TEG gymnasts from Level 7 to 10 all brought home impressive hardware for their efforts. This meet is definitely early in TEG’s calendar season and the gymnasts know they have a marathon ahead of them, not a sprint. This is pleasing to most of the team since many have them are looking forward to the chance to improve bonus combination connections and build some confidence in throwing and landing brand new skills. Coach Martin Parsley is pleased with this meet and feels it is a good starting point and place to build from. The team travels to Las Vegas in a week for the Lady Luck Competition and while they are there they will catch a show, check out the Hoover Dam and do some light mountain climbing.
LAST NAME |
FIRST NAME |
LEVEL |
AGE |
VAULT |
PL |
BARS |
PL |
BEAM |
PL |
FLOOR |
PL |
A.A. |
PL |
ABANTO |
DANICA |
7 |
JR |
9.250 |
2 |
9.050 |
1 |
9.000 |
2 |
9.550 |
1 |
36.850 |
1 |
SHAFFER |
SARAH |
8 |
JRA |
9.100 |
1 |
9.575 |
1 |
8.850 |
|
9.100 |
|
36.625 |
2 |
MARADIAGA |
SAVANNA |
8 |
JRA |
8.500 |
5 |
9.100 |
3 |
9.350 |
1 |
9.400 |
3 |
36.350 |
3 |
HILL |
KORTLYN |
8 |
JRA |
9.000 |
3 |
9.025 |
5 |
8.700 |
|
9.200 |
5 |
35.925 |
4 |
ROGERS |
ANGELA |
8 |
JRB |
9.400 |
2 |
9.325 |
1 |
9.450 |
1 |
9.800 |
1 |
37.975 |
1 |
DUKES |
SIDNEY |
9 |
JR |
9.150 |
3 |
9.000 |
3 |
9.350 |
1 |
9.000 |
8 |
36.500 |
2 |
WATSON |
DREW |
9 |
JR |
9.325 |
2 |
8.700 |
5 |
8.300 |
|
8.950 |
9 |
35.275 |
6 |
RICKMAN |
EMILY |
10 |
9-14 |
8.700 |
4 |
7.450 |
5 |
8.250 |
5 |
9.025 |
3 |
33.425 |
5 |
ODOM |
ERIN |
10 |
15+ |
9.000 |
6 |
8.850 |
1 |
9.100 |
3 |
9.425 |
1 |
36.375 |
2 |
Tyler gymnasts are Danica Abanto, Sarah Shaffer, Savanna Maradiaga, Sidney Dukes, and Emily Rickman. Kortlyn Hill is from Gresham. Angela Rogers and Erin Odom are from Whitehouse. Drew Watson is from Nacagdoches.
Level 5 - 1st Place
Level 3, 4 & 5 Achievement Teams
Local Gymnast Hits National Scene - Again
Tyler’s own Alaina Johnson performed in front of 11,000 cheering fans that filled the American Airline Center to see her along with returning Beijing Olympians compete for the USA national title.
Dallas hosted the Visa Championships this weekend for Men’s, Women’s and Rhythmic Gymnastics, Power Tumbling and Trampoline and Acrobatic Gymnastics. The events took place in conjunction with USA Gymnastics’ National Congress which is a convention for coaches nation wide to continue their gymnastics education. It took the Sheraton hotel, Dallas Convention Center and the American Airline Center to house everything and no doubt the American Airline Center was filled with plenty of east Texans cheering a local hero on! Alaina said, “It was very assuring to hear little “go Alaina”-s coming from all over the arena. I knew they were there for me and that helped me do my best.”
Texas East Gymnastics had 100 people in t-shirts encouraging their very own Alaina Johnson (nick named the A-Train) to “drive the “A-Train” home”! Despite a few obstacles along the way Alaina did just that, by the end of the two day competition the A-Train sat in 9th place overall, qualifying her to the National Team for the second year in a row. Not only that but her outstanding Bar and Floor routines placed 8th and she was awarded a medal for each of those! The individual event medals are a career first for Alaina at the USA Championships.
The very near future for Alaina and her National Team members is a September training camp and selection to the World Championships in London, England in October as well as World Cup Competitions in both Germany and Switzerland. Coach Martin Parsley says, “I think the A-Train’s next stop is Europe!”
Key and Odom, Gymnastics State Champions
The level 9 and 10 gymnasts from Texas East Gymnastics competed in Coppell this weekend (April 4, 2009) at the State Championships. Each participant must meet a minimum All-Around score to qualify to the Regional Championships and TEG is proud to announce that 100% of their Level 9’s and 10’s qualified for Regionals! Morgan Key of Nacogdoches and Erin Odom of Whitehouse, both level 10’s, did more than just qualify…they came away as the Beam and Vault champions respectively! Morgan Key will admit surprise at her accomplishment since Beam is not her favorite event but is quite proud to see her hard work pay off. Morgan’s teammate Erin “Vaulted” her way to a gold medal. Unlike her teammate though, Vault is Erin’s favorite event. She enjoys being explosive and powerful, and flipping and twisting her way to a stick! Level 9 gymnasts Apryl Hansen (Tyler), Emily Rickman (Tyler) and Haven Hughes (Bullard) did an equally nice job. Apryl showed solid mental toughness and scored an impressive 9.45 on Beam. Emily and Haven both came home with silver medals on Beam and Bars respectively and were quite close snatching the gold! Everyone’s job now is to clean up the little bitty bent knees and flexed feet, to practice tumbling higher and sticking landings. The next competition is Regional’s where every gymnast will by vying for the coveted top 7 places in the All Around, only those few girls, literally the best of the best, will go on to their Western Championship or National Championship competition. The TEG gymnasts and their qualifying All Around scores and places are: Level 10 – Erin Odom – 37.075 - 10th , Morgan Key – 37.725 – 5th Level 9 – Emily Rickman – 37.850 – 3rd, Haven Hughes – 35.925 – 6th , Apryl Hansen – 34.00 – 12th
Level 7 Success at State Championships
The Level 7 gymnasts from Texas East Gymnastics completed their season with several personal bests at the 2009 State Championships. The competition was held in Frisco and featured all Level 7 gymnasts from the state of Texas. Georgianna DePugh of Corsicanna enjoyed finishing the season with TEG and is looking forward to a long and successful career with them. “Georgianna is a nice addition to our team and we look forward to her future,” said Coach Parsley. At state, she had a fantastic meet scoring 9.275 on vault, 9.225 on bars, 8.775 on beam and 9.30 on floor which gave her an All-Around total of 36.575. She placed 7th overall in her age group. Way to go Georgianna! Kinzie Creath of Tyler put all her hard work together and came out shining at State. She scored a personal best on vault with a 9.45 and placed 5th. Along with a great vault, she scored 9.15 on bars, 9.025 on beam and a 9.075 on floor giving her an All-Around score of 36.675 and placing 6th overall in her age group. We at TEG are proud of both girls and look forward to watching their progress through the summer as they take on bigger challenges.