he Junior Olympic Competitive Gymnastics team came home from their last competition with trophies and smiles.
The gymnastics team from Stars & Stripes Gymnastics Academy in Clarkston participate in 10 competitions a year.
Their last competition took them to Covington, Ky., for the U.S. Coaches? Spectacular, Jan. 18-20. The team came home with two first place team trophies and one second place team trophy.
It was the fourth time they have participated in this competition.
‘It was a very exciting event,? said team director Cassie Davis.
The Stars & Stripes team had the highest team score of the entire meet.
Individually, many gymnasts came home as champions. There were five all-around champions, five vault champions, two uneven bar champions, eight balance beam champions and six floor exercise champions.
‘The meet was a great success for all Stars & Stripes gymnasts,? said Davis.
The gymnasts are split into different teams based on their skill level.
The Level 4 team finished in first place, Level 5 finished in second, and Level 7 finished first in their competition.
The level 7 & 8 teams combined to make the All-Star team, and won the All-Star team finals. This is the first year the teams combined to make the All-Star team, and it was the first time they competed.
‘It was very special that they won,? said Davis.
Members of the level 7 & 8 teams are Jacquelyn Yates, Kendra Lamphier, Emma McLean, Emilee Incammicia, Anna Martucci, Elise Csizmadia Mackenzie Tuohy, and Madelyn Bagley.
Bagley also won the All Star balance beam finals.
The All-Star team was awarded their first place trophy by former Olympic gymnasts Amanda Borden and Jaycee Phelps.
The teams practice between nine to 20 hours per week depending on their level.
Instructors include, Cassie Davis, coaching for levels four and five; Nathan Davis, coaching levels four to eight; Theresa Fabrizio, coaching levels five to eight; and Dianna Nelson, level four.
Their next competition will be in February. They will travel to Chicago to participate in the largest competition in the United States.
‘We look forward to going and competing. There are very good teams going. Coaches like to compare them to the top teams of the country,? said Davis.
Then, they will have time to practice and get ready for the state meet in April.