MOULTRIE — The Moultrie YMCA gymnastics program competed in their first compulsory competition of the new year on Saturday at the Inbound Gymnastics center in Albany.

After a prolonged break from competition, the MGs saw their hard work throughout the holiday season pay off. Moultrie gymnasts levels 3-5 set many new personal records and appeared again and again on the awards stand in Albany.

The first MG competitors of the day were the Level 4s. Hannah Classon led her team with an all-around off 33.5, placing third. This was a personal best for Classon, as well as her 9.1 on vault and 8.55 on beam.

Ivey Cooper followed just behind Classon with a 33.2 all-around score, good for third place in her age division. Cooper, like Classon, bested her all-around record by posting this score, and set new personal records on bars (7.95), beam (7.7), and floor (8.35).

Ava White, the youngest of the Level 4 competitors, also placed third all-around in her age division with a personal best 32.625. She set other personal records on vault (9.0), bars (7.45), and floor (8.55).

Sisters Carolyn and Isabella Matthews contributed to the Level 4’s third place team award by placing third (Carolyn) and fourth (Isabella) in their age division for all-around. Isabella scored an 8.15 on floor, a new record for her Level 4 career.

“I was proud of how the Level 4’s competed,” said team coach Leah May. “We made some improvements, had no falls on beam, and almost all the girls set a new record for themselves on an event. We still have a lot of work to do but the improvements are encouraging.”

The Level 5 MG gymnasts continued the successful day their teammates had begun, placing third in the team standings.

Mackenzie Yates led her team with a 31.6 all-around, good for second place. This was her first competition as a Level 5 due to a pre-season wrist injury. Yates scored an 8.0 on vault, an 8.05 on bars, an 8.25 for first place on beam, and a 7.3 on floor.

Mackenzie Smith, the youngest MG Level 5, set four personal bests and took fourth place all-around with a 28.4.

Smith posted a 7.7 on beam, a 7.95 on floor, and made her mount skill, a “kip” on bars for the first time ever in competition.

Madison Cook also placed fourth all-around in her age division and set a personal best of a 7.075 on floor. Cook suffered through a bout of the flu two weeks prior to the meet and is still slowly recovering from her illness.

“This group overcame a lot of adversity to compete together this weekend and each girl had something to be proud of at the end of the day,” said coach Pat Murphy.

Pleased with the day’s performances so far, the MG coaches anticipated a successful Level 3 competition as well.

They were not disappointed.

The Level 3 MGs proved to be the most successful group of the day, posting a 106.875 team score and placing second by just .325 behind the home team.

Tyliyah Smith led her team with a personal best all-around of 34.975, where she placed first.

She led her team on vault also with a personal best 9.375 for first, and scored an 8.55 (personal best) for second and an 8.6 (personal best) on floor.

Ruth Anne McCranie, the youngest MG Level 3 followed her teammate with a personal best all-around of 34.95, good for first place in her age division.

She also bested her Level 3 career scores on bars with a 9.15 for first and on beam with an 8.85 for second.

Shelby Norman placed second all around in her age division with a 34.775, placed first on bars with an 8.6, and set a new personal best on floor with an 8.875, good for second.

Tayler Scott followed closely behind her teammate in the all-around competition, scoring a 34.475, placing first. She also bested her personal records on beam with a 9.0 for first place and on floor with an 8.725, again placing first.

Marlie Daniels had her best meet of her Level 3 career and followed Scott with a 33.875 all-around score, good for second place in her age division.

 This was a personal best for Daniels, as were her event scores. She scored an 8.7 on vault for second, an 8.475 on bars for second, an 8.55 on beam for third, and an 8.15 in floor for first.

Brandalyn Fitz and Brooklyn James tied for third place all-around in their age division, each scoring a 33.725.

Fitz bested her bar record with an 8.225, her beam record with an 8.95, and her floor record with an 8.1.

James bested her bar score for the season, scoring an 8.5 and placing third.

Jessica Benson followed closely behind her teammates, scoring a 33.5. She placed fourth all-around and set a new personal record on beam with an 8.525.

Hayley Hamm bested her all-around record with a 33.1, along with a personal best on bars (an 8.65 for second) and on floor (an 8.35 for second).

Gigi Kline set her new all-around record for her Level 3 career, scoring a 32.825 and placing second in her age group. She also set a personal best on floor with an 8.0.

Christina Cox completed the MG Level 3 competitors, scoring an all-around of 30.925 for fourth and setting a new personal best on floor, an 8.175 for second place.

“Our team performed very well today,” said coach Wendy Scites. “We still had a few mistakes that cost us first place, but overall I was very proud of our Level 3 team.”

The MG gymnasts levels 3-7 will travel to the Rose City Invitational on Saturday in Thomasville.