MOULTRIE — The Moultrie YMCA’s levels 8 and 9 gymnastics teams took part in a meet on Sunday in Woodstock, competing under a new set of optional scoring rules.

Those rules are more stringent this year, but all of the MGs still made qualifying scores for the USAG state meet in March and the YMCA Nationals in June.

“This was the first meet of the new four-year Olympic cycle in gymnastics,” Moultrie YMCA coach Bob Swadel explained. “It a a chance for judges and gymnasts to work under a new set of much more severe option scoring rules..

“The changes are great enough that USA Gymnastics is allowing athletes to drop back a level even if they made it beyond the regional level last year.”

Swadel said his gymnasts looked nervous.

“But so did everyone else,” he said. “Once everyone settles into their new skills an new routines, performances will get better and scores will go up.”

Swadel said the level 8 gymnasts “were a little ahead of last year.”

Kenyadah Prime scored a 34.75 all around and Kambria Blakley had a 33.5.

Blakely had a 9.45 and Prime a 9.30 on vault.

Swadel said the two “showed that they will handle the challenge very well. They are both excellent vaulters and tumblers. They should mature into strong competitors.”

Arrienne Miller had a 33.35 and Heather Scites a 33.30 and both “looked shaky on beam, but consistent in the other three events,” Swadel said.

Krysta Michael had a 33.025, Kaitlin Tucker a 32.70, Crystal Blizzard a 32.1, Krista Wood a 31.725 and Rachel Dampier a 31.05.

A foot injury kept Temira Davis from competing.

The level 9 team also tested the new rules with new skills and several new routines.

As she did in 2004, Devin Corgan put together the strongest performance with a 35.225 all around. She was solid on floor, with a 9.275, and vault, with a 9.10.

Meghan Marshall had a 9.075 on vault and a 33.30 all around. Tara Cowart added a 32.20 and Leah May had a 32.20.