The Moultrie YMCA gymnastics program started its 2013-2014 compulsory competition season last Saturday at the Tumblin’ in the Roses Invitational in Thomasville.

The MG’s competed all new routines for the first time for Levels 2-4. During the summer, USA Gymnastics recreated their entire competition routine curriculum, meaning that even if a gymnast did not advance to a new level after the previous competition season they were still required to learn a new routine with multiple new skills on 3 of the 4 events.

Though this has been an area of concern for gymnasts and coaches all over the nation, the MG’s took the challenge and preformed well at their season opener.

 “I was proud of all of our competing gymnasts; with some skill polishing and a little more toe pointing we will be ready for our home meet on September 28,”said coach Pat Murphy.  

The day started at 8 a.m. with the USA Level 2 MGs. Many of the girls had never competed before and were unsure of what to expect in the meet setting.

Tatum Salter led her team in her first gymnastics meet ever, scoring a 33.675 all-around and placing fourth.

She also put up the highest event score for her team on Saturday, scoring a 9.1 on vault and earning a first place finish.

Nyla Thompson competed in her second meet of her MG career but at a new level. She finished the meet with a 33.075 and placed fifth. Like Salter, Thompson also delivered a very strong vault score of an 8.65. She took third on this event.

 Caylee Harrison, a first time competitor, placed first in her age division with an all-around of 32.85. She also placed first on floor with an 8.45.

Paige Burnette ended her first session of competition earning a 32.775 and placing second in her age division. Paige placed first on vault and floor.  

Eva Kirbo placed fifth overall with a 31.075 all-around and took second on vault with an 8.525 in her first meet.

Ellery McBride completed her first MG competition with s 30.4 and placed sixth all-around. Her strongest event score of the day was an 8.25 on floor for fourth.

 Aubree Clements placed second all-around in her age division, scoring a 29.95.  In her second meet as an MG but her first meet as a Level 2, she also placed first on vault and bars.

The team placed 3rd overall with a score of 100.675.

“Our Level 2’s are so young and so new to competition,” said coach Leah May. “But I thought they competed very well for their first meet of the season and I expect great things from them this season.”

The USA Level 3 MG’s were led by Shelby Norman, who placed first all around with a 33.8.  She is a strong performer on all events.

In only her second meet, Seaven Shorter had a strong finish with a 33.275 for fifth place all-around.  Shorter was confident on balance beam and scored her first nine, a 9.05 for second place.

Next in the all-around placement was Hayley Hamm, who earned a 30.9 for fourth. She also scored a strong 8.7 on vault.

In the same age group, Brooklyn James scored an all-around of 30.85 for fifth place and an 8.05 on beam for third place.

Marlie Daniels was sixth with a 30.8 all-around.  Daniels had an excellent vault, scoring her teams only nine on vault- a 9.05-and placing second.

Tyliyah Smith earned a 30.45 all-around for sixth place in her age division. She also scored an 8.6 for sixth on vault.

Brandalyn Fitz was the final MG Level 3 competitor. She finished the meet in eighth place in all-around with a 29.9 and third place on vault with an 8.9.

 The team finished 4th with the score of 99.8.  Vault and beam were the team’s strongest events in this meet. “We plan to work harder on floor,” says coach May, “the  new routines are much more technical than last year…now we have to learn how to be gymnasts and ballerinas. It will be a challenge, but we can do it.”

The USA level 4 MG team leader in the all-around was Mackenzie Yates, who placed second with a 33.35 all-around.

Yates scored her first nine on the uneven bars- a 9.15- for first place.

Coach Dawn Harvell said, “She has been improving on this event since the beginning of summer. Her conditioning and hard work is starting to pay off.”

Madison Cook placed third all-around with a 32.825. Cook led the team on beam by scoring an 8.825 for first place.

Next was MG competitor Makenzie Smith, who placed fourth AA with a 31.65; she also placed third on floor.  In the youngest age division,

Ava White placed second on bars, floor, and all-around. She finished the day with a 30.9.

Jaiden Lane placed first on bars with an 8.15 and fourth all-around with 30.1, not far behind White.

Sixth place in that age group was earned by Mackenzie Smith. She also earned a fifth place finish on beam and vault.

Ivey Cooper finished fourth all-around with a 29.25 in her age division Cooper also finished fourth on vault and bars. The team finished 3rd with a score of 99.075.  

“This team’s best events were bars and beam, the two most difficult events in this sport. A third place finish in our first meet is not too bad,” said coach May.     

     The Moultrie YMCA gymnasts will compete again at their home meet-the Sunbelt Shindig- on September 28th. Competition will begin at 8am. Teams from both Georgia and Florida will be competing and the MG’s expect to have nearly 200 gymnasts in attendance. The competition is open to the public and all spectators are welcome to come and support their local athletes.