MOULTRIE — The Moultrie YMCA gymnastics team recently competed in the Sunbelt Shindig held at the Moultrie YMCA.

Four teams came to compete from Florida and Georgia in the opening meet of the new season.

“It was my second meet to host as the Gymnastics Director,” said Gymnastics Director Amber Jones. “I was thrilled and with the assist of the MG Parents Club everything ran smoothly.”

Coach Dawn Harvell said, “It was a very exciting weekend for the MG’s. We broke three team records and had 85 personal best scores. The girls worked very hard the last few weeks to improve their scores from the first meet. I’m looking forward to seeing the improvements they make in the next few weeks before we compete in Panama City Beach.”

The MG’s began the weekend with the Xcel Gold level gymnasts. It was the second meet for these gymnasts.

Ava Solanki in the CH age division led the MG’s with an All Around score of 35.75 (personal best) for 1st place. She also placed 1st on vault, 8.5 (personal best), 1st on bars, 9.175 (personal best), 1st on beam, 9.2 (personal best), and 2nd on floor, 8.875 (personal best).

Adysen Hall also in the CH age division placed 2nd in the AA with a 34.80 (personal best). She placed 3rd on vault, 8.45 (personal best), 2nd on bars, 8.5, 3rd on beam, 8.875(personal best), and 1st on floor, 8.975.

Maddy Booth in the CH age division placed 3rd in the AA with a 33.825 (personal best). She placed 5th on vault, 8.2 (personal best), 3rd on bars, 8.35 (personal best), 2nd on beam, 9.00 (personal best), and 5th on floor, 8.275.

Julianne Carson in the CH age division placed 4th in the AA with a 33.375 (personal best). She placed 2nd on vault, 8.5 (personal best), 4th on bars, 8.35 (personal best), 5th on beam, 8.0 (personal best), and 3rd on floor, 8.525 (personal best).

Kinsley Kelley in the CH age division placed 5th in the AA with a score of 33.05 (personal best). She placed 4th on vault, 8.25 (personal best), 5th on bars, 7.85 (personal best), 4th on beam, 8.5 (personal best), and 4th on floor, 8.45.

In the JR age division Iella Key placed 2nd in the AA with a score of 34.475 (personal best). She placed 3rd on vault, 8.85, 3rd on bars, 8.475 (personal best), 4th on beam, 8.5 (personal best), and 5th on floor, 8.65 (personal best).

Khloe Booth also in the JR age division placed 4th in the AA with a 32.75 (personal best). She placed 4th on vault, 8.325 (personal best), 5th on bars, 7.0, 3rd on beam, 8.675 (personal best), and 4th on floor, 8.75 (personal best).

In the SR age division, Raley Merritt competed on the beam and scored an 8.125 for 2nd place. When she went to floor for the next event, she took a very bad fall warming up a back tuck. She went to the ER and was told it was mainly very badly bruised. She will probably be out a couple of weeks and knowing her, she will come back strong.

The team placed 1st with a score of 105.675.

“Nice job overall, girls, I saw lots of improvement on beam and floor from our last meet. I was extremely proud,” said Coach Becky Reagan.

The Level 4 Team, also in the first session had shown a lot of improvement from their first meet.

“They all scored above a 34 and each had at least one personal best. I’m looking forward to the next few weeks of improving their skills and going to Panama City Beach,” said Coach Harvell.

In the JR age division Kenya Poblete Morris took 4th in the AA with a score of 34.475 (personal best). She placed 1st on vault, 9.1 (personal best), 5th on bars, 7.625 (personal best), 4th on beam, 8.725 (personal best), and 2nd on floor, 9.025 (personal best).

In the SR age division Joselyn Juarez placed 3rd in the AA with a 34.175. She placed 3rd on vault, 9.0 (personal best), 5th on bars, 8.0, 5th on beam, 8.325, and 3rd on floor, 8.85.

Also in the SR age division Lylah Anderson placed 4th in the AA with a 34.125 (personal best). She placed 5th on vault, 8.4 (personal best), 4th on bars, 8.05, 3rd on beam, 9.05 (personal best), and 5th on floor, 8.625. They placed 4th for team with 102.775.

“In Level 6 Team we had an MG record broken and had two personal bests. They are working really hard on perfecting their skills. EJ and Kayla have expressed that their goal is to make regionals this year. Leah Shaw is still out with a knee injury and will hopefully be back soon,” said Coach Harvell.

Eliza Jane Reagan in the JR age division placed 1st in the AA with a 35.7. She placed 1st on vault, 9.0, 1st on bars, 8.45, 1st on beam, 9.3 (personal best and MG Record), and 2nd on floor, 8.95. EJ also received the AA Champion Banner for having the highest AA for all ages in Level 6.

Kayla Scroggins in the SR age division placed 1st in the AA with a score of 34.05. She placed 1st on vault, 8.8, 1st on bars, 7.575, 1st on beam, 8.65, and 1st on floor, 9.025 (personal best).

“Our sole Xcel Platinum gymnast, Ansley Key, broke an MG Record on beam with an 8.45,” said Harvell. “She has worked really hard on improving her handstand to a cartwheel. She hardly had any wobble at this meet and made it look very pretty. I’m looking forward to seeing her improvements at the next meet.”

In the ALL age division, she placed 3rd in the AA with a score of 33.6. She placed 2nd on vault, 8.7, 3rd on bars, 7.65, 4th on beam, 8.45 (personal best and MG Record), and 3rd on floor, 8.8.

“The Silver team performed well in their 2nd competition of the season and their strongest events are uneven bars and beam. I saw lots of good form on these events,” said Coach Harvell.

The team placed 1st scoring 110.625 with an average score of 9.2 per event. “All but one girl is new to this level, we have new rules, I have new spirit leaders and we are setting goals,” said Coach Jeremy Merritt. “We have a lot of talent in this group and I am looking forward to coaching them. This meet was a great start.”

In the JR age division Jaceleigh Smithwick placed 3rd in the AA with a score of 36.6 (personal best). She placed 2nd on vault, 9.0, 5th on bars, 8.95, 3rd on beam, 9.5 (personal best), and 3rd on floor, 9.15 (personal best).

Alyssa Howell in the JR age division placed 5th in the AA with a score of 36.0 (personal best). She placed 4th on vault, 8.7, 2nd on bars, 9.375 (personal best), 5th on beam, 9.35 (personal best), and 5th on floor, 8.575 (personal best).

Whitley Bozeman in the JR age division placed 6th with a 35.825. She placed 5th on vault, 8.7, 5th on bars, 9.125 (personal best), 4th on beam, 9.45, and 6th on floor, 8.55.

Katie Poblete Morris in the CH age division placed 1st in the AA with a 36.3. She placed 1st on vault, 9.0, 2nd on bars, 9.025 (personal best), 2nd on beam, 9.3 (personal best), and 2nd on floor, 8.975.

Lexi Miller also in the CH age division placed 4th in the AA with a score of 35.175 (personal best). She placed 5th on vault, 8.6, 3rd on bars, 8.8 (personal best), 4th on beam, 9.05 (personal best), and 3rd on floor, 8.725 (personal best).

Olivia Eubanks in the CH age division placed 3rd in the AA with a score of 35.3. She placed 2nd on vault, 8.95, 1st on bars, 9.1 (personal best), 5th on beam, 8.8, and 4th on floor, 8.55.

Katie Goble in the CH age division placed 5th in the AA with a score of 34.9. She placed 4th on vault, 8.7 (personal best), 4th on bars, 8.5 (personal best), 3rd on beam, 9.15 (personal best), and 5th on floor, 8.55 (personal best).

Naomi De La Cruz was in the SR age division, she placed 1st in the AA with a score of 36.6. She placed 1st on vault, 9.35, 2nd on bars, 9.275, 5th on beam, 9.125, and 2nd on floor, 8.85.

Melanie Lopez in the SR age division placed 3rd in the AA with a score of 35.575 (personal best). She placed 6th on vault, 8.55, 1st on bars, 9.35 (personal best), 3rd on beam, 9.275 (personal best), and 6th on floor, 8.4. Also in the SR age division was Brantlee Majors placing 6th in the AA with a score of 34.675 (personal best). She placed 5th on vault, 8.6, 5th on bars, 8.45, 6th on beam, 9.05 (personal best), and 4th on floor, 8.575 (personal best).

“These are all new gymnasts to Xcel Bronze level and competing gymnastics. It is their first season. I saw great team work, I was happy for the team to win the 1st place team award. They had an average score of 9.3 per event,” said Coach Merritt.

In the JR age division Sofia Molina took 1st place with an AA score of 37.625. She also won the AA Champion Banner for having the highest AA for all ages in Bronze. She placed 1st on vault, 9.275, 1st on bars, 9.6 (personal best), 1st on beam, 9.45 (personal best and MG Record), and 1st on floor, 9.3 (personal best).

Also in the JR age division was Evelyn Strayer who placed 6th in the AA with a score of 34.425 (personal best). She placed 5th on vault, 8.35 (personal best), 5th on bars, 8.525, 3rd on beam, 9.05 (personal best), and 5th on floor, 8.5.

Libby Parish in the SR age division placed 1st in the AA with a score of 37.025 (personal best). She also placed 1st on vault, 9.3 (personal best), 2nd on bars, 9.075, 2nd on beam, 9.25, and 1st on floor, 9.4 (personal best).

Maggie Bozeman in the SR age division placed 2nd in the AA with a score of 36.6 (personal best). She placed 3rd on vault, 9.25 (personal best), 1st on bars, 9.35 (personal best), 1st on beam, 9.325 (personal best), and 6th on floor, 8.675.

Josie Bozeman was also in the SR age division placing 3rd in the AA with a score of 36.475. She placed 2nd on vault, 9.3, 3rd on bars, 9.05, 3rd on beam, 9.075 (personal best), and 2nd on floor, 9.05.

In the CH age division Leila Garner took 3rd place in the AA with a score of 35.575. She placed 6th on vault, 8.5, 3rd on bars, 8.95, 5th on beam, 9.1, and 2nd on floor, 9.025. Also in the CH age division was Caitlin Camacho who placed 7th in the AA with a score of 32.675. She placed 5th on vault, 8.55 (personal best), 7th on bars, 6.45, 3rd on beam, 9.225 (personal best), and 5th on floor, 8.45.

“I would like to thank all of our sponsors: Dalton’s, Chick-fil-A, Save A Lot, Sugar & Spice, and Piggly Wiggly” said Jones.

Moultrie YMCA will hold the next meet January 6, 2024.