MOULTRIE — The Moultrie YMCA gymnastics team experienced two firsts at the Dream Believers Classic meet held at the Dream It gymnastics center in Tifton last weekend.

The AAU level 4 team tied for first place with their highest score of the season against a private gym, The Gymnest, from Macon.

“This is our first year competing at this level and the girls were so excited to tie with the Macon team, scoring a 107.725,” said coach Pat Murphy.

“At the last meet in Thomasville, Macon won, so this was a big step in improvement for our team.”

Clara Gene Vines was the top scorer earning a 35.7 all around to tie our team record with Allison Fagan and Sidney Cokely.

“Clara Gene just exploded into a great competitor. Her form was outstanding,” said Murphy.

Vines won first place in the 10-year-old all around. Vines counted on all four events for team score. She placed 1st on bars 9.05 and beam 8.55, 2nd on vault 9.1 and floor 9.0.

Kaydee Phillips, the next top scorer which earned her first AA score of 35.025 to place second in the 11-year- old age group. Phillips won 1st on beam 8.725, 2nd on vault 8.8, bars 8.8 and floor 8.7.

“Kaydee’s form was quite elegant allowing her to achieve personal bests on all these events,” said Murphy.

Sidney Cokely scoring a 34.975 second place AA, was the next highest team member. Cokely placed first on two of the toughest events, bars 9.0 and beam 8.825 in the 9 year old age group.

“Sidney works extra hard on those two events because they are her favorite and it showed in this meet scoring her first nine on bars,” said Coach Murphy.

The MG team level 4 floor record was broken by Allison Fagan with a 9.3 for first place in the 9-year-old age group.

“Allison showed good form, great dynamics and lots of height on her tumbling passes, it was her best ever floor routine,” said Coach Murphy.

“She had a good meet for not feeling up to par.”

Fagan is also the vault record holder. She earned a first on vault 9.45 and third on bars 8.6 and AA 34.925.

“Thanks to our volunteer coach, Wendy Scites, our overall team score averaged a nine on the uneven bars,” said Coach Murphy.

Amber Kling was another example of this improvement by placing first on this event scoring 8.95, a personal best.

“This has been a fearful event in the past, but now. Amber’s confidence is growing beyond that and she really swung for the judges,” said Murphy.

Kling scored 3rd AA 34.875 and floor 8.975, both her best.

Savana Robertson, in only her third competition, had two personal best scores coming in second on bars 8.8 and floor 7.75. Robertson placed 6th AA 32.425.

“Savana’s bars are looking really good because she has a lot of power packed into a compact body,” said Murphy.

The last session of the evening was rushed due to time constraints by USA Gymnastics guidelines and competition had to be finished by 10 p.m.

“My younger gymnasts were tired and had never competed that late in the evening, but still managed to perform well,” said Murphy.

Hanna Friedlander was the top scorer on the USA level 4 team with an AA 32.475 sixth place.

“Hanna’s top scoring event was bars 8.7 which is also her favorite and it showed with good form,” said Murphy.

Friedlander earned 4th on bars which was also a personal best.

Jordan Yates earned a 9.05 on vault for fourth place and her personal best so far. Yates also received fourth on bars 8.4 also a personal best and her AA was 32.10.

“This was the first meet Jordan did all the moves without a spot and has even learned a kip, which is a difficult level 5 move,” Murphy said.

Coming in with a 9.275 on vault was Anna Hartley.

“Anna is a natural on this event and the height she achieves is astounding,” said Murphy.

Hartley also had another best on bars this meet with an 8.35.

The only USA Level 5 competitor was Sammie Phillips who had an allergic reaction during the meet but still managed to finish the competition. Phillips placed fourth AA 31.975 and seconnd on floor 8.35.

She also earned a personal best on the uneven bars 8.15 for third.

“Sammie made more connections and had better form for a higher score on her favorite event,” Murphy said.

Two of our USA level 6 gymnasts earned high enough scores to be promoted to level 7: Susannah Harvell and Auburn Williams.

“I’m really excited about teaching them the new skills required for this optional level. Hopefully they will be ready to compete this new level in our home meet this May,” Murphy said.

Susannah Harvell placed first vault 8.87, 2nd AA 33.275, beam 8.6, 3rd bars 8.6, all her highest scores this season.

“Susannah broke her own team record on the balance beam. It was flowing, sharp and precise,” Murphy said. “It was a beautiful routine.

“Auburn hit her handstands and low bar connections making her an excellent bar competitor and already has learned a giant needed for the next level.”

Williams placed first on bars 8.8, her best of the season. She placed third overall scoring 32.7 and fourth on vault 8.65.

Betsy Booth had her best vault of the season scoring an 8.25.

“It was fast, tight and furious, the best I’ve ever seen her do,” Murphy said.

Booth’s AA was 28.6 for sixth.

“This was a highly competitive AAU meet with excellent teams from throughout the state,” Murphy said. “Several gymnasts scored 38 out of 40 points in the all around.

“Now our girls have seen the best and can set a goal for the next meet.”

The team earned its highest score of the season, 109.6.

Beginning for the Level 3 AAU group was Amber Ross with the top AA score of 36.225.

Ross broke the MG level 3 team record on bars 9.525 for first place.

“Amber’s bar routine was spectacular. I knew it would score really high the minute she dismounted,” said coach Patti Merritt.

Ross also came in first on vault 9.0, floor 8.95, beam 8.75 and AA.

Another outstanding all around was earned by Kelsey Phillips with a 36.15 for fourth place in the 9-year-old age group.

“Kelsey scored two high nines on vault and bars,” Murphy said. “I’m so proud of her; she’s come a long way in a short time.”

Phillips was in a tough age group to compete in only placing third on vault with a 9.25. Her other scores were bars 9.15, beam 8.925 and floor 8.825.

In the same age group was Aja McLemore placing fifth AA with a 35.8, her personal best.

McLemore placed fourth on her two strong events vault 9.15 and bars 9.4.

“Aja connected every bar skill for the first time and thought she broke the team record until another MG performed. What can you say, a 9.4 is great,” Murphy said.

Another MG level 3 team record was broken by Janna Tucker on the floor, 9.175 to place first in the 11-year-old age division.

“Her floor routine was really polished and graceful,” Merritt said. “Janna truly looked good.”

Tucker had two other personal bests on the bars 8.55 for third and 35.575 AA second places. She also placed second on vault 8.95 and beam 8.9.

“Evelyn Fagan had an outstanding performance for not feeling well,” Murphy said.

She also thought her broke her sister’s bar record by earning a 9.4 for fifth place in the strong 8-year-age group. Fagan had her best AA 35.525, floor 8.9 and vault 8.65.

In the 10-year-old age division, Aubrey Snyder placed first on vault with a 9.2 and second on all her other events.Snyder scored an 8.825 on beam and floor, 8.65 on bars and a 35.425 AA, her highest scores of the season.

“I am amazed at how far Aubrey has come in this sport for her first year of competition,” said Merritt.

“Shan Summerlin looked top-notch scoring her first two nines,” said Merritt. “She had really tight form.”

Summerlin placed first on vault with a 9.1, second on bars 9.0 and third on floor 8.8 and all around 35.3.

Denise Jenkins also scored her first nine on the uneven bars for second place in the 13 and up age group.

“Denise has really learned to use her height as an advantage to make her bars look good,” said Merritt.

Jenkins had her best performances on AA 34.85, beam 8.7 and floor 8.6, all for second places.

Rachel Sasine tied with Jenkins with the same AA score of 34.85 to place ninth in the 8 year old age group.

“This was Rachel’s highest score ever. Her form was awesome,” said Merritt.

Sasine placed fifth on beam 8.825, her best event. She also had personal bests on vault 8.6 and bars 8.75.

“It was a great day on bars with Leah Grace Wiggins earning her first nine too. Leah Grace performed a continous flowing routine with good form,” Murphy said.

She was in a strong age group and did not place with her 9.0. Wiggins had her best on vault 8.75 and AA 34.525 for 8th.

The youngest level 3, Alexis Griner, scored a 32.5 for fifth place in the 6 year old age division.

“Alexis improved on all five of her events. She is young and is still learning how to compete,” said Murphy.

Griner’s highest score was on the bars, an 8.6.

Our newest member of the team is Abbie Galphin.

“It was her first meet after moving up from the level 3 skills class. Abbie did a wonderful job, showing her confidence and earning a 30.275 AA,” Murphy said.

Galpin also earned her highest score on the uneven bars, 8.15 with a minor fall.

“Just think what Abbie will score when she fixes that correction,” said Murphy.

“I have been working extra hard on strength for the bars and it showed. Dreams can come true, especially in Tifton,” said Murphy.

The level 3 and 6 teams will be traveling to Vidalia this weekend.