The Water's Edge Gymnastics team recently traveled to Louisville, Ky. to take part in the 2008 Derby Classic Invitational competition. In addition to two team trophies and numerous individual medals awarded to the gymnasts, the Water's Edge team was awarded the Hurst Award for their display of sportsmanship and dedication to the sport.
Among the other honors was a first place team trophy for the prep-optional group. Stephanie Kurtz lead the way for the prep-op team with her gold medal performance on the vault, 9.275 and her bronze medal floor routine, 8.9. Kurtz also achieved a personal best in the all around with a 34.475.
Kendra Garcia brought home a gold medal for her performance on the floor, 9.075, and was decorated with silver for her bar routine, 8.95, balance beam skill, 8.8, and her all around finish, 35.825.
A bronze medal was awarded to Jocelyn Stelzer for her vaulting skill, 9.25. She received a fourth place medal for floor, 8.85 and finished with a 34.05 all around score. Kenyon McFarlane won bronze for her accomplishment on the bars, placed fourth for her 9.225 vault score and finished with a 34.1 all around score. Taylor Featherstone had fifth place finishes on the beam, 8.35, floor, 8.85 and in the all around, 34.6.
The level 5 division was awarded a third place team trophy for their collective efforts. Paving the way for the level 5 team was Hanna Casperson earning a gold medal for an impressive performance on the balance beam scoring a 9.7. She also earned a gold medal for her bar routine, 9.1, and silver for her floor routine. Casperson came away as the all around champion for her age division with a 36.525 all around score.
Teammate Shannon Ufer won silver on the bars with a 9.3 and earned top 10 places for her vault, 9.15, beam, 9.3 and floor routine, 9.125. She finished in fourth place in her age division with a 36.875 all around score.
In the 12-year-old age division, Claire Moen's 9.0 on the floor was good for gold. She took bronze on vault, 9.05, and bars, 8.875 and won silver in the all around with a 36.075. Eleven-year- old Jane Leahy received bronze for her vaulting skill, 8.975, scored a 9.1 on beam, earning sixth, place and finished fourth in her age division with a 35.25 all around score.
In the nine and younger age division, Debi Danek also earned a bronze medal for her vault, 9.05 and had top 10 finishes on beam, 9.35, floor, 8.95 and in the all around, 35.96. In the same age division, Quiannah Cooper fared well on the floor with an 8.425.
Level 6 competitors Allyson Schultz and Alex Bondy also came home decorated with medals. Bondy won silver for her solid routine on the beam scoring a 9.35, took seventh on the floor, 8.625 and ended up with a 34.175 all around score. Schultz placed in the top 10 on vault, 9.2, beam, 9.05, and floor, 8.625 and finished fifth place in the all around, 34.925.
Level 7 participant Makenna Beers grabbed the gold for her vaulting skill, 9.55 and had sixth place finishes on bars and floor. Also in level 7, Amanda Ufer received a fourth place medal for her vault score of 9.15. Charlevoix resident Katie Left made a come back performance after struggling with an injury. She came away with a fourth place medal for her floor routine, 8.95, and finished with a 32.8 all around score.
Level 8 gymnast Hayley VanZandt earned top 10 medals for all four events including a fourth place medal for her 9.3 floor routine and finished sixth all around with a 35.4. Level 8 team mate Brittney Schaef won fifth place medals for her performances on vault and bars.
Lone level 9 competitor Holly Ryan, began the competition on the balance beam. She delivered a solid routine and scored a 9.05 earning fourth place in the medal standings. Her 8.95 floor routine was good for fifth place. The 13-year-old ended up taking fifth place in the all around with a 34.45.
The Water Edge Gymnastics team is coached by Beckey Burden-Cuddeback, Chris Cuddeback, Kylee Lynch and Dayna Ryan.
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