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Local gymnasts succeed at state meet

| 31 May 2016 | 04:23
    Champion Emily Harms and Ainsley Mitchell are shown on the podium. Mitchell was second.
    Champion Emily Harms and Ainsley Mitchell are shown on the podium. Mitchell was second.
    Emily Rodriguez of Stillwater, Meghan Smith of Spart, Meagan Ward of Fredon, Fiona Postas of Franklin, Morgyn Witt of Newton and Audrey Bliss of Sparta are shown.
    Emily Rodriguez of Stillwater, Meghan Smith of Spart, Meagan Ward of Fredon, Fiona Postas of Franklin, Morgyn Witt of Newton and Audrey Bliss of Sparta are shown.
    Ainsley Mitchell, Emily Harms and Ava Dutor of Sparta and Lily Kucks of Franklin are shown with their third-place award.
    Ainsley Mitchell, Emily Harms and Ava Dutor of Sparta and Lily Kucks of Franklin are shown with their third-place award.

SPARTA — For local gymnasts at Giant Gymnastics of Sparta, there was a lot to celebrate.
Their Garden Gator team not only performed well as a team, but came home with individual achievements as well at the New Jersey Xcel state meet.
Last year’s Xcel Bronze level state champion, Fiona Postas of Franklin, came home with the coveted All Around title for Xcel Gold level this year for her age group, 9 years old. Postas also broke last year’s state records for Gold level in her All Around with a 36.10, and on Vault and Balance Beam both with a 9.1. As a team, the Gold level gymnasts scored a 108.40 and came home with a 5th place Team Award. Members of the Gold team include Audrey Biss and Meghan Smith of Sparta, Morgyn Witt of Newton, Meagan Ward and Katie Hlywa of Fredon, and Emily Rodriguez of Stillwater.
The Gators have 2 silver level gymnasts, Kate Sutphen of Sparta and Cameron Volpe of Hampton. Sutphen placed 3rd All Around with a 36.50, and Volpe took 5th All Around. With just 2 in the level, they were not able to compete for a team award.
For the Bronze level ages 11 and up, the Gators once again boast a state champion. This time, it was Sparta resident Emily Harms who won All Around with a 36.75. Lily Kucks of Franklin and Ava Dutro of Sparta took 2nd and 3rd All Around with 35.70 and 35.60 respectively. Kucks took first place for Balance Beam and Dutro took first for Vault. Kucks also broke the state record for Bronze, age 10, on balance beam with a 9.150. Harms broke records in her age/level for All Around, as well as Vault with a 9.6, Bars with a 9.2 and Beam with a 9.1. Ainsley Mitchell, also of Sparta, broke the record for Floor with an 8.9.
“It was such a thrill to watch all their hard work come to fruition at the state meet. Breaking records and taking home medals and plaques is the result of their work,” Coach Margaret Witt said. “They have grown so much, so quickly, and this is the foursome’s first year competing, too. We’re so proud of them, both as gymnasts and as the supportive group they have become for one another.” The Bronze Gators came home with a 3rd Place team award having a total of 109.45.
Also earning the fifth-place Team Award were the Platinum level Gators, with a 104.90. Comprised of just the required 3 team members to be eligible, Reese Abrams of Sparta, Caroline Dietz of Lafayette and Kelly Cardell of Hackettstown, the team fought hard for their award. Dietz also placed 2nd All Around with a 35.60, and took 1st place on Vault with a 9.2. Abrams and Cardell both scored well to contribute to their team award, with 34.70 and 34.60.
“I am always amazed at how our gymnasts step up to the plate when it counts the most,” said head Xcel Coach and co-owner John Skorksi. “They have grown throughout the season and peaked at States to show their best. As a coach, nothing makes me prouder.”