Gators take flight at Butterfly Classic
![Gators take flight at Butterfly Classic Emily Rodriguez of Stillwater and Tori Friesbie of Sandyston place on the uneven bars.](http://www.advertisernewssouth.com/binrepository/576x432/0c0/0d0/none/808998/HYXQ/SPORTS_140429944_AR_0_0_AS20140424140429944_MG1086509.jpg)
![Gators take flight at Butterfly Classic Copper and bronze Gators celebrate together after the meet.](http://www.advertisernewssouth.com/binrepository/576x432/0c0/0d0/none/808998/PEXQ/SPORTS_140429944_EP_1_0_AS20140424140429944_MG1086510.jpg)
![Gators take flight at Butterfly Classic The Copper age 9 and 10 team and the 11 and 12 teams are shown. Shown, from left, are Morgyn Witt of Newton, Audrey Biss and Reese Abrams of Sparta; Jadyn DePaolo of Wantage, Ciara Peselli of Newton and Meagan Ward of Sparta.](http://www.advertisernewssouth.com/binrepository/576x432/0c0/0d0/none/808998/QDXQ/SPORTS_140429944_EP_2_0_AS20140424140429944_MG1086511.jpg)
![Gators take flight at Butterfly Classic Katie Hlwya of Fredon performs her second-place floor routine.](http://www.advertisernewssouth.com/binrepository/576x432/0c0/0d0/none/808998/RCXQ/SPORTS_140429944_EP_3_0_AS20140424140429944_MG1086512.jpg)
![Gators take flight at Butterfly Classic Cameron Volpe, Meghan Smith and Shea Cina place for the vault](http://www.advertisernewssouth.com/binrepository/576x432/0c0/0d0/none/808998/SBXQ/SPORTS_140429944_EP_4_0_AS20140424140429944_MG1086513.jpg)
Taking home two coveted 1st place team banners, Sparta’s Garden Gator team came home triumphant from the Butterfly Classic recently.
The USAIGC gymnastics meet was hosted by C.S. Gymnastics in Flanders, and Giant Gymnastics’ Gators came home covered once again in ribbons and medals. The Copper and Silver level squads both took home the first-place team awards and 16 of their gymnasts came home with first, second and third place ribbons and medals.
In the Copper age brackets of 9-10 and 11-12 the Gators went 1-2-3 for All Around medals.
“This has been a season of many successes- not only in awards but in the gymnasts’ overall abilities,” co-owner and coach John Skorski said. “These girls have progressively gotten stronger throughout the season. I am confident they will give it their all for the remainder of this year as we prepare for the USAIGC State Competition.”
With just one more meet left in the regular competition season, Giant Gymnastics will be bring its largest group of Sparta Gators to NJ USAIGC State Championships in Wildwood this May since it arrived in Sussex County in 2011.
In the Copper level, gymnasts Meagan Ward, Meghan Smith, Ciara Peselli, Jadyn DePaolo and Katie Hlywa will compete. All the Bronze gymnasts — Marguerite Bysshe, Tori Frisbie, Caroline Dietz and Emily Rodriguez- are slated to go. The top-level Silver squad also will be in full force with Kelly Hurley, Rebecca Rodriguez, Dara DePaolo, Kelly Cardell, Gianna Macones and Kaitlin Peccia.
For more information about the Garden Gator Gymnastics team, or about the recreational gymnastics and cheer programs at Giant Gymnastics in Sparta, visit them online at www.GiantGymnastics.com or call 973-579-9400.