Young gymnasts fare well at the Dells

The Hudson School of Gymnastics girls’ compulsory and optional teams competed at the Wisconsin Dells Vacation Classic Gymnastics Meet the weekend of Jan. 29-30. This meet combined water park fun with a strong showing of gymnastics skills.

The Dells Vacation Classic competitors included level 4 gymnasts Amanda and Ashley Hay, Ashley and Halle Peterson, Kaitlyn Zignego, Kayla Belany, Lane Burke, Lauren Hanson, Megan Michaels, and Paige Hillman.

Michaels placed fifth in the all-around for her age group with a score of 34.250. She earned her highest scores this season on the vault, bars and floor. Belany earned her highest scores in all four events and placed fourth in her age group in the all-around with a score of 35.075.

Ashley Hay earned a 35.825, placing her third in the all-around, with her season-high score on beam of 8.950. Hillman took home a first place all-around award for her age group with a season-high score of 36.825 and season-high beam score of 9.450.

Level 5 participating gymnasts included Anna Veenendall, Ashley Morgan, Karina Gilson, Maia Malchow, and Winter Roberts. All level 5 gymnasts placed in the top ten all-around in their age groups, with many season-high scores.

Morgan earned her season-highs in all events, with a floor score of 8.750. Veenendall earned her season-highs on floor and bars, with a bar score of 8.850, while Gilson earned her season-high 9.000 on the beam and Malchow earned season-highs in three events, with an 8.650 on bars.

Kelsey Miller participated in the Dells meet as a level 6 gymnast, earning an all-around placement of second with a score of 33.650. She earned season-highs on beam and floor.

The optionals level 7 gymnasts included Gabrielle Hughes and Olivia Dunlap. Dunlap earned her highest level 7 all-around score of 35.875 placing her second in her age-group, while Hughes placed sixth with an all-around score of 33.550.

The level 8 team consisted of gymnasts Gabriela Cruz, Kaitlyn Gilson, and Olivia Koehler. The team took home third place, with all three gymnasts finishing in the top five for their age groups.

Cruz placed fourth with an all-around score of 33.000, Gilson earned a 34.575, placing her fifth, while Koehler placed third for her age-group with a score of 33.225.

All five levels will be competing in the Twin Cities Classic Meet in Chaska, Minn. on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The girl’s competitive compulsory and optional teams are coached by gym owners and world-class coaches Seaok An and her husband Hwichul Kim. Also coaching the girl’s teams are Megan Lund, Staci Solin, Ellen Clauss, and Tina Thompson.

Tags: sports, gymnastics, prep