Following a very successful showing at the Zone Championships in Prince Rupert, the Smithers Saltos Gymnastics Club is sending 28 athletes to the Gymnastics BC Championships in Vancouver.
This year, for the first time, it was Prince Rupert’s turn to host the gymnastics zone championships and the meet did not disappoint.
More than 100 athletes, including 70 from Smithers and Kitimat competed in the annual Over the Rainbow tournament, which actually became two events in one with the Zones being a team event and the Over the Rainbow an individual competition.
Smithers came out on top in the CCP-3 (Canadian Competitive Program) and CCP-4-8 divisions as well as the MAG (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics) division.
Lara Collingwood, executive director of the Saltos club, was very pleased with the competition.
“The was the largest and strongest team Smithers Saltos Gymnastics Club has ever sent to a regional competition, with 55 athletes,” she said. “This was a first competition for many of the Xcel athletes, and the results were outstanding. The women’s artistic gymnastics team showed great quality routines, demonstrating their proficiency and consistency on all events.”
The CCP stream is for more competitive gymnasts while the Xcel allows for athletes of more varying levels of ability and commitment to also compete.
Collingwood credited the coaches for the great results.
“Thank you to the 11 Saltos Competitive and Xcel coaches Daniil Moseev, Lori Saffel, Jenna Veenstra, Hailey Johnson, Camryn Elliott, Chloe Collingwood, Krista Wank, Quinten Remillard, Nadia Maskiewich, Evangilina Raven and Cassidy Collingwood for developing such amazing athletes this season,” she said.
She also credited Prince Rupert for putting on a great event.
“Thank you to all of the volunteers at the Prince Rupert Gymnastics Club who made this meet such a great competition experience.
Results of Zone team competition:
CCP 1 - Prince Rupert Gale Force
CCP - 2 - Kitimat Dynamics
CCP 3 - Smithers Saltos
CCP 4 -8 - Smithers Saltos
Xcel Gold - Kitimat Dynamics
Xcel Silver - Kitimat Dynamics
Xcel Bronze - Kitimat Dynamics
MAG - Smithers Saltos
Smithers athletes attending Provincials:
Compulsory (Levels 1-5): Jordan Lo, Keely Matthews, Aria Menzel, Holly Grice, Claribelle McCall, Evelyn Stam, Cathy Sommerfeld, Taylor Jaarsma
Optionals (Level 6+): Lumina Wilson, Kathryn Leffers, Kaiya Staplin, Peytanne Brockley, Ruby-Mei Meyer, Hannah Robinson
Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Provincial Level 3: Samuel Wright
Xcel: Şurayah Hug, Rheanna Leith, Anaya Schipper, Kenzy Remillard, Maren Eller, Skyla Braaksma, Orla Cunningham, Kenzie Daykin, Kynslee Butler, September Hughes, Julianna Creyke, Onyx Carrington, Kayleigh Polanin