NK gymnasts win titles at invitationals

By Community Member | March 14, 2013 1:05 pm

New Kent Gymnastics Center’s Novice Team: (front, l to r) Carly Turner, Ginny Nuckols, Ashley Baer, Hannah Pullen, Mackenzie Harper, Isabella Key, Kayla Jones, Brianna Richardson; (back, l to r) coach Carissa Baldwin, Afton Fults, Kylee Swedo, Melissa Spangler, Reagan Watkins, Emily Peck, Tayler Jackson, Sierra Altizer, Shelby Woods, coach Sarah Bostic, coach Dayna DeShazo.

New Kent Gymnastics Center’s competitive teams are earning title after title as they travel across the state going against mega gyms of the big cities.

Most notably, the Prep Optional Novice Team won first place team at Excalibur Cup, an international Junior Olympic meet. They won second place team at the April Showers Invitational and at last weekend’s Make-a-Wish Invitational.

The Level 4 Team brought home third place team at the Make-a-Wish Invitational and at the Jerrell Steele Invitational.

Individually, several of the athletes have won first place in single events and all-around. Kylee Swedo, McKayla Chambers, Melissa Spangler, Mackenzie Harper, Alexandria Crostic and
Isabella Key have all taken home gold in all-around and on individual events. Sierra Altizer, LeeAnn Testerman, Tayler Jackson, Kayla Jones, Shelby Woods, Reagan Watkins, Mary Rose Lawson, Jada Urquhart, Haley Holland, Carly Turner and Hannah Pullen have all won first place event titles.

All of the Level 4’s qualified for the state meet on the first attempt, and all gymnasts will be competing in the Virginia State Championships in May. Team gymnasts are selected from the center’s recreational program based on talent and attitude.

New Kent Gymnastics Center offers gymnastics classes as soon as a child can walk through advanced levels. The gym is also starting a competitive cheer program which hopes to have the same debut success as the gymnastics teams have had. Information on all programs can be found on the website www.newkentgym.com or by calling 557-3855.

New Kent Gymnastics Center’s Level 4 Team: (front, l to r) Haley Holland, Alexis Welcher, Alexandria Crostic, Jada Urquhart; (back, l to r) coach Dayna DeShazo, LeeAnn Testerman, Hannah Gentry, McKayla Chambers, Mary Rose Lawson, Olivia Hobson, coach Carissa Baldwin.

Novice Team member Carly Turner concentrates during her routine on the uneven parallel bars.