The Yorkton Springers Gymnastics Club hosted a provincial championship meet at the Gallagher Centre Flexi-hall over the weekend.
Saturday afternoon saw national level athletes competing in all four disciplines, including men's and women's artistic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling as well as rhythmic gymnastics, reports Springers coach Todd Appel.
Potential 2016 Olym-pian Jayd Lukenchuk from the Taiso Gymnastics Club was a featured competitor as were national senior men's gymnasts Anderson Loran and Trevor McArthur who got his start in Yorkton. National trampoline and tumbling athlete Dennis Oppenlander was also competing.
The Yorkton Springers Gymnastics Club had 16 Provincial Levels 1, 2 and 3 athletes competing at the meet, says Appel. The girls did very well as Brittany Schofer claimed first all around in the Provincial Level 3 for a provincial championship. Cassidy Stackowich finished second all around in the Provincial Level 2 class. Springers gymnasts swept first place in the Provincial Level 1 division with provincial champion Brynn Jarvis claiming first place in the Argo class, Jenna Schofer also claimed first in Tyro for another provincial title while Shalyssa Brown won first in the Novice Class to claim a provincial championship too, Appel reports. "All the Springers girls in Provincial Level 1 came in first all around. It was a clean sweep," he sums up.
The meet wraps up the season for the provincial stream of competitions says Appel. The club will attend one more meet, a team competition in Prince Albert May 12. "It's a more relaxed, fun environment and they get to compete, not individually, but as a team," he points out.
The provincial competition in Yorkton was sanctioned and over seen by Sask. Gymnastics. Most of the work organizing and running the meet was done by Jessica Ronn and Tanya Nystrom with the help of Yorkton parent volunteers.
Appel says it was a good year for Springers athletes who put in a lot of hard work. "They handled themselves professionally in competitions throughout the year. It was nice to see that they all did very well at provincials. They peaked at the right time," he closes.
Coach Jessica Ronn says she's pleased with the performance of the local gymnasts. In all categories, Springers competitors placed in the top 10 or better, Ronn reports.
With provincials out of the way, the athletes will work on learning some new skills, Ronn notes.
At the Team Cup competition in Prince Albert May 12, a relaxed, fun competition, the girls will be able to showcase some new skills they have learned and to compete at a higher level than the past season.
"The girls have worked hard on routines this year and had a good year," Ronn closes.
Meet results for Yorkton Springers gymnasts were: Provincial 1 Novice - Shalysa Brown, first (gold 49,300); Jayden Jarvis, second (47.850); Emily Zajac, fourth (47.250); Alison Landstad, eighth (46.100); Meaghan Pinno, ninth (46.000); Laura Betker, 10th (45.700). Provincial 1 Tyro - Jenna Schofer, first (gold, 47.950); Bryn Nystrom, second (47.850); Sidney Shyiak, fourth (47.050); Jessica Gascho, sixth (46.400); Hayley Fayant-Stephens, seventh (46.050. Provincial 1 Argo - Brynn Jarvis, first (gold 48.200). ProvinciaL 2 Open - Cassidy Stackowich, second (47.850); Hannah Herman, seventh (46.300). Provincial 2 Tyro - Sierra Cook, ninth (47.800). Provincial 3 Open - Brittany Schofer, first (48.250).
