Gymnasts perform well at state
Published 10:02 am Saturday, April 28, 2012
PREP 1 OPTIONAL TEAM members are: front row, left to right, Sarah Kaylee Wynn, Gabby Hardee, Breanna Dean and Karlie Bridges; back row, left to right, Sydney Thompson, Emily Chambers and Jessie Oliver. Not pictured is Caroline Middleton. The team was the state champion in their division.
The Bainbridge Gymnast-A-Cats performed at a high level at the Georgia AAU State competition in Carrolton, Ga., on April 14-15.
Three of coach Melynda Murkerson’s teams competed, and out of 50 teams statewide, brought home first, fourth, and fifth place finishes.
The Prep Optional 1 team won the team state championship with a team score of 113.575.
Caroline Middleton won the all-around gold medal in her age bracket in the Prep Optional 1 division and won gold medals on the vault, the floor routine, bars, and second on beam. Sydney Thompson also won a first all-around gold medal while finishing first on the bars, on the beam, and on the floor routine.
Jessie Oliver won gold medals on the vault and floor routine and finished first all-around in her age division. Finishing second all-around was Emily Chambers, winning the gold medal on the floor routine and second on bars. Gabby Hardee won the gold medal on the floor routine and finished third all-around in her age division, while Breanna Dean won gold on the floor routine, silver on the bars, bronze on the vault and posted a third all-around finish in her age division.
Sarah Kaylee Wynn won the bronze medal on the floor routine and finished seventh all-around and Karlie Bridges took home the bronze medal on the bars and posted a solid ninth place finish all-around in her age division.
In the Prep Optional 2 category, the Gymnast-A-Cats, with four gymnasts, posted a fourth-place finish at the state competition.
Briana Mills won the gold all-around medal in her age group while also winning gold on the vault and the beam. McKenzie Findley placed first on the vault and floor routine, second on the bars, and won all-around gold medal in her bracket.
Megan Haire placed first on the bars and floor routine and finished third all-around in the state competition. Josie Deal posted a fourth-place finish on the bars and finished posted a solid eighth-place finish.
Three gymnasts competed in the Prep Optional 3 division.
Jeri Sloan finished first all-around and won gold on the vault, the bars, the beam, and tied with first with Haylie Wilkinson, who also won the bronze on the vault and finished third all-around.
Kay Bush won silver medals on the beam and floor routine while posting a sixth place overall finish all-around.