BY LOUISE JANECKY
Los Alamos School of Gymnastics
Los Alamos Atomic Tumblers took 10 gymnasts to the USAG Xcel Gymnastics New Mexico State Championships on March 26. There were over 220 New Mexico Xcel gymnasts competing at the event.
In the Bronze level of competition Amelie Vallejo was the big winner of the day, sweeping the child older division by taking the gold medal in the all around with 36.25. The scores that netted her gold medals on each of the four individual event competitions were, 9.225 on both bars and floor, and 8.90 on both beam and vault. Nina Gyrya took the bronze medal in this division with 33.225. She also took a bronze medal on beam with an 8.25.
Los Alamos Atomic Tumblers took 10 gymnasts to the USAG Xcel Gymnastics New Mexico State Championships on March 26. There were more than 220 New Mexico Xcel gymnasts competing.
Christina Samantzidou won the child younger division, taking the gold in the All around with 36.25. She also took medals in every individual event including: a gold medal on beam with a 9.175, and silver medals on floor and vault, with 9.10 and 8.925 respectively. Her bar routine was a 9.05 for the bronze medal on that event.
Also competing in this division was Serenity Tao, who took the bronze medal in the all around with 35.675. She took the gold medal on vault with 8.95, and bronze medals on the beam and floor with 8.85 and 9.00 respectively.
Lily Neale competed in the junior division. Her high finish was fourth in the All around with a 34.50.
In the Silver Division of competition Milly Bonser was Los Alamos high scorer of the day. She took the silver medal in the senior division all around with 36.55. She also took a gold medal on floor with the highest score of the meet of 9.625. Milly won silver medals on vault and beam with 8.975 and 8.90 respectively.
Also competing Silver, but in the younger division, we’re Caroline Eriksen and Rylee Brooks. Caroline took the bronze medal in the all around with 36.225 and Rylee was fourth all around with 36.10. Caroline other placements included bronze medals on vault 9.175, beam 9.025, and floor 9.275. Rylee took a gold medal on the vault 9.225, a silver medal on beam 9.10, and a bronze medal on bars 8.80.
In the upper level competition, due to health issues and schedule conflicts, Los Alamos only took two gymnasts this year.
Eliana Rodriguez competed in the gold seniors division. She finished fifth all around with a 35.25. She won the gold medal on vault with 9.40 and silver medals on both beam 9.00 and floor 9.275.
Chantel Bibeault, after taking a year off of gymnastics, competed in the Diamond Division. Chantel placed third in the all around, taking the Bronze medal with a 36.45. She won the gold medal on floor with a 9.60 (the highest individual score in the Diamond competition), she took silver medals on vault and bars, with 9.15 and 8.65, and a bronze medal on beam with 9.05.
Eliana will advance to the Region 3 Xcel Gold Championships in Houston on April 27-30. Hosted by World Champions Centre (the gym owned by World and Olympic Champion Simone Biles’ family).
Chantel will advance to the Region 3 Xcel Diamond Championships in Denver on May 4-7.