x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Sports

Giant gymnasts win medals in Florida

| 19 Mar 2014 | 02:49
    The bronze team takes fourth place. The team is Rebecca Rodriguez of Stillwater, Giana Macones and Kelly Hurley of Sparta, Dara DePaolo of Wantage and katlin Peccia of Lafayette.
    The bronze team takes fourth place. The team is Rebecca Rodriguez of Stillwater, Giana Macones and Kelly Hurley of Sparta, Dara DePaolo of Wantage and katlin Peccia of Lafayette.
    Megan Ward of Fredon takes first place all around.
    Megan Ward of Fredon takes first place all around.
    Reese Abrams of Sparta taks first place for floor exercises.
    Reese Abrams of Sparta taks first place for floor exercises.

SPARTA — Giant Gymnastics of Sparta’s Garden Gator USAIGC team beamed with pride at their recent performances.

The meet, “Florida in February”, was hosted by Sports Fitness and Fun in Florida, New York. This was the first of two out of state meets for the Gators for the 2014 season. The Gators had two gymnasts who took first, and two who took third all-around medals. The bronze and silver level teams also brought home banners for their fourth-place team awards.

Caroline Dietz of Lafayette placed 1st All Around for the bronze level, ages 9-10, thanks to her score of 35.775.

“When they called my name, I was really excited," she said. "I have had first place for things like vault, but never all around before. Dietz also took home first place for floor exercise with a 9.125 and backed that up with fourth and fifth places on uneven bars (8.55) and balance beam (9.1).

Megan Ward of Fredon placed first all around for the Copper level, age 9. Ward’s first, second and third places in uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise launched her to her 36.00 all around and that gold medal around her neck.

“I was really nervous before we started, but my team was cheering for me, and that helped,” Ward said. “Beam is my favorite, because I love my routine,” said a quietly spoken Ward. “I didn’t know I would be 1st, so I was surprised and excited when they called my name.”

Bronze medals for All Around scores went to Sandyston’s Tori Frisbie on the Bronze squad and Reese Abrahms of Sparta on the Copper squad. Frisbie, with a 34.4 all around, took second place on vault and balance beam, and third on uneven bars and floor exercise. Abrahms had first-place on floor and third-place on vault with a 36.15 all around score.

The Giants’ Gators took home 52 ribbons — a fantastic showing for their 19 gymnasts strong team. Their next meet will take place later this month in Lancaster, Pa.

For more information about the Garden Gators upcoming meets, or Giant Gymnastics’ recreational classes, visit them online at www.GiantGymnatics.com or call 973-579-9700.