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Giant Gymanstics’ Garden Gators take top honors

| 29 Jan 2015 | 03:53
    All-Around Platinum Champion DAra DePaolo of Wantage is shown on the balance beam.
    All-Around Platinum Champion DAra DePaolo of Wantage is shown on the balance beam.
    The first-place AA winners Emily Rodriguez of Stillwater is shown. Caroline Dietz of Lafayette finished fourth.
    The first-place AA winners Emily Rodriguez of Stillwater is shown. Caroline Dietz of Lafayette finished fourth.
    The first-place silver team award winning team of Ciara Peselli, Shea Cina, Meagan Ward, Meghan Smith, Jadyn DePaolo and Katie Hlywa is shown.
    The first-place silver team award winning team of Ciara Peselli, Shea Cina, Meagan Ward, Meghan Smith, Jadyn DePaolo and Katie Hlywa is shown.

LAKE HARMONY, PA. — In the first of 2 out of state meets, Sparta’s Garden Gators met with huge success at the Janet Rothenberg Memorial meet, which is hosted annually at the United Sports Academy.

The memorial event honors a Janet Rothenberg, a gymnast with United Sports Academy, who succumbed to a tragic demise from a brain tumor while studying abroad in China. othenberg’s parents were on hand to see the start of the 3-day event on Friday, and wished the gymnasts good luck while reminding them of Janet’s motto — “Don’t just dream a dream. Make it happen.”

The Gators did just that, making their dreams of success in their new USA Gymnastics Xcel program come true.

With a total of 27 coveted scores of 9 or better, the Gators came home with a first-place Silver Team award and a second-place Gold Team award. The Gators also had tremendous individual success with four of their gymnasts taking home the first-place All Around awards — Bronze gymnast Cameron Volpe, Silver gymnast Meagan Ward, Gold gymnast Emily Rodriguez and Platinum gymnast Dara DePaolo.

The Gators will compete at the Presidential Classic in Flanders.

For more information about classes and special events at Giant Gymnastics or about their competitive programs, visit them online at www.GiantGymnastics.com or call 973-579-9400.