Island Gymnastics Academy

Gymnastics PEI recognizes its top performers

Gymnastics PEI held its annual awards presentations recently in Summerside, where it recognized the sport’s finest athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers with ADL Certificates of Achievement.

Colin Blackadar and Megan Doucette of the Island Gymnastics Academy (IGA) were presented with certificates for Provincial Stream Athletes of the Year following excellent seasons. Blackadar was 5^th on high bar at the prestigious Kyle Shewfelt Invitational in Calgary and won four gold at the Atlantics in Saint John’s. Doucette won two gold at the Atlantics, and took the titles at the Island Qualifier, the Prince Edward Classic, and the March Break Invitational in Amherst.

Follow IGA gymnasts Sam Mallet and Tessa McGuigan won the junior athlete awards after busy seasons. Mallett competed in Belgium at the Wase Cup, and Las Vegas at the Black Jack, where he won four medals. He also competed at the nationals in Regina. McGuigan came back from injury to win provincials and record fine podium finishes at the Taiso Cup, Titans Invitational and March Break Invitational, as well as lead the Tyro 3 team that competed at the Eastern Canadians in Quebec City.

Cassie Feehan of the IGA was named top senior female following a season where she added new difficulties to all her routines, a move which saw her win beam gold at the Prince Edward Classic and March Break Invitational. She finished in a credible 10^th place all-around at the Eastern Canadians in senior level 5.

IGA’s Shelley Parker won the coaching honour following a fine season in which her gymnasts had numerous podium finishes, while Alice Ma of the IGA and Summerside Saultos won the officials award for her hard work and dedication, judging at numerous events throughout the region in addition to the Atlantics and Eastern Canadians.

IGA’s Janice Hicks was named top administrator for her ongoing work which included revamping the club website, scheduling and registering the Montague satellite program, managing Team PEI at Eastern Canadians and serving on the women’s technical committee.

Bailey McAssey of the St. Louis Gymnos and Patricia Arreguin of IGA also received club coaching awards for their work. McAssey worked with both pre-school and pre-competitive gymnasts as well as taking the Foundations and judging courses, while Arreguin, a former high-level gymnast from Mexico, was responsible for a lot of dance routines at competitive levels, in addition to coaching and judging throughout the year.

More information on Gymnastics PEI and its programs can be obtained from Martine d’Entremont at 368-6570 or mdentremont@sportpei.pe.ca