Island Gymnastics Academy

Island Gymnastics Academy Girls Dominate NS Competition

 The Island Gymnastics Academy girl’s competitive team dominated at the March Break Invitational in Amherst, NS over the weekend and won all-around medals in virtually every category, securing yet more positions on Team PEI for the upcoming Atlantics in Newfoundland and the Eastern Canadian Championship in Quebec.

 The Academy’s best performances of the weekend were from the Novice 2 girls. The Novice 2 girls team claimed 1^st through 5^th in the all-around, with Academy athletes on the podium for all four apparatus. Megan Doucette (above photo), PEI’s top-ranked Novice 2 gymnast, led the team with the all-around gold medal and the highest overall score of the competition in any category. Asia MacMillan and Clare Murphy took the silver and bronze all-around medals. Jenny Campbell, Elizabeth McQuaid, and Samantha MacAdam placed 4^th, 5^th, and 8^th respectively.

 “This group of girls is the strongest Novice 2 team we have had in years. We are expecting excellent results at Atlantics in April.” says Academy coach Janice Hicks.

 The top performer in the Argo 3 girl’s team was Karisa Quinn with the overall gold, as well as 1st on vault. Jenaya Ross was close behind with the silver medal in the all-around, claiming top spot on beam. Emma MacIntyre placed 3rd on bars and 6th overall.

 Emma Christensen in Argo 2 earned her highest marks this year, winning gold in the all-around as well as 1^st place on vault and beam. Her outstanding performance earned her qualification for Atlantic Championships this April in St. John’s, NL. Reese Kelly was the bars champion and claimed the silver all-around medal.

 Dara MacInnis continued her successful year as PEI top-ranked Tyro 2 gymnast with yet another medal in the all-around. Her strong performance earned her the silver overall medal as well as 2^nd place on bars and 3^rd on vault. Teammate Molly Rainnie was 2^nd on floor and 7^th overall. Callie Thomson was 6^th on floor and Janelle Quinn took 3rd place on floor.

 Open 2 gymnast, Morgan MacDonald, won the silver medal in the overall, winning 1^st place on floor, 2^nd on bars and beam, and 3^rd on vault. Morgan will represent PEI at Atlantics this April. Natalie Haddad also achieved the necessary scores to confirm her place on Team PEI for Atlantics with a 9^th place finish including 4^th on floor and 6^th on vault.

 Open 5 gymnast Cassie Feehan also qualified to compete for PEI at the Eastern Canadian Championships with her highest score this season, and the most difficult beam routine of the entire meet. Her solid routines were rewarded with the gold all-around medal and 1^st place finishes on bars and beam.

 In the level 4 category, Paige Mills placed 1^st overall in Tyro. Alison Muise was the gold medalist in Novice 4, claiming top spot on beam and floor as well as securing her spot on the team to the Easterns.  Annika Landry was the silver medalist, taking 1^st place on vault and bars.

 Currently the top-ranked Tyro 3 gymnast in PEI, Tessa McGuigan claimed the gold medal in the all-around. Her outstanding performance also earned her top spot on floor, beam and bars and 3^rd place on vault. Alicia Muttart was 4^th overall, placing 4^th on beam and 5^th on bars. Selina Mahajer took 2nd place on floor and 4^th on bars for a 7^th place finish all-around. Sydney Sear was 7^th on vault and place 11^th in the all-around.

 The top performer in Argo 1 girls was Hannah Lawlor with a 12^th place finish. Claudia Swyer earned 6^th place on bars. In her first off-Island meet, Grace Potter competed in the Intermediate category, earning three 1^st place finishes and a 2^nd.

 “We were thrilled with our meet results this weekend. Such strong performances are encouraging as we head into Provincials, which we are hosting at the end of March.” adds Academy Women’s Program Director Sharon Gareau.

Congratulations to our coaches CJ Keliher, Alice Ma and Janice Hicks for being awarded the Fair Play Award from Gymnastics NS.  The Fair Play Award is in recognition of Respect, Sportsmanship, Knowledge, Access and Participation.

CJ was awarded Fair Play at the Titans Invitational and Alice and Janice were awarded Fair Play at the Amherst Invitational.

GREAT JOB!!!!

BOYS COMPETITVE SUCCESS!!!!

It’s been a busy start to the 2012 competitive season for the athletes at the Island Gymnastics Academy.  PEI’s largest gymnastics club has recently seen athletes achieve success on both the regional and national stage. 

 At the prestigious Elite Canada meet, that included the top gymnasts from all across Canada, in Mississauga in February; the Academy sent young up and comer, Samuel Gillis, who competed in the difficult and deep “Argo” category. Gillis had a great performance at the 2 day event successfully hitting 12/12 routines, and turned many heads at this, his first national level competition.  Leading team PEI into battle was the seasoned veteran, 36 year old Scott Chandler.  Scott competed against current and future olympic team members in the senior category, narrowly missing event finals on both floor and vault.  Chandler, although recently sidelined by injury, continues to be a favorite among fans, as well as judges, coaches and competitors at National level competitions.

 The Academy took a strong team to Nova Scotia to compete in the Halifax Invitational Altamate Meet on February 24-25.  In the “Level 3, 13+” category, Kalyon MacPhail, and Phillip Udalay finished 1st and 2nd respectively, combining for 12 event medals between them.  The level 1 team was lead by relative newcomer to the sport Isaac Bourque, who finished with a silver medal all around, and 6 event medals including 3 gold, and Devon MacDonald who finished a strong 5th all around, which included a bronze medal on the parallel bars.  Donovan Ching finished a strong performance with a 7th all around finish in the “Level 3<13“ category.  Colin Blackadar competed in “Level 4 <13”, and Brandon Banks, Gabriel Arsenault, Ted Landry all competed in the “Level 4 13+” category.  Alex Mann was the only National level competitor at the competition from PEI and he competed in the youth category.

 The future of PEI gymnastics was on display Friday March 2nd in Dartmouth, as the Island Gymnastics Academy’s Level 1 Boys team challenged the best young gymnasts from across the maritimes at the Dartmouth Titans Invitational Competition.  The Level 1 team was lead by a pair of all around silver medalists, Ryan McKenna, in the 13+ category, and Isaac Bourque, who tallied 5 event medals en route to his 2nd all around finish in the <13 division.  Additionally, in this category, Jacob Carver finished just off the podium in 4th all around including a gold medal performance on Vault.  Trent Quinn finished 6th all around, and rounding out the Island team included strong performances by Stuart Lawther, Ben Davidson, and Devon MacDonald.

 The Island Gymnastics Academy continues to send boys to compete at major up and coming events that include: The Kyle Shewfelt Invitational in Calgary, the Atlantic Championships in St. John’s, and the Canadian National Championships in Regina.

One Step closer to Eastern Canadians for Island Gymnastics Academy Girls

The Island Gymnastics Academy girl’s competitive team recently competed at the Dartmouth Titans Invitational (March 2-3) in Nova Scotia. The scores  earned at this regional event takes them one step closer to representing PEI at the Eastern Canadian Championships to be held in Quebec City this May.  Only four gymnasts from each category will be selected to compete.

 In the Tyro 3 girls division, Alicia Muttart (above photo) led the team with a 47.367 and a silver medal in the all-around as well as 6^th on bars and 4^th on beam. Selina Mahajer scored a 46.733 to earn 9^th all-around. Selina also placed third on bars and sixth on vault. Tessa McGuigan won 2^nd place on bars and 5^th on floor finishing in 13^th place and earning the necessary qualification score for Easterns. Teammates Sydney Sear and Chelsea MacLeod placed 15^th and 18^th respectively.

 Sharon Gareau, Women’s Program Director at the Academy says “The Tyro 3 category is very strong this year with a number of talented gymnasts vying for positions on the provincial team. Teams will be named when the Academy hosts the Provincial Championships on March 30-31.”