Island Gymnastics Academy

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.”

Successful Competition in Miramichi for Island Gymnastics Academy Girls

The Island Gymnastics Academy girl’s competitive team recently competed at the Miramichi Invitational (Feb 24-25) in Miramichi, New Brunswick bringing home plenty of medals and their highest scores of the year.

 In the Argo 1 girls division, Claudia Swyer led the team with a silver all-around medal which included a 1^st place finish on beam. The bronze medal went to Rae-Lee MacDonald who also won the uneven bars event. Rounding out the team were Dayley Wood (4^th all-around and 3^rd on bars), Hannah Lawlor (9^th all-around and 3^rd on beam) and Sofia MacBeth who was 4^th on floor and 12^th all-around.

 Argo 2 girls also performed extremely well this past weekend. Reese Kelly was 4^th all-around and also won a special award for the most dynamic cast to handstand on bars.  Emma Christensen was 7^th all-around claiming 4^th on vault and floor as well.

 The Academy’s best performances of the weekend were from the Argo 3 girls. Emma MacIntyre was the gold medalist with an impressive overall score of 45.500. She also placed 1^st on both floor and beam. Jenaya Ross claimed the silver medal all-around and a second place finish on floor. Karisa Quinn placed fourth all-around with 3^rd place finishes on vault and beam.

 Shelley Parker, coach at the Academy says “The girl’s performed really well this weekend and posted some great scores. They also gained valuable experience by competing outside of PEI.”

Congratulations to our Girls and Boys competitive teams, who were competing away this weekend. 

The boys were in Halifax at the ALTA Invitational and the girls were in Miramichi at the “I Love Gymnastics” competition. 

GREAT JOB EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!