By Heather Van Horne
Coaches Angela Pitzel and Ryan Cochrane led eight gymnasts at the Smithers Salto and Ski Invitational on January 27. (Fun fact: a salto is a flip in the gymnastics world).
Gymnasts had a day of gymnastics competition and a day up on Hudson Bay Mountain skiing or snowboarding.
In the women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG), Junior Olympic (JO) level 1, Skyla Buick’s top score was on floor with a 9.28 out of a possible 10.
In the men’s artistic gymnastics (MAG) level 1, Phillipe Martel achieved the top spot on floor with a 9.4. Raphael Audy-Bilodeau competed in Men’s Interclub, with his best event being floor.
In WAG, JO level 3 Addison Pitzel competed, with a high score of 9.4 on vault. In the same level Hannah Van Horne earned a 9.0 on floor, taking the first place in that event. In WAG, JO level 3, age 10+ Maina Audy-Bilodeau came third overall, with her top finish on Beam with an 8.675.
Lily Sherman competed in WAG, JO6. Ever consistent on beam with a clean performance Lily came first with a score of 9.15. She earned a silver place overall.
Mya Anthony competed in WAG, JO 7. She performed a breathtaking floor routine to a piano version of Birdy’s ‘Skinny Love’ earning her first place on that event with a 9.0. Mya earned the gold place overall.
Brooklyn Wojciechowski and Melissa Yeoh competed in WAG, JO 8. Both these gymnasts are very powerful tumblers. They tied for first on floor with 8.9. Melissa earned the gold overall and Brooklyn earned the silver.
Of the event Coach Ryan said “Being the first meet of the season it was great to see the hard work and dedicated training the athletes performed over the summer months put into action.
The consistency of the team, especially on balance beam for WAG and pommel horse for MAG, is not something you see very often in gymnastics. With the meet in Terrace, our goals are to increase the number of athletes while maintaining consistent execution of all events.”