Congratulations to the 42 gymnasts from Oxford’s Elite Gymnastics who traveled to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Gymnastics Challenge the first weekend in March.
Elite’s Level 4 girls team finished in 2nd place with a team score of 109.325. Team members are Meredith Adair, Taylor Barett, Sarah Blodgett, Peyton Colling, Khalia Dada, Selina Fuchs, Micayla Hersey, Rachel Marke, Madeleine Martindale, Sarah Medon, Katrese Moll, Julia Motala, Katie Schenkel, Camille Shomer and Brooke Veres.
The Level 5 girls team finished in 2nd place with a score of 112.275. Team members are Bret Schenkel, Corey and Shannon Flanders, Jackie Colvett, Olivia Hale, Sarah Simpson, Melinda Scully, Kelsey Willick, Kathrine Donaldson, Allyssa Geiss and Marissa Wick.
Elite’s Level 6 girls team finished in 1st place with a team score of 110.750. Team members are Allie Goff, Mikayla Kress, Monica Roller, Jessica Howell and Ballie Terrian.
The Level 7 girls team finished in 3rd place with a score of 111.425. Team members are Kallie Zardus, Kaylie Ochoa, Elizabeth Kayfish, Molly Bonfiglio and Kaitlyn Sumner.
The new Level 5 and 7 boys gymnastics teams both placed in the top 15 while at the challenge.
In the event individual finals for the boys Level 5 team, Ryan Motala received a 8.7 on vault, Matthew Riley placed third on the floor exercise with a 9.1, 6th place on the rings and 7th all-around. Christopher Schenkel placed 6th on floor exercise and 5th on vault.
Thomas Gordon suffered a knee injury, but did well throughout the meet.
Level 7 boys team members Christopher Whiting was the only gymnast to place. He placed 5th on floor exercise, 7th on the rings and 6th on high bar, making him 10th all-around.
In the event individual finals for the girls, Elite’s Kallie Zardus qualified to the event finals in the vault by winning her session with a 9.625.
Competing against the best of the best and with college scouts everywhere, Zardus finished with a first place on the vault with a score of 9.85.
‘She had the crowd on their feet roaring as her tiny 4?7? body flew through the air and had a perfect landing with a stuck finish,? said Jeni Ochoa, head coach of Elite Gymnastics.
On her second vault, Zardus did it again and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
‘As a coach and a gymnast, this is the type of moment we all wait for,? Ochoa said. ‘It was an emotional high for all.?