Busy, happy weekend for REG gymnasts

This past weekend, the men’s and women’s teams from Redwood Empire Gymnastics had another stellar weekend of competitive gymnastics. Three of REG competitive teams performed well, including the optional level 6 girls, the optional boys and the Xcel girls team.

The Level 6 optional girls team, coached by Maureen Koehler and Greta Leach, competed at the State Championship in Folsom. The level 6s had an excellent meet, with some of their personal best performances of the year. Highlights included Audrey Brostrom receiving all 9s on every event and third all-around with a 36.975. She also received third on beam and floor. Katherine Dedrickson was third on beam with a 9.325 and a personal best AA of 36.225. Pippin Jardine became the Level 6 state floor champion with a 9.35 and also the state vault champion with a 9.475. In all, the Level 6 girls placed 17th as a team with only three girls.

The Redwood Empire Gymnastics boys team, coached by Eric VanderMeer, concluded its season with the Regional Championships held in Ontario. The boys made a terrific showing at the competition, demonstrating REG’s standing as a top men’s gymnastics program in Northern California. Highlights included Aaron Beaube receiving 14th place on parallel bars with a 10.750, Bryce Cannon receiving 13th place on high bar, with a 10.150, and Devaun Dhiati receiving 19th place on high bar, with a 10.800. Also from REG, Jacob Atkins was crowned regional ring champion with an 11.000 and also regional parallel bars champion with an 11.550. The Regional Championship competition is a meet composed of the top athletes from five areas, including Northern California, Southern California, Utah, Nevada and Arizona.

The Xcel program of Redwood Empire Gymnastics has blossomed into a highly competitive program within the gymnastics community. Coached by Shannon Kowalski and Nick Walsh, the Xcel team showcased its talents at their State Championships in Roseville. In Xcel gymnastics, there are five levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. REG had gymnasts competed in the Bronze through the Platinum level.

For REG Bronze Level athletes, highlights included: Caroline Leonard receiving the state champion title on vault with a 9.5, Carissa Stoudt receiving fifth place on vault with a 9.05, Alison Dunham placing eighth bars with a 9.3, Maisie McDermtt being 11th on floor with a 8.975, Madison Spangler taking second on vault with a 9.45, Lily Louden receiving seventh on vault with a 9.05, Allea Eimers taking ninth on vault with a 9.0, Tiffany Harrend placing sixth on vault with a 9.25 and Kiela Hall placing 11th on vault with a 8.95.

In the Silver Division, Fiona Gleason was eighth on bars with a 9.15 and Mallory Anderson was sixth on bars with a 9.15.

In the Gold Level, Kassidy Hoppes, in her first season in Xcel, was named the state bars champion with a 9.25, and Lani Wongkar was ninth on floor with 9.025.

In the Platinum Division, Hannah Dillingham was 12th on beam with an 8.55, Libby Greenlief was 14th on beam with a 8.45 and Gillian Saunders was sixth on beam with a 8.925.

Overall, Redwood Empire Gymnastics qualified 13 athletes to the Regional Xcel Championships, which will be held later this month in Long Beach. The qualifiers are Caroline Leonard, Carissa Stoudt, Alison Dunham, Maisie McDermott, Madison Spangler, Lily Louden, Allea Eimers, Fiona Gleason, Mallory Andersen, Kassidy Hoppes, Lani Wongkar, Hannah Dillingham and Libby Greenlief.