Eight high school gymnasts qualify for provincials
All eight athletes from Cowichan and Frances Kelsey Secondary Schools who attended the island gymnastics trials gained berths into the provincial championships being held March 7 to 9 in Powell River.
Cowichan's Cassidy Fernandes, a Level 3, placed second all-around. She was first on the vault, beam and floor and third on bars.
Madeline Gareau, a Level 2, also managed a second all-around finish that included first on beam, third on floor, seventh on vault and eighth on bars.
Patrick Charest claimed fourth all-around in Level 1 boys. Individual event placements included first on floor, third on pommel horse, fourth on horizontal bar, and fifth on vault and parallel bars.
Second all-around for Patrick Cools in Level 3 featured a first on pommel horse and second on floor, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
Frances Kelsey also sent four gymnasts to the competition.
Georgia Bowdery was sixth all-around in Level 1 senior. She was consistent throughout, with fifths on vault, bars and beam and sixth on floor.
Jade Canning placed eighth all-around in Level 1 junior. She was second on floor, sixth on beam and ninth on vault.
Ariel Gamble secured fourth all-around in Level 2, with thirds on vault and bars and fourth on beam.
Holly Ellison's third on vault and bars and fifth on floor resulted in a sixth-place finish all-around for Level 2.
"It takes a lot of commitment from the team members and they have worked hard to earn their place at provincials,'' noted coach Rhonda Dale.
The team practices Tuesdays at Koksilah Elementary that requires setting up and taking down the equipment each time.
Nanaimo Gymnastics Club graciously allowed time in its facility for use of a full floor and vault. That requires the team to travel to Nanaimo for more training time on weekends.
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