Extra! Extra!

We had a couple of media outlets show up at the gym yesterday to cover the AWG story. Chat came and interviewed some girls and they got to show off their routines. Sean (Rooney) and Ian also came by from the Medicine Hat News for a photo and some interviews! If anyone gets the paper and could spare a copy to put on the board that would be fantastic!

And it's off to the Games!

Well, they are all packed and ready to go... wait a minute... they are on the bus!

Sydney, Tiana, Sheehan and Alysha got up nice and early this morning to board the bus for Alberta Winter Games this weekend. Opening Ceremonies will kick off at 5:00pm at the Castrol Raceway in Leduc, Alberta. Team competition will be Saturday, February 16 at 9am sharp. Individual All-Arounds will be on Sunday,February 17 at 9am. Good luck girls!

All in one piece

Despite the nasty weather we all made it home safe and sound from Regina. We had a spectacular meet and one hoot of a time. Due to the face that I am still in need of some results I will be posting them later today.

Medicine Hat News - Winter Games Coverage

Gymnasts looking forward to Games experience

SEAN ROONEY

Medicine Hat News

In the midst of the busiest time of year for many young athletes, this weekend’s Alberta Winter Games is a welcome break.

Sure, they’re still going to try to win, but when else can you have a sleep-over with your 50 closest friends, attend a dance with a couple thousand more and participate in an Olympic-style opening ceremonies, complete with sub-zero temperatures?

OK, scratch that last part.

“The opening ceremonies I’m excited for too, except for the fact we’ll be outside,” noted 12-year-old Sydney Carlson, one of four Medicine Hat gymnasts making the trek to Leduc for tonight’s ceremony. “Edmonton’s always colder so I don’t know.”

Carlson, Tianna Pisoni and Alysha McCubbin are all on the Zone 1 level three team, while Sheehan Desjardins heads up the level four squad at the Winter Games. All four will compete through this weekend, fresh off performances in Regina and right before Salta Gymnastics’ Cactus Classic in Medicine Hat Feb. 23 and 24.

After that, they’ve got zones and provincials to look forward to in the next month. So you can understand if their coaches aren’t putting the focus on coming up with perfect scores in Leduc.

“There is no expectation when they go; just to have fun,” said Becca Sykes, a Salta coach and one-time Winter Games athlete who will head to Leduc this time as a judge. “They’ve made the team and that’s the most important part.

“You don’t want to go to win, you go to have fun.”

For many, the dance is the highlight. Pisoni is looking forward to spending the night in a school classroom, where many of the athletes take up residence for a few days.

“Especially in a school,” she said of what makes the sleep-over situation unique.

“I think it’ll be really fun, interesting and different,” added McCubbin, the lone 10-year-old in a group of 12-year-old teammates.

Even the competition itself is different for the gymnasts. Instead of the usual individual scores, their routines will instead count towards a team competition. That scares some but is also a first experience of one of the key elements of Olympic competition, where nations compete against one another.

“I like individual competitions because if you do good then it’s just yourself and if you do crappy, you can criticize yourself,” said Desjardins, who will team up with a trio of girls from Lethbridge. “I think it’s going to be really challenging, but a really good experience. I really want to go to the Olympics, so it’s really good for me.”

Desjardins won her level four division at the Conexus Credit Union Prairie Invitation in Regina, scoring big marks on the beam and floor which proved to be the difference in the all-around event.

McCubbin was second overall in level three, with Pisoni just two spots back.

Other results from Salta included Kianna Lightfoot (fourth), Amy Fraser (eighth), Kayla Leisle (ninth) and Shandler Kholman (16th) in level two open; Brooklyn Berrington (fourth), Jadyn Stroh (fifth), Erica Gallup (sixth), Alysha Stratton (seventh) and Taylor Sweet (12th) in level two argo; and Teah Rushford (19th) in level two tyro.

Salta Rocks Regina Meet

The girls relax in the McCubbin's room after a long day!

Go Salta!

Sydney was Becca's sidekick for the P3 Tyro Competition

Yay! Bringing home some hardware!

Our trip to the Prairie Invitational was a success (minus the cold weather and road conditions). All girls ended up with some sort of Ribbon or Medal but most important we all had a blast!!!



P4- Novice

Sheehan - V 12.150-6th Bars-11.700-4th Beam-12.767-1st Floor- 13.500-1st AA 50.117-1st


P3- Novice

Sydney - V 11.500-11th Bars-10.933-4th Beam-11.167-8th Floor-12.100-8th AA 45.700-9th

P3-Tyro

Alysha M.- V 11.650-8th Bars-12.100-2nd Beam-12.600-2nd Floor-12.200-5th AA 48.550-2nd
Tiana P - V 12.100-3rd Bars-11.300-3rd Beam-10.467-9th Floor-12.267-3rd AA 46.134-4th

P2-Argo

Brooklyn-V 12.500-2nd Bars -12.100-3rd Beam-12.433-7th Floor-12.467-6th AA 49.500 -4th
Jadyn - V11.400-9th Bars- 11.967-5th Beam-11.767-4th Floor- 12.667- 3rd AA 47.801 -5th
Erica - V12.600-1st Bars- 10.833-9th Beam- 12.367-5th Floor- 11.800- 8th AA 47.600-6th
Alysha -V11.300-10th Bars-11.833-7th Beam-11.400-9th Floor- 11.600-9th AA 46.133- 7th
Taylor-V 10.850-11th Bars- 9.467-14th Beam- 12.033 6th Floor- 11.500-10th AA 43.850-12th

P2- Tyro

Teah- V 11.900 -7th Bars-8.700-23rd Beam-11.667-11th Floor-10.333-20th AA42.600-19th

P2-Novice

Kianna- V 12.650-1st Bars-11.767- 9th Beam-11.833-5th Floor-11.933-8th AA 48.183- 4th
Amy - V 11.800-7th Bars-12.233- 2nd Beam-11.600-9th Floor- 11.400-12th AA 47.033-8th
Kayla -V 11.650-10th Bars-11.500-11th Beam-11.867-4th Floor- 11.333-14th AA 46.350-9th
Shandler-V12.100-2nd Bars-10.933-16th Beam-9.367-18th Floor-11.300-15th AA 43.70-16th

White out conditions suck

What sucks......We are officially stuck in Regina due to white-out blizzard conditions.
The thing that makes it all better....... I just finished a Chai Tea from starbucks.

Nice Job Laurel!

Laurel competed again some of the worlds top juniors. She represented Alberta, Canada and herself very well. She got 6th on floor and 11th All-Around. Keep up the great work!

Mandatory Parent Meeting For Cactus

7:00pm. Be there or you have a rope climb.

What goes on when Mama Bear is away from the Gym...

The Parents Compete- Continued..

Now we have Karen Leisel- this woman knows how to shake it!