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Five Mountain Magic gymnasts advance to regionals after strong state meet

colin c. rhodes, times west virginian, fairmont
·4 min read

Mar. 27—FAIRMONT — The countdown to regionals continues for Mountain Magic Gymnastics.

Five members from three teams will compete against other talented gymnasts from six states ranging from New Jersey to West Virginia.

According to a release written by Mountain Magic Coach Gary Rafaloski, Level 10 team members Anna Bowsher, Allie Howell and Sophia Balko, Level 9 member Markley White and Level 8 member Brooke Naternicola will compete in the regional slated to be held in Pennsylvania.

"We now look forward for these gymnasts to compete against the best in our region and a chance to qualify Level 9 to Eastern Championships and Level 10 to the National Championships!" Rafaloski said in the release.

The qualifying members will face other talented gymnasts from West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

Mountain Magic comes off one of its best ever performances in the West Virginia State Meet held March 15-17 in Beckley. Including Mountain Magic, 13 gymnastics teams from across the state took part at the meet.

The Level 10 team placed first for the first time in Mountain Magic history, dethroning the three-time reigning champion Gymniks from Parkersburg by a score of 108.00 to 105.175.

Balko led the team with a 36.925 first place all-around score in Senior C, scoring a 9.425 in vault, 9.375 on bars, 8.775 on beam and 9.35 on the floor. Howell placed first in Senior A with a 35.425 all-around with 9.325 in vault, 8.2 on bars, 8.525 on beam and 9.375 on the floor.

Bowsher scored a 34.175 all-around with an 8.8 performance on vault, 8.7 on bars and 9.175 on beam. Her sister, Kylie Bowsher, garnered an 8.975 on the floor.

Every other team representing Mountain Magic at the state meet placed no lower than fourth. Two teams placed second, two more placed third and one placed fourth.

White, the lone Mountain Magic gymnast in Level 9, scored a 34.775 all-around for third place all-around finish. She scored an 8.65 on vault, 8.425 on bars, 8.75 on beam and 8.95 on the floor.

The Level 5 team placed second just behind first place Flip & Cheer from Martinsville 104.90 to 104.725. Hynlee Toth placed third all-around with a 35.25, Kendall Davis fourth all-around with a 34.275, and Reese Commodore fifth all-around with a 35.2.

Mountain Magic Level 3 placed second, improving its team score by 10 points compared to the start of the season, according to Rafaloski. Adalyn Marble placed first all-around in age group Junior B with a 36.45 to lead the team effort. Brianna Hauser placed second in Junior B with a 36.15.

Ember Rager got second all-around in age group Child A with a 35.2. Nora Griffin, also in Child A, placed third all-around with a 34.575.

For Level 3 Child B, Roslyn Evans placed third with a 35.5 all-around score. Abby Poole followed in fifth with a 34.35 all-around, and Kierstyn Pevlar placed seventh with a 33.95 all-around.

The Level 8 team, consisting of Naternicola, Ella Harvey and Addy Barnes, placed third overall. Naternicola placed second in the senior class with a 36.20 all-around. Harvey placed fourth in senior class with a 34.05. Barnes finished sixth in Junior B class with a 34.60 all-around.

The Level 6 team also placed third, led by Kendall Paugh, who finished first place all-around in Junior C class with a score of 36.875. Lily Harvey placed fifth in Junior C with a 35.85 all-around score. Serena Williams placed second in Junior B with 36.175 all-around.

Mountain Magic's Level 4 team placed fourth overall. Josie Gust led the team with a third place finish in Child A, scoring 34.625 all-around. Isabella Bombard finished fifth in Child A with 34.25 all-around, and Lucia Scalise followed in sixth with 33.525 all-around.

Laurel Long placed fourth in Junior A of Level 4 with a 35.9 all-around score. Caroline Feltz finished a couple places behind in sixth with a 35.375. Annabelle Kennedy competed in Junior B but did not place.

"Overall, our teams had a very good meet and were competitive in each division represented," Rafaloski said.

According to the USA Gymnastics Region 7 website, the Levels 9-10 regional meet will be April 11-14 at the Nittany Valley Sports Center in State College, Pa., and the Level 7-8 regional meet will be April 19-20 at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa.

Reach Colin C. Rhodes at 304-367-2548