Mountain Magic teams compete in Peace & Love Meet and Gasparilla Classic
Mar. 14—CHARLESTON — Fairmont's own Mountain Magic Gymnastics teams competed separately in two events, including one with international competition, and found success in both as the West Virginia state meet approaches.
According to a news release from team coach Gary Rafaloski, the level three team went to the Peace & Love Meet on Feb. 12-13 and finished in second place. The level four through level 10 teams went to St. Petersburg, Florida for the Gasparilla Classic with two teams placing third and another placing fourth.
The level three team went on its own to the Peace & Love Meet in Parkersburg. A team of first year gymnasts, according to Rafaloski, the team scored 110.20 points, the highest its scored all season.
Brianna Hauser placed first all around with a score of 36.85. She placed first in vault with a 9.3, first in bars with a 9.65 and first on the beam with 9.6.
Adalyn Marble placed second in level three, and Abby Poole got fifth while Ember Rager placed fourth in her age group. Nora Griffen and Kierstyn Pevlar also competed.
"We look forward for further polish in preparation for the West Virginia State Meet," Rafaloski said in the release.
According to Rafaloski, the Gasparilla Classic is the largest gymnastics meet in the world. This year's meet featured teams from 24 states and eight countries competing at Tropicana Field.
Three teams from Mountain Magic placed in the Top 5 and two in the Top 3. The level five and 10 teams placed third, and the level six team placed fourth.
Sophia Balko led the level 10 team with a second place all around finish, scoring 36.15 points. She finished less than a point behind first place, according to Rafaloski. Balko placed first in two events as well, scoring a 9.4 on the vault and a 9.4 on the bars.
Allie Howell, Kylie Bowsher and Anna Bowsher also competed in level 10. Anna Bowsher placed fifth in vault and bars, and Allie Howell got fourth in bars and fifth in beam. Kylie Bowsher posted a high score in Beam with an 8.2.
Hynlee Toth paved the way for the level five team, taking first overall with a score of 37.375. She got first place in Vault with a 9.8, first on the beam with a 9.375 and first on the floor with a 9.55. Reese Commodore got sixth overall and fifth on the beam, while Kendall Davis got second on the bars.
Kendall Paugh and Serena Williams both placed in level six with second and fourth all around finishes, respectively. Paugh scored a 36.15 all around and a 9.3 for first on bars and 9.2 for second on the floor. Williams had a 34.925 all around and an 8.725 for third on vault. Lily Harvey also got an 8.5 on bars.
While the level four, level eight and level nine teams didn't place, they did feature competitors who placed all around. Level four's Caroline Feltz placed second all around with a 36.85 and Laurel Long was fifth all around with a 36.45. Level eight's Brooke Naternicola placed fifth all around, scoring a 35.515.
Other competitors from Mountain Magic included level four's Josie Gust, Isabella Bombard, Lucia Scalise and Annabelle Kennedy, level eight's Addy Barnes and Ella Harvey and level nine's Markley White.
"Overall, a very good competition for all of our team divisions," Rafaloski said. "We now will continue our training towards the West Virginia State Meet in Beckley March 15-17."
The West Virginia State Meet will be at Woodrow Wilson High, according to West Virginia Gymnastics' website.
Reach Colin C. Rhodes at 304-367-2548
