Mountain Magic's Level 10 team places first at Tiki Classic in Tridelphia
Feb. 15—FAIRMONT — The Mountain Magic gymnastics teams competed in the Tiki Classic in the Highlands Sports Complex in Tridelphia, W.Va., according to a press release from team coach Gary Rafaloski. Teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia competed at the event.
Mountain Magic's Level 10 team walked away with first place thanks to a strong performance from senior Sophia Balko. It narrowly defeated Gymniks Gymnastics from Parkersburg by 2.05 points.
"Our top team [Level 10] is continuing to show improvements on all events," Rafaloski said in the release. "We were proud of our team winning but know we still left some points out there."
The Level 10 team got all the points it needed, scoring 105.675 points as a team. Balko finished first all around with 36.875 points. She placed first on floor with 9.175 and second in vault, bars and beam with 9.375, 9.225 and 9.1, respectively.
Junior Anna Bowsher followed Balko with a third place finish all around scoring 34.575 and placed first on beam with 9.425. Junior Allie Howell placed fifth all around with 33.15 and placed second on floor with 8.975 and third on vault with 9.0. Junior Kyle Bowsher placed third on beam with 9.425 for Mountain Magic.
Mountain Magic's Level 5 team placed fifth overall at the Tiki Classic. Junior-A Hynlee Toth finished first all around with 36.375 all around points. She placed first in vault, bars and floor with scores of 9.45, 8.65 and 9.475, respectively.
Contributing to the fifth place finish for Level 5, senior-A Kendall Davis scored a 9.2 on vault, and senior-A Reese Commodore placed third in beam and floor.
Other gymnasts that placed include Level 8 junior-B Brooke Naternicola in third place all around with 35.60, Level 6 junior-C Kendall Paugh in second place all around with 36.1, Level 6 junior-B in sixth place all around with 35.2 and Level 4 senior-A Laurel Long in second place all around with 36.45.
"We are now better prepared to compete in the world's largest gymnastics meet, the Gasparilla Classic in St. Petersburg, Fla. Feb. 23-25," Rafaloski said. "Level 4 through Level 10 team members will be competing at Tropicana Field in this prestigious competition."
Reach Colin C. Rhodes at 304-367-2548
