Since the beginning of January, athletes with Powell River Gymnastics Club have competed in various events having met requirements for each level and specific elements for each apparatus. As the season comes to a close, the club is celebrating each athlete’s hard work, dedication and team spirit.
In January the pre-competitive and competitive girls travelled to Coquitlam to take part in the Aviva Winterfest Competition with over 300 other athletes. All girls had a strong showing. In women’s provincial 2 argo, Jessa McLaren was first on vault, the same result Victoria Lecouteur attained in women’s provincial 2 tyro. Katya Senilova was first in vault, bars, beam and overall in women’s provincial 3 novice, and Katie Dohm was first on floor and second on vault.
February brought the Chimo Gymnastics Club’s 11th Annual PJ Party competition in Comox. Over 150 athletes from around the area competed in provincial levels 1 to 4. Emma Parsons came first in bars and second overall against 24 athletes in women’s provincial level 1 argo, and Dylan Anderson placed first on vault. Out of 11 athletes in women’s provincial level 2 argo, Jessa Mclaren placed first on vault and beam, second on bars and floor and first overall; Hillary English placed second on bars, and Olivia Warman placed first on floor and was third overall. Out of five athletes in women’s provincial level 3 novice, Katya Senilova placed first on vault, bars, beam and floor giving her first place overall; Katie Dohm also placed first on vault and floor giving her second overall.
This year, three athletes—Katya Senilova, Clayton Kimball and Dylan Werner—qualified to compete at BC Winter Games in Mission. This was a first for Powell River Gymnastics. The men’s provincial level 3 boys had a great showing but the competition proved to be tough. In women’s provincial level 3, Katya Senilova placed second on vault and third in the Team Zone.
March brought the BC Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Kamloops. These championships are the largest and most prestigious annual BC gymnastics event with over 70 champions over the three-day competition. Both men’s and women’s provincial levels competed. Women’s provincial 2 argo, Jessa McLaren came top in BC out of 32 athletes, with her results of first on beam, second on floor and bars, third on vault and first overall. In women’s provincial 2 tyro Victoria Lecouteur came third on vault; in women’s provincial 3 novice Katie Dohm placed second on vault and bars and women’s provincial level 4 novice Katya Senilova placed first on floor.
In April the competitive teams travelled to Abbotsford for the Twisters Invitational where the level 1 to 4 women and level 3 men competed with strong results. Women’s provincial 1 argo Emma Parsons received second on bars. Women’s provincial 2 argo Jessa McLaren received second on vault and beam, third on bars and second overall; Olivia Warman placed third on vault and floor; Hillary English also placed third on vault and floor. In women’s provincial 2 tyro Victoria Lecouteur placed third on vault. Women’s provincial 3 novice saw Katie Dohm place first on vault and floor, second on bars and beam and first overall. In women’s provincial 4 novice Katya Senilova placed first on floor and second on vault. In men’s provincial 3 Clayton Kimball placed second on vault.
Also part of Powell River Gymnastics club is Powell River Twisters Cheerleading. The girls travelled to Vancouver to compete in the Sea to Sky Cheerleading Competition. Powell River Twisters Cheer team competed twice and placed their highest ever. This year the girls were able to beat Midnight, a Vancouver team in junior level 2. This result showed great effort and determination to get this far. Twisters is one of the smallest teams to be in junior level 2; most squads have 13 or more to a team, whereas Powell River had only nine.
At the beginning of May, the gymnasts travelled to Vancouver to compete in the Coast Mountain Roof Luau Cup. Women’s provincial 2 tyro Victoria Lecouteur placed second on vault and third on floor. Women’s provincial 3 novice Katie Dohm placed first on vault, bars and floor, second on beam and was first overall. Women’s provincial 2 argo Jessa McLaren tied for first on beam, second on vault, second overall with outstanding artist presentation; Hillary English was second on bars; Olivia Warman was first on floor and third overall. In men’s provincial 3 Clayton Kimball placed third on vault; Dylan Werner placed first on vault and third on high bar.
