The Door County YMCA Strivers Gymnastics Team delivered an impressive performance at the "Luau" Invitational, hosted by the Manitowoc YMCA. Competing against six other teams, the Strivers brought home multiple gold medals, with outstanding individual and team results.
The Strivers' Excel Silver Team, which featured 13 of the team's 14 new members, kicked off their first team competition by securing the gold with a total score of 110.95. Individual medalists included:
Cosette Orrick (12 and up) – 1st on beam, 2nd in the all-around, 3rd on vault and bars
Emma Higginbotham (12 and up) – 1st in all-around and vault
Genevieve Gigstead (10 and under) – 1st in all-around and bars, 2nd on floor, 4th on beam
Jessa Varney – 1st on beam, 2nd on bars, 3rd in all-around
Annabel Smullen – 1st on vault, 4th on floor
Taiya Couperous – 1st on beam
Milana Reifsnyder – 2nd on vault, 3rd on floor, 4th in all-around and beam
Jackson Varney – 3rd on vault, 4th on bars
Maisie Kelnhofer – 4th on vault and bars
Louisa Grenfell – 4th on beam
Adela Cordua-Stenzel – 5th on vault
The Silver Team was coached by Nikki Pollman, with Demi Ploor making her coaching debut for the Strivers.
The Strivers' Level 8 Team also claimed gold in the team competition with a score of 66.6. Estelle Duerst took top honors in the all-around, bars, and vault, while Amira Anschutz earned 1st on beam and 3rd in the all-around. Both Level 8 and Platinum gymnasts were coached by Nikki Pollman.
In the Excel Platinum division, gymnast Shaylyn Asher placed 3rd in the all-around and achieved 4th on bars and vault.
Competing in their first Gold Team competition, the Excel Gold Team placed 2nd. Medalists in the 13 and under division included:
Evelynn Kelsey – 1st on floor, 3rd on vault
Sawyer Soukup – 3rd on floor, vault, and beam, 5th in all-around, 6th on bars
Ellie Kelsey – 5th on bars, beam, and vault, 6th in all-around
Looking ahead, the Striver Team will compete at the Heart of the Valley YMCA “Turkey Invitational” in Kimberly, WI, from November 8th-10th. The following week, they will participate in the “Fire and Ice” Invitational at the Kettle Moraine YMCA in West Bend, WI, from November 15th-18th.
