The Door County YMCA Striver Gymnastics Team achieved a remarkable victory this past weekend at the “Fire and Ice” Invitational in West Bend, WI, hosted by the Kettle Moraine YMCA. Competing across multiple divisions, the Strivers showcased their exceptional skills, bringing home top honors and numerous individual medals.
Level 8 Triumphs with First Place Finish
In the Level 8 competition, the Strivers claimed the championship trophy with a team score of 68.80. The Wausau YMCA followed in second place with 68.35, and La Crosse YMCA rounded out the top three with 66.15. Individual highlights include:
Daylia Sund: Gold in the all-around, vault, and floor exercise; bronze on bars.
Estelle Duerst: Bronze on bars, fourth in the all-around, fifth on vault.
Amira Anschutz: Fourth place on vault.
Excel Silver Team Strikes Gold
The Excel Silver Team also captured first place, earning a team score of 111.15. Fond Du Lac YMCA took silver with 110.15, while host team Kettle Moraine placed third with 109.4. Standout performances included:
Nine-and-Under Age Group:
Jessa Varney: Gold in the all-around and bars; bronze on vault; fourth on beam.
Genevieve Gigstead: Silver in the all-around and bars; bronze on floor; gold on vault.
Annabel Smullen: Silver on bars and in the all-around; fourth on floor; fifth on beam.
10- and 11-Year-Old Age Group:
Peyton Watermolen: Gold in the all-around and vault; silver on beam and bars; fifth on floor.
Jackson Varney: Gold on floor; silver in the all-around and beam.
Maise Keinhofer: Bronze on vault; fifth on bars.
Hailey Clark: Bronze in the all-around and on floor; fifth on beam.
12-and-Older Age Group:
Emma Higginbotham: Swept gold in all five events: all-around, floor, vault, beam, and bars.
Excel Gold Team Secures Silver
The Excel Gold Team earned second place with a team score of 106.25, narrowly edged out by Green County YMCA with 106.55. Notable performances included:
12-and-Under Age Group:
Sawyer Soukup: Gold on vault; silver on beam; fourth on floor; sixth in the all-around.
Ellie Kelsey: Fifth on beam.
12-and-Older Age Group:
Lauren Gaida: Gold in the all-around and beam; silver on floor; bronze on bars; fourth on vault.
Keira Clark: Gold on vault.
Evelynn Kelsey: Bronze on floor
Platinum Division Highlights
In the Platinum division, Shaylyn Asher earned silver on beam and bronze on bars and in the all-around.
Next Stop: Pink Invitational
The Strivers will return to competition on the weekend of December 7, 2024, at the “Pink” Invitational in Menominee, MI, hosted by the Marinette Menominee YMCA Gymnastics Team. The team is eager to build on its recent successes as the season progresses.
Team Photo Captions:
Gold Team (left to right): Evelynn Kelsey, Keira Clark, Ellie Kelsey, Sawyer Soukup, Lauren Gaida, Greta Virgin.
(ABOVE PHOTO)
Level 8 Team (left to right): Estelle Duerst, Daylia Sund, Portia Hah, Amira Anschutz.
Silver Team (left to right): Jessa Varney, Jackson Varney, Hailey Clark, Genevieve Gigstead, Annabel Smullen, Maise Keinhofer, Peyton Watermolen, Emma Higginbotham.
Platinum Division: Shaylyn Asher
