Boys gymnastics event in Niles

By John Kovach

AUSTINTOWN — The Ohio Gymnastics Institute of Austintown will host the 2009 Ohio Boys USA Gymnastics State Championships Saturday and Sunday at the Mayor Ralph A. Infante Wellness Center in Niles.

Ron Ferris, state and meet director, said that approximately 300 gymnasts from all over Ohio will compete in six different events — floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vaulting, parallel bars and horizontal bar — in seven different skill levels and age groupings.

Three sessions will be held Saturday and five on Sunday. Doors open 8 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.

Providing on-site hosting support for the OGI are Championship Competitions LLC and the OGI Booster Organization.

The OGI is located at 5701 West Webb Road, Austintown.

Ferris, the state chairman for boys gymnastics in Ohio, said that the meet will attract numerous area entries from three clubs: The OGI, the Youngstown Gymnastics Center in Boardman and Olympic Dreams in Liberty.

He also has announced on the Ohio Boys USA Gymnastics Web site (www.ohioboysusag.org.) that the theme of this year’s state meet is, “Gymnastics Goes Green,” in order to emphasize to the public ”the countless ways that each of us can improve our environment.

“We start here by promoting the event using postcards instead of a complete mailing. This allows clubs and coaches to only print the information which is needed for their programs. During the meet we will introduce many other ways to improve our environment by recycling our waste, minimizing our carbon footprint and eliminating unnecessary use of our natural resources.”