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Youngstown Gymnastic gymnasts compete in state championships
By STEVE WILAJ
NILES
It’s only a matter of a year’s work, but Youngstown Gymnastic Center coach Melissa Sekman analyzes the 12-month progression her team has made and is pleasantly surprised.
“It’s incredible to look back at the scores from last year and just think ‘Wow, that’s what these kids look like now,’” she said. “We’ve made that much progress.”
The five-girl YGC team competed in the 2014 Women’s Gymnastics State Championships on Friday at the Mayor Ralph A. Infante Wellness Center in Niles in an effort to advance to regional championships.
The event is hosted by Olympic Dreams Gymnastics.
The competition — which is for level 9, 10 and Excel gymnasts — began Friday, continues today and wraps up Sunday.
When all is said and done, 675 girls from all over the state are expected to have competed.
Competing in Session 3 of the event, the Youngstown squad placed fifth out of 11 Excel teams with its girls scattered across the various category leaderboards.
“I hope they qualify, but I don’t know what the rest of the competition is like,” Sekman said. “I just expect them to do as well as they can. If that happens to be that they make it to regionals, then that’s great. But if that’s the best that they can be and don’t make it, then I’m proud of them, too.”
The team will find out later in the event if they qualify.
Ella Kobak, in her first year of Excel, placed third in her division with a score of 36.950 from the vault, bars, beam and floor categories.
“She’s done really well,” Sekman said. “I’m so proud of how well she’s done as a competitor. Not to mention her gymnastic skills, which are great as well.”
Anna Oliver placed sixth in her division, Hope Karash and Lexi Borton placed eighth in their respective divisions and Madison Gilbert finished 10th.
“Maddi’s had kind of a tough year,” Sekman said. “A lot of illnesses and missing some time in the gym. But this was one of her best meets and I’m really happy for her. Also, Anna improved so much since last year.
“And Hope is one of our new girls. I’m proud of the progress she’s made since she’s been here. I think next year is going to be a really good year from her since she’ll have that time to train with the team.”
Sekman added she’s especially thankful to have Borton as a team leader.
“I’m so grateful to have somebody who is willing to step up and be the motivator and is willing to help out when I have to go to a meeting or whatever,” she said. “I can say ‘Lexi go ahead and lead this’ and I know they’re going to be OK.”
The event continues with level 9 and 10 competition today, while the Excel divisions conclude Sunday.
Teams from Olympic Dreams will be competing both days.
“Everything went really well,” Sekman said. “It was one of the quickest meets I’ve been to. Everything went really smoothly. All the kids did great.”