Foothills Gymnastics Academy was represented by 11 Level 2-5 gymnasts on March 5 in Charlotte, N.C. Zenith Gymnastics hosted the Hurray for Hollywood AAU meet where Foothills gymnasts swept the All-Around awards podium earning first place in all levels in which they competed.
Making her Level 2 competition debut was Grace Strader, daughter of Tom and Belle Strader of Columbus. Strader is in kindergarten at Lake Lure Academy. Strader earned a 9.4 on vault, a 9.250 on bars, a 9.1 on beam and 8.650 on floor. Her all-around score was 36.400.

Also competing at Level 2 were Scout Harmon and Ella Waldman. Harmon, daughter of Jeff and Kristin Harmon of Tryon, is in second grade at Tryon Elementary. Harmon earned a 9.5 on vault, 8.8 on bars, 9.450 on beam, 9.300 on floor and a 37.050 all-around. Harmon’s beam score was the highest score on an apparatus in her level, earning her a trophy.
Ella Waldman, daughter of Ethan and Renae Waldman of Tryon, also competed and is a kindergarten student at Tryon Elementary. Waldman earned a 9.0 vault, 8.9 on bars, 9.4 on beam, 9.0 on floor and a 36.300 all-around. Waldman scored the second highest score on an apparatus for her level with her balance beam score, those honors going to teammate Harmon. There were 36 gymnasts competing at Level 2.
In the Level 3 competition, Foothills was represented by four gymnasts. Rollins Carter, daughter of Robert and Margot Carter of Tryon, placed first in the all-around with a total score of 36.000. Carter finished second on the vault (9.2), second on the bars (8.9), second on beam (8.8) and third on the floor (9.1). Carter is a third grader at Tryon Elementary.
Ragan Ashmore, third grader at O.P. Earle Elementary, finished second in the all-around, scoring a 35.950. Ashmore achieved the highest apparatus score in her level for her first place finish on the floor with a 9.350 and earned a trophy. Ashmore also won fourth on the vault (8.9), first on bars (8.950) and third on beam (8.750). Ashmore is the daughter of Warren Ashmore of Landrum and Jacque Ashmore of Columbus.
Julia Griffin, daughter of Ken and Tangela Griffin of Tryon, placed fourth in the all-around. Griffin, a third grader at Tryon Elementary, placed third on vault (9.1), third on bars (8.7), seventh on beam (8.050) and second on floor (9.150).
Competing at Level 4 were three Foothills gymnasts that swept the podium for balance beam. Leah Bulleit placed first all around with a 35.500. Bulleit is the daughter of Steve and Sandy Bulleit of Columbus and is in the fifth grade at Saluda Elementary. Bulleit also placed fifth vault (8.900), second on bars (8.600), first on beam (9.0) and first on floor (9.0).
Kate Padgett, daughter of Edwin and Ashley Padgett of Tryon, placed third in the all-around (34.700). Padgett is a fifth grade student at Grace Christian School. She placed seventh on the vault (8.850), first on bars (9.150), third on the beam (8.450) and seventh on the floor (8.250).
Lily Nelson placed fourth in the all-around (34.60) and is a fifth grade student at Tryon Elementary. Nelson, daughter of Rich and Kim Nelson, earned second on the vault (9.10), third on the bars (8.450), third on the beam (8.450) and third on the floor exercise (8.850).

In the Level 5 competition, Foothills Gymnasts swept the podium in the all-around with first and second place finishes. Sydney Waldman, daughter of Ethan and Renae Waldman of Tryon, finished first place in the all-around (34.800) narrowly over teammate Julianna Robbins who finished second in the all-around (34.200). Waldman, a third grader at Tryon Elementary, earned a second place finish on the vault (8.900), first place on bars (8.600), second on beam (8.650) and second on floor (8.650).
Robbins, daughter of Arthur and Joy Robbins of Columbus, is a fourth grade student also at Tryon Elementary. Robbins placed second on bars (7.250), first on beam (9.050), first on floor (8.750) and finished first on vault (9.150) earning the highest apparatus score of the day for her level, winning a trophy.
Jana Williamson, Foothills Gymnastics coach, stated of the Level 5 gymnasts, “Julianna nailed her front handspring on the vault with her legs perfectly together. Sydney was crisp, clean, and solid start-to-finish on all 4 events.”
Foothills Gymnasts next compete in the Aloha Meet in Mt. Airy, N.C. on April 9.
– article submitted