The AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Southeast Regional Championships were held in Charlotte June 18-19 at the Bojangles Coliseum. Seventeen gymnasts from Foothills Gymnastics Academy represented North Carolina against Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.
Foothills Coach Jana Williamson was the only coach in the state to have all of her gymnasts qualify for either N.C. Team 1 or N.C. Team 2. Gymnasts competed on behalf of their state in the team competition, as well as earned individual honors. Gymnasts received AAU SE Regional medals for individual apparatus placement, as well as all-around collector-piece trophies from the 2008 Seoul Olympics. Winning state team members also were awarded plaques for their contribution to their state’s win.
Saturday, June 18 was competition of Level 2, Level 3 and Level 5 gymnasts. In Level 2, N.C. Team 1 took home 1st place honors in all age groups. Age group 7-and-under had three of the five spots filled by Foothills Gymnasts Scout Harmon, Ella Waldman, and Grace Strader. In the 8-9 year old age group, Foothills’ Madison Geddings and Amelia Nespeca comprised two of the five spots.
In the Level 2 individual awards, age 6 and under, Grace Strader took seocnd place All-Around honors (37.1), followed by a seventh place all-around finish by teammate Ella Waldman (36.425). Strader, daughter of Tom and Belle Strader of Columbus, earned fourth place finishes on vault (9.350), bars (9.375) and beam (9.125) with third place on floor (9.250). Waldman, daughter of Ethan and Renae Waldman of Tryon, placed fourth on vault (9.350), seventh on bars (9.125), won third place on beam (9.150) and seventh on floor (8.80). In the 7-and-8 age group, Foothills’ Madison Geddings and Scout Harmon took first and second place all-around. Geddings, daughter of Jay and Lori Geddings of Tryon, won first place all-around honors (37.325), also winning first on vault (9.725), bars (9.450), and floor (9.30) and a fourth place win on beam (8.850). Harmon, daughter of Jeff and Kristin Harmon of Tryon, won second place all-around honors with a 36.600. Harmon placed third on vault (9.50), third on bars (9.20), won first place on beam (9.025) and tied for sixth on floor (8.875). In the age 9-and- up age bracket, Amelia Nespeca won second place all-around with a 36.750. Nespeca, daughter of Mindy Wiener of Green Creek and John Nespeca of Charlotte, won fifth place on vault (9.40), first place on bars (9.250), tenth on beam (8.525) and won first place on floor (9.525).
Level 3 gymnasts Ragan Ashmore and Rollins Carter of Foothills were on the N.C. Team 1 winning second place honors behind Team Florida. N.C. Team 2 gymnast Julia Griffin, also of Foothills, was on the third place N.C. team. Ashmore, daughter of Jackie Ashmore of Columbus and Warren Ashmore of Landrum, won second place all-around (35.650) in her age bracket. Ashmore also won first place honors on the vault (9.550), sixth on bars (8.450), third on beam (8.775) and second place on floor (8.90). Carter, daughter of Robert and Margot Carter of Tryon, placed sixth place all-around (34.950) also placing eighth on vault (8.850), eighth on bars (8.550), tied for seventh on beam (8.50) and fifth place on floor (9.050). Teammate Julia Griffin, daughter of Ken and Tangela Griffin of Tryon, earned ninth place honors in her age group. Griffin, won second place on vault (9.40), placed tenth on bars (8.875), seventh on beam (8.750) and tenth on floor (8.450).
Saturday’s competition ended with Level 5 gymnasts, Sydney Waldman and Julianna Robbins, winning first place for NC Team 1 also upsetting rival Florida. Waldman, daughter of Ethan and Renae Waldman of Tryon, won third place all-around in the 9 and under age group with a 35.525.Waldman placed eighth on vault (8.30), won second place on bars (9.225), won third place on beam (8.825) and won third place on floor (9.175). Robbins, daughter of Arthur and Joy Robbins of Columbus, won second place all-around for age group 10-and-up with a 35.625. Robbins won second place on vault (9.125), won third place on bars (9.075) and placed fourth on beam (8.550) and floor (8.875).
Foothills gymnasts Julia Skellie and MaryKate Christiansen were two of nine finalists in the Eddie Wortman AAU Memorial Award. Skellie was the recipient of that award and received a commemorative plaque for winning that honor.
Sunday began with the Modified Optional division consisting of Foothills’ Savannah Robbins and Julia Skellie earning a fourthplace win for their N.C . Team competition. Robbins, daughter of Arthur and Joy Robbins, won sixth place all-around (34.150) for age 13-and-under. Robbins also won fifth place on vault (8.800), had seventh place winnings on bars (8.00), beam (8.550) and floor (8.825). Skellie, daughter of David and Carolina Skellie of Campobello, won third place all-around (36.200). Skellie tied for first place on vault (9.00), won fourth place on bars (8.9), won first place on beam (9.250) and won sixth place on floor (9.050).
The Level 6 competition followed with the N.C. Level 6 team winning first place, comprised of Foothills gymnast, Colleen Burke.
In the individual competition, Burke, daughter of Pat and Julie Burke of Tryon, tied for third place all-around with a 34.425. Burke also placed fifth on vault (8.875), won first place on bars (8.3), won fourth on beam (8.775) and placed ninth on floor (8.475).
In the Level 4 session, N.C. Team 1 won first place (with team member Lily Nelson of Foothills) and third place (with Foothills’ Kate Padgett and Leah Bulleit). For individual awards, teammates Kate Padgett and Lily Nelson competed in the same age bracket. Lily Nelson, daughter of Rich and Kim Nelson of Tryon, won thirdplace all-around (35.550). Nelson placed 7th on vault (8.850), tied for first place on bars (9.125), finished fifth on beam (8.450) and tied for third place on floor (9.125). Padgett, daughter of Edwin and Ashley Padgett of Tryon, won fifth place all-around (35.100) with ninth place on vault (8.600), tied for first on bars (9.125) with teammate Nelson, won second place on beam (8.725) and placed sixth on floor (8.650).
Foothills Leah Bulleit was in the oldest age bracket and won a ninth place all-around finish (35.550). Bulleit, daughter of Steve and Sandy Bulleit of Columbus, place ninth on vault (8.80), tenth on bars (8.675), tied for seventh on beam (8.825) and won fourth place on floor (9.250). Foothills gymnast Mary Kate Christiansen competed in the Level 8 session. Due to an injury, Christiansen was only able to compete on the floor event and had to withdrawal from the remaining events.
As a member of the N.C. Level 8 Regional Team, she and her teammates celebrated a second place finish in the competition behind Florida. Before the regional competition, Christiansen announced her retirement from gymnastics. She began training with coach Jana Williamson at the age of 5.
The Polk County High School senior has plans to pursue other interests, although she still has a passion for gymnastics. Christiansen is the daughter of Don and Lynne Christiansen of Mill Spring.
The final competition of the spring/summer AAU gymnastics season concluded with Nationals on July 1 – 3 at the ESPN Center at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Flo. Ella Waldman, Rollins Carter, Lily Nelson, Sydney Waldman, Julianna Robbins and Savannah Robbins from Foothills Gymnastics Academy represented the state of North Carolina against AAU gymnasts from around the country.
– article submitted