The Modified Optional Junior A third-place All-Around winner, Colleen Burke, was also from Foothills Gymnastics. Burke scored a combined 35.900 to win the bronze medal.  Burke was the gold medal winner on vault with a 9.425. She placed fifth on bars (8.750) and fifth on beam (8.750), and won the silver medal on the floor with a 8.975. Burke is a 13-year-old eighth-grade student at Polk County Middle School. She is the daughter of Julie Byrd of Tryon and Pat Byrd of Landrum.
Foothills’ Junior A Modified Optional gymnast Julianna Robbins placed fourth All-Around with her combined score of 34.850. Robbins won gold on the balance beam with a 9.200.  She placed fourth on vault (8.950), sixth on bars (8.250) and fifth on floor (8.450). Robbins is the 11-year-old daughter of Arthur and Joy Robbins of Columbus and is a Tryon Elementary fifth-grader.
Lily Nelson, also a Junior A Modified Optional gymnast from Foothills, ranked eighth All-Around (24.500). Nelson earned a fourth place finish with her 8.800 on bars. She also placed sixth on beam (8.600) and eighth on floor (7.100). Nelson is the 12-year-old daughter of Rich and Kim Nelson of Tryon and is a sixth-grade student at Thomas Jefferson Academy.
Competing in the Junior B Modified Optional age division for Foothills was 13-year-old Savannah Robbins, who earned a fourth-place finish in the All-Around with her combined score of 34.100. Her 9.350 on vault won Robbins a gold medal. She placed fourth on bars (8.400), sixth on beam (8.200) and sixth on floor (8.150). Robbins is the daughter of Arthur and Joy Robbins of Columbus and is an eighth grader at Polk County Middle School.
In the Level 4 competition, the Child B age division included two gymnasts from Foothills, Rollins Carter and Ragan Ashmore. Carter won the All-Around silver medal with her 35.800 combined score. She earned a fourth-place finish on vault (9.225), won the bronze medal on bars (8.925), won the silver medal on beam (8.900) and won the bronze medal on floor (8.750). She is the 9-year old daughter of Robert and Margot Carter of Tryon and is a third grader at Tryon Elementary School.
Also competing for Foothills in the Level 4, Child B division was Ragan Ashmore.  In the All-Around ranking, Ashmore placed eighth with a 34.200. She won the gold medal on vault with her 9.500 score.  She also earned 10th-place finishes on both bars (8.000) and beam (8.075) and ranked sixth on floor with an 8.625. Ashmore is a fourth grader at O.P. Earle Elementary and the daughter of Warren Ashmore of Landrum and Jackie Jackson of Mill Spring.
Foothills Gymnastics Academy travels to Charlotte Saturday, March 3 for the Everest Classic. These seven gymnasts will be joined by two additional teammates making their competition debuts.
Foothills gymnasts are coached by Jana Williamson, owner of Foothills Gymnastics Academy.
– article submitted by Renae Waldman