On May 4 and 5, the Central Lincoln County YMCA gymnastics team, under the direction of coach Janice Cormier-Hay, took nine qualifying gymnasts to compete at the Northeast Regional Gymnastics Championships in their own back yard.

Top qualifying YMCA Gymnasts from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Maine and New Hampshire competed in the four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise at Kents Hill School in Kents Hill.

According to Coach Cormier-Hay, “I’m so proud of these girls. This is a huge meet with over 500 gymnasts in attendance. They competed against the top athletes from New York to Maine with 39 teams from six states and they did it with grace and skill.”

CLC had three girls climb the podium to receive their trophies in the All Arounds (trophies went to the top six gymnasts in each age group): Emma Hall of Damariscotta, placed second all around out of 27 girls at Level 6 becoming beam champion with a first place finish; Maddy Russ of Damariscotta placed second all around out of 13 girls at Level 5 becoming beam champion with a first place finish and Elizabeth Rethman of Newcastle placed third all around out of 10 gymnasts for Level 4 with a personal best all around score.

Level 6 Age 12: Katie Colomb came in 20th on vault with an 8.0, 15th on bars with a 7.2, 7th on beam with a personal best score of 8.5, 19th on floor with a 7.025, placing 21st all around.

Level 6, Age 11: Emma Hall came in 7th on vault with a 9.0, 3rd on bars with a personal best score of 9.15, 1st on beam with a 9.0, 5th on floor with an 8.675 and placed 2nd all around with a personal best score of 35.825 in Northeast Region.

Level 5, Age 10A: Maddy Bradbury had a 7.75 on vault placing 17th, 7.4 on bars placing 14th, 8.05 (season high) on beam placing 19th, 7.75 on floor placing 22nd all around.

Level 5, Age 9B: Maddy Russ came in 7th on vault with an 8.5, 3rd on bars with a 9.1, 1st on beam with a 9.275, 3rd on floor with a 9.175, placing 1st all around with a 36.05 in the Northeast Region. Reed Gulden came in 9th on vault with an 8.4, 4th on bars with an 8.775, 4th on beam with a 9.075, 9th on floor with an 8.3, placing 7th all around with a 34.55 in the Northeast Region.  

Level 4, Age 9C: Chloe Achorn came in 7th on vault with an 8.95, 17th on bars with an 8.2, 6th on beam with a 9.125, 10th on floor with a 9.125 (personal best), placing 1st all around in Northeast Region with a personal best all around score of 35.4.

Level 4, Age 8A: Erica Johnson came in 4th on vault with a 9.25, 18th on bars with a 7.85, 8th on beam with an 8.9, 8th on floor with an 8.75, placing 10th all around in Northeast Region. Dakota Gregory came in 15th on vault with an 8.575, 15th on bars with an 8.15, 14th on beam with an 8.5, 13th on floor with an 8.575, placing 8th all around with a 33.80.  

Level 4, Age 7: In her first Regionals meet, Elizabeth Rethman had an 8.75 placing 3rd on vault, 2nd on bars with a 9.2 (personal best), 8.8 on beam placing 5th, and 6th on floor with an 8.8 (personal best) with a personal best score of 35.55 all around in the Northeast Region.

This meet concludes the competitive season for the team. They will be hosting a Gymnastics Exhibition on Wednesday, June 19 where the community is invited to come to the YMCA and see some fun and exciting routines performed by all the team members.