Strivers Gymnasts Strike It Big At State Gymnastics Meet
Lauren Gaida, Delaney Allen, Amelia Zoschke, and the YMCA Excel Silver Gymnastic Team earned State Titles at the YMCA Gymnastic Championships this past weekend in Marinette Wisconsin. A total of twelve YMCA Gymnastic Teams from Wisconsin competed in pursuit of a State Title, they were Door County, EauClaire, FondDuLac, Green Bay, Green County, HOTV, Kettle Moraine, Manitowoc, Marinette/Menominee, Sheboygan, Southwood County, and Wausau.
Excel Silver gymnasts, Lauren Gaida and Delaney Allen led the Striver Excel Silver team to a State Championship Team Title. Gaida earned individual State titles by capturing Gold in the All-around (37.80) and floor exercise (9.75) while Allen captured gold on the uneven bars (9.2). Gaida also earned silver on vault (9.5) and beam (9.3) in the twelve-year-old and over group. Allen grabbed a 7th place medal in the All-around (36.10) and beam (9.1) in the eleven and under group. Evelynn Kelsey added to the team score by earning a silver medal on the vault (9.3), bronze in the All-around (36.70) 7th on bars (9.05) and 8th on beam (9.0). Teammate Greta Virgin earned an 8th place medal on the beam (9.0). Also contributing to the Silver’s success were Keira Clark and Ellie Kelsey. Medals are awarded to the top 30 percent of all competitors. The Silver Team scored 110.50 points to win the Excel Silver State Team Title.
The Striver’s Platinum team returned home with a second place Team Trophy. Amelia Zoschke led the girls by winning her State Title on floor (9.35) Amelia won silver in the All-around, (34.775) bronze on bars (8.275) and 4th on bean (8.60). teammate Anna Galladro-Ibarra won bronze on floor (9.175) while Shaylyn Asher won a 4th place medal on beam (8.60). The Platinum Team scored a total of 101.7 to secure a second place Team trophy. The team competed with three girls on each event to contribute to the overall Team total. The girls had no room for error, the team was one member short for the competition.
The Level 6 Striver Team finished with a 7th place overall finish scoring 104.4 points. Portia Hah won bronze on bars, (8.275) Hah placed 9th on beam, (8.95) and 10th in the All-around (34.275). Sophia Sternard medaled in 6th place in the All-around (35.00) and 9th place on vault (8.80), beam, (9.225) and bars (7.925). Amira Anschutz received medals for a 5TH place finish on beam (9.35), 7TH on vault (8.9), 11th in the All-around (34.675) and 12th on floor (9.075). Estelle Duerst also contributed to the Level 6’s Team success. Shylee Asher was sidelined due to an injury.
The Door County YMCA Strivers Gymnastic Team has had an incredible 2022-2023 season coming back from covid restrictions that had been in place for the past two seasons. The Team worked hard, stayed focused, supported one another, and contributed to the continued success of the Striver Team. The girls had numerous team and individual successes throughout the 2022-2023 season.
The Striver Team will make its way down to Cincinnati, Ohio the week of June 20th to compete in the YMCA Gymnastic National Championships. YMCAs from all over the country will participate in the event. The Striver Team had 16 of 16 gymnasts qualify to compete in the State and National Meet. The Team is coached by Nikki Pollman, Gerritt DeJonge, and Heather Haese.
The Door County YMCA: For Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Driven by its founding mission, the Door County YMCA has 160 full and part-time staff serving over 9,400 members in Door County from facilities in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay in a broad range of programming for all ages. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide.