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By Josh Perry
Hometown Weekly Staff
A number of local gymnasts from Paradise Gymnastics in Walpole recently competed against others from across the country at the Presidential Classic Meet at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
At the Xcel Silver Level, the team from Paradise Gymnastics came in second against teams that were much larger. A press release from the gym stated, “Many of them were in Florida for their first year ever! They were so fun and we are thrilled with how well they did.”
Among the highlighted gymnasts were Walpole residents Julie Cosse (first on vault and tied for first in all-around), Emilea Gay (second on vault and tied for first in all-around), Aubrey Gay (third on bars and fourth in all-around), Isabella Jolley (third on vault, beam and floor), and Ella Jackson (first on vault and sixth in all-around).
In addition, Medfield residents Emily Fratillo (first on beam and third in all-around) and Eliana Nardelli (second on vault and 11th in all-around) and Westwood residents Eva Rice (first on beam and fifth in all-around) and Maddy Hack (sixth on beam and floor and seventh in all-around) performed very well at the meet.
The Advanced Selects team that competed at Xcel Gold level finished in first place overall, continuing an unbeaten year. The team has come in second just once in two years.
Walpole resident Ellie Handler took first in the individual all-around and placed first on the bars. Abby Byrne of Walpole (first on floor and second in all-around), Taylor Regan of Westwood (first on beam and third in all-around), and Bridget McMahon of Medfield (third on floor and fourth in all-around) swept the floor routine and the all-around.
Also Medfield residents Payton Van Meter (first on beam and third in all-around) and Yukiho Yoshida (first on bars and fourth in all-around) and Lily Byrnes of Walpole (first on beam and second in all-around) had strong meets at their age levels.
At the Platinum level, Caroline Wilkins of Walpole took first on the bars, second on the beam and second in the all-around, while Allie McCabe of Westwood took first on bars, second on beam, and third in the all-around.
Josh Perry is an Editor at Hometown Weekly. He can be reached at news@hometownweekly.net and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.
