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Paradise Gymnastics in Walpole sent 11 gymnasts to compete at the Xcel Regional Championships on May 20 and 21. Regionals cover all of New England (CT, MA, ME, VT, RI) and New York - only the top three percent of the entire state make it each year. There are about 1000 girls in Massachusetts per level. 570 gymnasts qualify to States and out of those girls only 30 qualify to Regionals.
Saturday started early in the morning with the Xcel Silver All Star team competing. Emilea Gay placed second on vault, third on floor, and first all around with a score of 37.95 in the child age division. Her teammate, Ella Jackson, placed second on vault, third on bars and floor, first on balance beam with a 9.625, and placed first all around with a 38.1 in the junior age division.
Following their meet, their teammate Julie Cosse competed on the Massachusetts team with only the top 7 gymnasts of the State. On bars, she placed second with a 9.7, first on vault (9.625), balance beam (9.575), and floor (9.75). Her scores combined placed her first in the all around with a 98.65 and the highest score for the Xcel Silver Regional championionship.
The day continued with the Gold All Star team with seven Paradise gymnasts competing. Against some of the hardest competition they've faced all year, Sydney Marland and Cecilia Marshall both won first place all around with their teammates placing right next to them. Taylor Regan won second place while Ellie Handler and Payton VanMeter won third all around. Sydney Marland - Vault and AA champion (38.175) all around, Taylor Regan - Bars and Beam champion (38.125) all around, Ellie Handler - Floor champion (37.8) all around, Cecilia Marshall - Beam and AA champion (37.8) all around, Payton VanMeter - Floor (9.65), 37.3 all around, and Eva Rice - Floor (9.35), Vault (9.075). Abby Byrne helped team Massachusetts win first place with her score on balance beam of a 9.45. Abby placed second in the all around with a 37.85.
Allie McCabe soars through the air.
“They make it seem easy with all of them doing so well, but we can tell you for sure how difficult it is. An immense amount of effort goes into what these girls do and we love to see them feeling proud of what they've accomplished! It's moments like these that they work so hard for. We love that they motivate each other to be their very best,” said coach Micelle May.
Paradise Gymnastics is located in Walpole.
