Gymnasts win titles at national event
Published 9:05 am Tuesday, July 16, 2013
FIRST IN THE NATION: The four gymnasts who earned all-around gold medals were: top, left to right, Emma Foster, Emily Perkins and Carmen Fillingame; and bottom, Emily Grace Tuten.
The Bainbridge Gymnast-A-Cats gymnastics team recently competed in the AAU National Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Gymnasts from all 50 states competed during the four-day event and the Gymnast-A-Cats team won more than 100 medals, with four gymnasts earning all-around gold medals, winning national championships.
Emily Perkins, competing in the 14-and-under optional category, won the all-around gold medal. Perkins also won gold medals on the floor and vault, finished in third place on the bars, and fifth on the beam.
Carmen Fillingame, competing in the 9-year-old division of beginner optional level, finished first on the bars and the floor, and in second place on the beam. She won the all-around gold medal.
COMPETED AT NATIONALS: Local gymnasts who participated in the AAU National Championships in Orlando, Fla., were: bottom row, left to right, Anna Kate Houston, Avrie Barbree, Emily Grace Tuten, Emma Foster, Lauren Godwin and Carmen Fillingame; middle row, left to right, Marbella Rich, Mary Glenn Warr, Lainey McRae, Makaylie Middleton, Abigail Anderson and Maloree Inlow; top row, left to right, Gabby Hardee, Kennedy Jester, Emily Chambers, Caitlin Shepard, McKenzie Findley and Emily Perkins. (click to enlarge)
Also winning an all-around gold medal was Emily Grace Tuten. In the 7-year-old division, she won gold medals on the balance beam, floor and bars, while finishing second on the vault.
In the 6-year-old, level two division, Emma Foster finished first on the vault and posted fourth-place finishes in the bars and floor. She won the all-around gold medal.
McKenzie Findley competed in the level seven division and finished ninth all-around. Four local gymnasts competed in the intermediate optional level. Caroline Middleton won a gold medal on the vault and finished fifth all-around. Gabby Hardee finished seventh all-around, Emily Chambers posted an eighth place all-around finish, and Josey Deal finished 10th all-around in the national competition.
At the beginner optional level, Kennedy Jester won gold medals on the bars and on the floor, while finishing fourth all-around. Marbella Rich won three silver medals and finished third all-around. Caitlin Sheppard finished sixth all-around, Mel Bodrey finished seventh all-around, and Lainey McRae posted a 10th place all-around finish.
In addition to Emma Foster, seven other gymnasts competed in the level two division. Avrie Barbree finished third all-around, Lauren Godwin finished fourth all-around in her age division and Makaylie Middleton finished fourth in her age division. Maloree Inlow posted a fifth place all-around finish, Anna Kate Houston finished ninth, Abigail Anderson finished 13th all-around, and Mary Glenn Warr posted a solid 16th all-around finish.
