The Tribune

“HARD work trumps talent” and support of this mantra was evidenced by the Level 3 team of gymnasts from Bahamas Star Gymnastics (BSG) who competed at the 2014 Wolverines Classic over the weekend.

This is the fourth consecutive year that BSG has participated in the event which is hosted in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by GymAmerica, whose owner Claudia Kretschmer has served as a coach clinician at several technical courses hosted in Nassau.

In back-to-back weekends of competition, this “awesome foursome” of Candace Murphy, Summer Sturrup, Sanaa Saunders and Madisson Deveaux, all in their first appearance at the Wolverines Classic (“Wolverines”), posted higher scores to erase those inked the previous weekend at the Magical Classic (“Magical”) in Orlando and finished in the top 10 in their respective all-around age divisions.

Candace Murphy, who is competing abroad for the first time this season, captured fourth place in the All Around (AA) division with a season high score of 36.175 (out of 40). Murphy improved her AA score of 34.925 recorded at the Magical Classic and medalled in 2nd place on vault for her age division.

Murphy’s teammate, Summer Sturrup, who was fighting off a flu bug, rounded out the All Around division in 9th place by scoring 35.725, thereby improving on her Magical Classic AA score of 35.250.

Sturrup, who blocked off a 9.60 (out of 10) at the Magical Classic, still holds the highest scoring record for the Bahamas on individual events for the season. It is likely that Sturrup’s scores would have been higher in better health.

Madisson Deveaux, who was the youngest member of the squad, twisted and tumbled to a 7th place on both vault and all around in her age division.

Deveaux, who celebrated her birthday “on the road” with her teammates, earned a 35.60 in the AA at Wolverines after 34.40 at Magical.

Delightful Deveaux benefitted from having more competitive experience outside of the country and her improvement underscores the value of exposing gymnasts to a variety of competitive meets.

Sanaa Saunders has certainly emerged as the “black horse in the race.” Saunders, who struggled with a new training regimen, epitomises determination and perseverance.

Not known to be the quickest in learning skills or considered naturally talented, Saunders has one of the most consistent competitive records.

“She knows how to compete and like her teammate Murphy, knows how to shake off disappointment on one apparatus and pull out a surprise on another apparatus,” said co-head coach Kachara Marshall.

Saunders fell off the balance beam at Magical and came back strong for a 3rd place on floor exercise.

At Wolverines, she shook off a fall on the uneven bars and rallied to a 2nd place on balance beam. Yet, her all-around score was the lowest of her team but she ranked highest in individual events. In the Bahamas, one would say “don’t sleep on Sanaa” and in international circles she is described as the gymnast with “killer competition instincts and a poker face.”

The team’s best scores for the season have been on the balance beam apparatus which is credited to both Marshall and dance coach Idania Garcia-Stroud.

Known for their high standards and no-excuses approach to coaching, Marshall and Garcia-Stroud have proven once again that they have a winning combination.

BSG’s coaches received high compliments and commendations from Louis Liguori and Janice Smith, owners of Gymnastics and More in South Carolina where the gymnasts trained during their layover between the two competitions.

Liguori, whose gymnasts have been state champions for 19 consecutive years, offered praise regarding how well the Bahamian gymnasts kept pace with his top level gymnasts in training.

Bahamas Star Gymnastics opened its doors on Bacardi Road in 2010 with its Starmania Summer Camp and has contributed to the hosting of the Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational and other events such as coaches’ clinics which continue to improve the sports of gymnastics in the country.

BSG is slated to host its own meet, BGPBC-Bahamas Star Gymnastics Invitational - for the third consecutive year in April.