The Tribune

THE star power of the gymnasts of Bahamas Star Gymnastics (BSG), sponsored by Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club, mingled with Bahamian pride boosted the team to a treasure-trove of medals, most of which were first place medals. The 12-member team competed in Lake Mary, Florida, over the past weekend at the 2015 Leprechaun Classic which promoted an Irish St Patrick’s Day theme.

Three petite and dainty gymnasts sparked the trend of  first place individual and All-Around finishes. 

In the first session, Rhianna Smith in her  age division sprinted and completed handstands for first place on Vault each scoring 9.20 (of 10). Teammates Tanitra Armbrister and Taevia Wright in another age division duplicated Smith’s score of 9.20 and tied for first place on Vault. Armbrister’s and Wright’s two way tie on Vault augurs well for Team BSG . 

Smith continued the first place trend by picking up additional first place medals on Balance Beam (9.30) and Floor Exercise (9.225). Armbrister’s second place (35.90) All Around ranking in her age division, was solidly backed by her second place on Uneven Bars (9.20). Wright’s fifth place All Around (35.175) secured the team’s second place in the Level 1 Team standing where top three scores count.

Amanda Rahming, who was the sole competitor in Level 2, recently switched over to Level 2 after competing in the Xcel division in December.  Also in her first appearance at a competitive meet abroad, Rahming racked up first place finishes on Vault (9.25), Balance Beam (9.60) and Floor Exercise (9.45 ) to top the podium in first place in her age division in the All-Around standing (37.475). Unassuming Rahming’s AA score was the highest for her team and her personal best on individual apparatus, including her fourth place on Uneven Bars (9.175).

Led by “pint sized” Soraya Halkitis, Kym-Benay Greene and Cheyanne Powell, level 3 gymnasts were rocking and ready to continue the trend started by their novice competitors. Halkitis, with an AA score of 37.050, won first place All-Around and not only matched her teammate Kym-Benay Greene (37.125) to double first place All-Around in separate age divisions, but also matched her brother Kiran Halkitis who simultaneously won first place in the Under 14 Chess Tournament in Nassau.

“Happy warrior” Halkitis has been a head turner in the sport for some time and performed  brilliantly to a season high of 9.650 for a first place on Balance Beam and thereby shattering her 9.60 score at Atlantis Crown meet in December on Paradise Island on the event.

“Giant courage” Greene, who teamed up with Halkitis last season at 2014 Magical Classic to walk away with double second place All Around crowns, championed her way to first place on Balance Beam (9.40) and Floor Exercise (9.525).

“Power packed” Powell, who competed Xcel division in December at Atlantis Crown, powered to second place on Uneven Bars (8.95), Balance Beam (9.35) and Floor Exercise (9.0) to third place in the All-Around ranking for her age division.  Without Powell’s contribution, the second place Level 3 Team award would have been denied as top three scores count.

Level 8 competitor Athalia “Tally” Swann, who rounded out day one of the competition, continued her comeback season by mustering a difficult Tsukahara for first place on Vault (9.450) and third place on Floor Exercise (9.20) to fifth place All Around (36.325). Swann’s AA score is the highest for any currently competing Level 8 in the country and historically.

Last month, Swann also exceeded her compatriots in the sport when she competed Level 8 at the Beach Blast Gymnastics Competition in South Carolina to a third place All Around ranking (34.325), fighting back from a debilitating injury that caused her to be sidelined for part of last season.

Denied a chance to bid for the Pan-Am Championship last September because of the age factor (Swann is 15 and needed to be 17 to meet the age qualification). Swann hopes to compete for the Bahamas at one of the junior world events for which she qualifies as her skill level and scores exceeds those of both Level 8 members of the historic national team. Known for her foot speed and past track successes, Swann’s vaulting skills are almost as sharp as if she never missed a beat. This QC Comet channelled some of the taste of victory enjoyed by her school in defeating SAC to inspire her rejuvenation in the sport.

On the second day of competition, Madisson Deveaux took the baton from her teammates to carry on the first place trend for the team by “blocking off” to first place on Vault (8.550) and All Around (34.550) in Level 4. Amazing Deveaux tumbled with grace and artistry to second place (8.80) on Floor Exercise.

In the same age division for Level 4, Deveaux’s teammate Sanaa Saunders “kipped” to third place on Uneven Bars (8.525) and “pivot turned” to third place on Balance Beam (8.975). Candace Murphy’s athleticism “casted” her to second place on Uneven Bars (9.225) and fourth place All Around (35.675). Summer Sturrup skillfully executed her turns, aerials and leaps to a first place on Balance Beam (9.450) and power tumbled to second place on Floor Exercise (9.20). 

Less than 10 per cent of competitors in Level 4 scored above a 9.0 and BSG’s gymnasts Murphy and Sturrup were among the few to exceed the threshold. Together, Deveaux, Saunders, Murphy and Sturrup rounded out the two day competition with second place in the Level 4 Team standing.

“This is our best meet of the season and the entire team of gymnasts and coaches are to be congratulated. To have these types of successes abroad is testamentary to the hard work invested. While this meet celebrated the luck of the Irish, we train our gymnasts to understand that it’s hard work not luck or raw talent which secures the best spots on the medal podium. We are celebrating each success made possible by hard work,“ said co-head coach Kachara Marshall who heads the squad’s coaching staff which includes dance coach Idania  Garcia-Stroud and staff coach Tenille Thompson.

Bahamas Star Gymnastics, in conjunction with Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club (BGPBC), hopes to close out the season with their annual inter-squad meet in April. BGPBC will also host a steak-out on March 28 to raise funds in an effort to defray travel costs for the further training of gymnasts and coaches.