Flip-Flop Gymnastics Places Well at Northeast Invite

Flip-Flop Gymnastics Prep Optional and Level 5 and 6 teams competed at Trinity College in Hartford on Jan. 14 and 15. Athletes who competed for Flip-Flop Gymnastics are from Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Lyme, Clinton, Haddam, and Madison. This was the first meet of the season for the Prep Opt team. It was also a first meet ever for about half of the Novice team. The girls have been working hard to perfect their skills and master their newly choreographed routines.

The Prep Novice Team that won second place saw highlighted performances from Claire Bauman, who tied for second place on bars; Mikayla Bruton, who scored a 9.0 for second place on beam; Caitlin Bouchard, who scored an 8.6 on vault; Melanie Lee, who won first place on vault with a 9.3 and tied for second in the all-around with a 35.2; Liza Miejeski, who scored a 9.1 on vault placing fourth and an 8.9 on beam, placing her second; and Samantha Conroy, who placed fourth on bars and floor. Also putting in solid performances were Genevieve Geller, who competed for the first time and was the highest scoring gymnast with three scores in the 9.0's as she won first place in the all-around with a 35.85; Grace Burleson, who tied for second all-around and won first place on floor scoring a 9.2; Carlee Kirla, also a first-time competitor, who won first place on vault; Hollis Palmieri, who scored an 8.75 on vault and placing seventh; Taylor Guss, who placed seventh on bars and Chloe Grabowski, who placed 10th on vault with an 8.7; and Kasey Ruffer, who placed third on bars and first on vault. Flip-Flop and Valley Regional High School gymnast Jenna Armenia competed with Christen Teskey in the Prep Opt Intermediate Meet. Armenia had a solid meet by scoring a 9.05 on vault for third place and also placed fifth on floor, fourth on bars and in the all-around, and second on beam. Teskey scored a 9.15 on vault and placed fourth in her age group.

The Level 5 team won the Team Spirit Award at the meet. This award was earned by the team for "exhibiting positive spirit and support for the love of their team and the sport of gymnastics." Not only did the Level 5 team have spirit, they won third place as a team. First-time Level 5 competitors Corinne Fowler placed second on bars; Brianna Livingston placed sixth on vault, and Maria Denya placed sixth on bars. Chloe Cahill scored a 9.1 on beam by placing second and also placed fourth in the all-around; Quincy Platt placed third on vault, beam, and floor and second on bars with a 9.0 and second in the all-around; Lily O'Neil placed third in the all-around and won first place on floor by scoring a 9.05; and Madden Sullivan placed fourth all-around and on bars with a 9.0, also tying for second place on beam with a 9.0.

Competing for the Level 6's were Ella Gibson, who had her best meet of the season, qualifying her to the state meet after she placed seventh on vault and floor; Shannon Maher, who placed eighth on beam; and Cara Cahill and Cassidy Kehlenbach also qualified for states. Cahill placed third on vault and floor, second on beam and fourth in the all-around. Kehlenbach was the high scorer as she placed third on vault, second on bars and beam and first on floor with a 9.1. Kehlenbach also won first place in the all-around, scoring a 34.65.

For more information about Flip-Flop Gymnastics, please visit www.flipflopgym.com or call 860-526-4132. Information courtesy of Monica Bauer