GILROY – If you didn’t know it before, there is a gymnastics gym
here in Gilroy.
USA Sports officially opened its doors in town back in April as
the sister gym to another located in Hollister.
GILROY – If you didn’t know it before, there is a gymnastics gym here in Gilroy.
USA Sports officially opened its doors in town back in April as the sister gym to another located in Hollister.
Combined with athletes from the Hollister branch, five Gilroyan youth, Aubrey Kaho, Jacqueline Pantane, Louisa Mantella, Sloane Pace and Malynn Plaza competed for the first time with the USA Sports club in meets around Northern California.
The four-month season concluded during the first weekend of December at the Northern California State Meet where five of the six athletes competed and one took home a championship.
In order to qualify for the State Championship Meet, a gymnast must post an all-around score of 34 at one of the regular season meets.
Eleven-year-old Kaho’s 9.125 score on her floor exercise earned her the State Champion distinction. She was able to edge three other competitors by one-quarter of a point. She also scored a 9.425 on the uneven bars for a third-place finish in that event.
“There hasn’t been anyone to place first at state in at least four years,” coach Melinda Lawrence said.
Kaho went on to finish 10th overall out of 21 in her age bracket.
Sloane Pace also participated in the state meet.
The gym itself has a recreational program as well as the competitive team.
“We focus on teaching kids confidence, motivation, and the ability to achieve personal excellence through motor skill development, strength, stamina, and flexibility,” Lawrence said.
