The Sweetheart Invitational meet was held Feb. 19-20 at the Southeast Alaska Gymnastics Academy.
Forty-one athletes competed, including the boys team with 12 new team members making their debut at level 2. Level 2 gymnasts were judged and received scores, but were not ranked against each other.
“They moved up to team last month, and just learned their routines,” head coach Alexis Howard said. “We wanted them to put on a uniform and experience the meet with the rest of the team, without the pressure of competition, quite yet. I’m really proud of them for getting out there and hitting their routines.”
Boys competed in six events: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar.
Matisse Geselle won first place for level 5 with a score of 64.0 in the all around.
Girls competed and were scored by visiting judges Kai Binkley Sims of Anchorage and Kaleinani Rupp of Eagle River. Girls events were vault, uneven parallel bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
Top finishers were Stella Moran with a 32.1 in the level 3-A all around, and Tristan Oliva, who scored a 33.95 in level 3-B all around. Sydney Strong placed first for level 6-A, scoring 35.75, and Megan Lujan took level 6-B with a 36.65.
The lone visiting gymnast, Emerson Sims, of Denali Gymnastics in Wasilla, placed first at level 4 with an all around score of 33.55.
