Local gymnasts competed in the Colorado Xcel Gold State on March 31 to April 2 in Highlands Ranch, hosted by Peak Athletics.
Two athletes from Ignite Gymnastics in Ignacio captured state titles while 11 gymnasts from the county qualified for the upcoming regional championships in Texas.
“Our weekend at Colorado Xcel Gold State Meet went awesome,” said Ignite coach Liz Herring. “All seven of the Ignite gymnasts who participated in state qualified to the regionals meet.”
Four gymnasts from Dream Chasers in Durango also qualified for the regional meet.
Regionals will be held at the World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas – the gym Olympian Simone Biles trains with and owns – April 27 to 30.
Reagan Oelschlaeger, 10, and Laeliana Shubert, 13, both won state championships with their floor routines for Ignite.
Oelschlaeger also won bronze in the all-around competition in her age group while placing fourth on vault and fifth on beam.
In addition to winning the floor, Shubert also placed fourth on beam, eighth on vault and seventh all around.
Zoe Gabb, 12, also made the podium on the vault with a third-place finish. Gabb finished seventh on beam.
Amelia Perkerwicz, 11, placed fourth on the floor, seventh on bars, ninth on vault and 10th all around.
Amira Montoya, 13, placed seventh on beam, ninth on bars, 10th on vault and 10th all-around.
Macy Robinette, 10, placed sixth on vault and eighth on beam.
Rose Baxter, 11, placed 10th on bars.
“We had a little craziness on bars,” Herring said. “Sometimes an event just doesn't go as planned, but that gives us something to work on and improve on before regionals.”
For Dream Chasers, Jia Li Turgeon, 11, tied for silver on the beam.
Ansley Webb, 11, scored a bronze with her floor routine.
Aiko Holland, 9, tied for seventh on floor.
Elenore Rice, 10, tied for seventh on vault.
All four of those gymnasts also qualified for the regional championships.
“There was some great talent in Denver from highly reputable gyms,” said Dream Chasers coach Carrye Campbell. “I am proud of these gymnasts for these accomplishments.”
Jeanne Campbell, 16, meanwhile, finished 11th in the all-around competition at the level 10 state championships recently with a 32.575, barely missing the regional qualifying mark.
“Although Jeanne performed beautifully, she did not quite make the scores for regionals this year,” coach Campbell said. “Her focus is now on new high-level skills and perfecting her routines for next season.”
