The 2017 competition season is off to a fast start for the Bainbridge Island Gymnastics team.
The team competed in back-to-back meets in Vancouver and then in Kent, taking on the competition from around the region and bringing home bronze, silver and gold medals.
Typically, after the Olympics, USA Gymnastic, the governing body for gymnastics in the U.S., reviews and often modifies the routines and scoring for competitive gymnastics.
This time was no different, and through the excellent and dedicated coaches, Bryan Garotte and Tim Farro, the Bainbridge team learned the new routines and scoring and continued where they left off last year.
At the Vega Challenge 2017, held in Vancouver, Washington, Jan. 14-15, the Bainbridge gymnasts claimed multiple medals.
In Level 4, Division 1, ages 9-10, Roland Koch flew to the bronze in high bar.
In the 7-8 ages group, Leo Koch kept up with his older brother by leaping into a tie for bronze on the vault.
In Level 4, Division 2, ages 11-plus, Thomas DeFoe streaked to the gold on vault.
In Level 5, Division 1, ages 11-plus, Jayden Wood-Johnson stole the show with a stellar performance, and won gold medals on floor, rings, vault and parallel bars, a silver on high bar and a bronze on pommel horse. All this excellence earned him a lock for gold in the all-around.
The Level 6, Division 1, 12-plus group was well represented by longtime Bainbridge team member Aidan Cretarolo, who flipped, tumbled and soared to a gold in high bar, a silver on floor and a bronze on vault and pommel horse. All this earned him a well-deserved bronze in the all-around.
Level 6, Division 2, 12-plus teammate Jacob Hall amazed by starting strong for the 2017 season with gold medals on the floor, pommel horse, vault, parallel bars and high bar, taking silver in rings and completing a stellar day with gold in the all-around, beating his nearest rival by nearly four points.
Junior Development, age 16-plus competitor Colin Hansen rounded out the Bainbridge show at the Vega Challenge 2017 by earning gold in pommel horse, vault and parallel bars, silver on high bar, ties for bronze on rings and floor. His continuing excellence earned him gold in the all-around.
A week later at the Coaches Cup, held in Kent on Jan. 21-22, the Bainbridge team took the show on the road again.
Level 4, Division 2, age 6 teammate Connor Ziemba earned a bronze in the all-around by taking home a silver in rings and bronze medals in floor, vault, pommel horse and high bar.
Leo Koch, competing at Level 4, Division 1, ages 7-8, took silver in pommel horse and bronze on the floor, missing a bronze in the all-around by one-tenth of a point.
Level 4, Division 2, age 11-plus teammate Thomas DeFoe made a great showing, bringing home the gold in vault and high bar, silver on rings and landed bronze in the all-around.
Level 5, Division 1, ages 11-plus Jayden Wood-Johnson continued his strong season by taking home silver in the all-around with a steady and consistent effort, with a silver in pommel horse and parallel bars and bronze on the floor.
Aidan Cretarolo starred again, taking gold in the all-around at Level 6, Division 1, ages 12-plus by leading the field with gold medals in vault, parallel bars and high bar and silver medals on rings and on the floor.
In the Level 6, Division 2, ages 12-plus, Jacob Hall and Owen Scheer put on a show, taking gold and silver medals, respectively, in the all-around competition. Jacob Hall dominated the field with gold medals on floor, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar and silver on pommel. Owen Scheer continued years of excellence on the pommel horse, taking the gold.
The Bainbridge team next head to the Mount Baker Invite in Burlington on Saturday, Feb. 4, as they move into the heart of the competition season, which will culminate with the Washington State Championships in Everett March 24-26.
