Arlington Aerials gymnastics team won 24 individual event medals and nine all-around medals at the Level 8-9 State Gymnastics Championships in Richmond. Photograph contributed
The Arlington Aerials gymnastics team attended the Level 8-9 State Gymnastics Championships on March 24 and 25. The meet was held at the U-Turn Sports Center in Richmond.
The Aerials had 15 competitors (four level 9s and 11 level 8s) in the competition. The girls had a successful weekend, winning 24 individual event medals and nine all-around medals.
The level 8 team had its highest score of the season, earning an eighth-place finish out of 21 teams.
The biggest highlight of the weekend was that 11 of the 15 girls qualified to their regional competitions. Regionals will include gymnasts from Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The competitions will occur in April.
In level 9 competition, Holland Cathey (Alexandria) finished seventh on vault to qualify for regionals. Abby Neuberger (McLean) qualified for regionals on beam (second), floor (second) and all-around (third). Madeleine Sendek (Arlington) won the state championship on bars and finished second on beam and second in all-around, qualifying fore regionals.
In level 8 competition, Lizzy Brown-Kaiser (McLean) finished fourth on vault, Jordan Mambert (Alexandria) was fourth on bars, Sammy Archer (Alexandria) qualified for regionals and Grace Girard (Alexandria) was a regional qualifier, finishing third on beam, sixth on floor and 12th in the all-around.
Eleanor Freed (Falls Church) qualified for regionals, finishing eighth on vault, eighth on bars, 12th on beam and sixth in the all-around. Jackie Green (McLean) was sixth on vault, second on bars, sixth on floor and fifth in all-around, qualifying for regionals.
Piper O’Donnell (Arlington) qualified for regionals, placing third on beam and fourth in all-around.
Monica Thompson (Alexandria) finished second on vault, third on bars, sixth on beam, sixth on floor and fourth in all-around, qualifying for regionals.
Shannon Simmons (Falls Church) won the vault state championship and was second in the all-around, qualifying for regionals. Claire Sanders (McLean) was a vault state champion, a beam co-state champion and finished second on floor and third in all-around, qualifying for regionals.