The "Sweet 17" squad of gymnasts from Bahamas Star Gymnastics (BSG), sponsored by the Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club, smashed several national records and in their own star-studded fashion inked new records for their club and country. Chaperoned by Co-Head Coach Kachara Marshall, Dance Coach Idania Garcia Stroud and Staff Coach Tenille Thompson, the 17-member team donned their black and gold leotards, chalked up and dazzled poised performances at the 2016 Tim Rand Gymnastics Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Florida last weekend. Members of The Bahamas Consulate in South Florida were also on hand to support the team.
Amanda Rahming doubled her first place finish in Level 3 previously attained at the 2016 Magical Classic (37.675 all-around) by resetting the mark with a national record for Level 3 with a 38.10 personal best. Unassuming Rahming swept first place finishes on balance beam (9.550) and floor exercise (9.70). A slow-rising but promising star, Rahming ignited the fire under the team to heat up the weekend's competition.
Kym-Benay Greene accepted the baton of fire from Rahming and in the Level 4 session twisted and tumbled to a third place all-around with a score of 36.675 for a season-high for the country. Greene also took third place finishes on balance beam (9.50) and floor exercise (9.325).
In the final session on Friday, Level 6 twisters continued to build momentum with Candace Murphy, Summer Sturrup, Soraya Halkitis and Sanaa Saunders. Murphy demonstrated "warrior mode" when she banged her legs during official warm-ups and ordinarily would have scratched. The fierceness of her determination dominated the pain after icing, and she championed her team to new national all-around record for Level 6 of 37.525, while capturing first place in uneven bars with 9.30. A few weekends earlier, teammate Summer Sturrup tied for first place at the 2016 Wolverines Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Level 1 and Level 2 gymnasts fed some fuel to their fierce fire of competition on Sunday morning with new national records in both levels. Led by Level 1's Aemerie Curry whose 38.325 all-around score disposed of the old national record for all levels (highest all-around score), the flame burned hotter. Combined with Taylor Robinson's 38.275 (all-around) and Layla Adderley's 38.250 (all-around), the Level 1 team captured second place in the team standing. Curry bridge-walked to a first place (9.750) on floor exercise and Layla Adderley handstand dismounted (9.750) to first place on balance beam with both setting new national records for Level 1 in the individual apparatus in international competition. Other contributing members of the team were Caoimhe Ashmore (second place balance beam-9.725), Gabriella Miller (third place floor exercise-9.60), Clodagh Ashmore (37.250 all-around) and Logan Stubbs (36.225 all-around).
Level 2 gymnasts raised the temperature by blazing their own set of records in the national books. With contributing scores from Trinity Taylor (37.00 all-around), Rhianna Smith (36.850 all-around) and Tanitra Armbrister (36.70 all-around), the team mirrored Level 1 with second place in the team standing. Smith, Armbrister and Wright earned a first place finish a few weeks earlier in the team standing for Level 2 at the 2016 Magical Classic in Orlando, Florida. In her age division, Smith captured first place all-around and second place on vault (9.30), second place on balance beam (9.40) and second place on floor exercise (9.30). Armbrister achieved third place all-around, and first place on floor exercise (9.20). Wright earned second place on uneven bars (9.0) and floor exercise (9.30).
"We are proud of the hard work paying off for the gymnasts. It's surreal to be a part of this history-making team with so many new national records. Wow," remarked Co-Head Coach Kachara Marshall.
Bahamas Star Gymnastics has continually exposed its gymnasts to different regions of competition as early as 2011 after opening its doors in 2010. The club will host its annual "invitational" in April for the fifth consecutive year, April 1-2, and the official appointed to the meet by USA Gymnastics is Level 10 judge Susan Hyde.

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