Twinklers, sparklers, rising stars and star achiever squads glittered the night with gymnastics routines and riveting performances. The Starmania Summer Camp's PreCompetition Judging and Exhibition was co-sponsored by Bahamas Star Gymnastics (BSG) and Bahamas Gymnastics Booster Club.
The event was held on Thursday August 11, at BSG's training facility at The Source River Centre (formerly Bacardi Plant) and marked the closing of the second annual summer camp. Robyn McNicholas, a USA Gymnastics (USAG) level 10 certified judge, scored the level 1-5 competitive gymnasts on each apparatus. McNicholas, in her third appearance in The Bahamas for such events, spent the week advising the gymnasts on how to polish their routines and maximize their scores.
Parents, family, friends and other invited guests witnessed the debut of the level one and three competitors in their routines on Floor Exercise, Balance Beam, Uneven Bars and Vault. These novice competitors joined the level four and five gymnasts who have already tasted the intensity and jitters of competitions. Pre-team gymnasts also showcased the skills which they acquired during the regular season or the summer camp.
The camp which ran for six weeks commenced on July 4 and officially concluded at Thursday's event. Two U.S. coach teams offered clinics via gratis during the camp, namely Al and Cindy Scharns of Branch Gymnastics in Michigan, and Donald and Patrice McPherson of Aerial Gymnastics in Chicago. All visiting coaches remarked on the improvement in flexibility and strength that they observed in the athletes compared to the previous year.
Some of the summer campers, like Summer Sturrup, Savannah Lightfoot, Treasure Malakius and T'Shauntai Adderley, surprised the audience with their level one routines having only enrolled in gymnastics for the first time in July. Other campers, like Lashanne Curtis, Dayna Pratt, Kym-Benay Greene, Sanaa Saunders, and Zia Joos, who joined the program during the regular season delighted the spectators as well.
Cheyanne Powell, the first gymnast to become a beneficiary of the Sponsor-A-Star Scholarship Fund, also delivered crowd pleasing performances. Kyla Rolle, legendary Becky Chipman's great grand-daughter, was the sole level three competitor for the evening. Level four competitors, Rachea Knowles and Sydney Wells, delivered performances to improve their personal best from last season.
Energy booster, Caitlin Cash, awed the audience with each routine to round out the evening with level five performances. Level 6-8 squad members, Kianna Dean, and Toni and Toneka Johnson opted to be judged in November and performed their routines as part of the exhibition portion of the event.
Awards were presented to the campers for their athletic achievement as well as spiritual excellence and academic achievement to encourage holistic development in each athlete. The award recipients were: Zia Joos (Xavier's, score - 9.1), Top Uneven Bars Score, and Most Consistent and Hardworking; Caitlin Cash (Xavier's), Top Balance Beam Score and Academic Achievement-Primary School; Savannah Lightfoot (St. John's College), Top Vault Score, Top Floor Exercise Score - 9.875, and Top All-Around Score - 36.875.
Other award recipients were: Dayna Pratt (Home School), Most Improved; Hervinique Curtis (One-on-one), Best Conduct; Sanaa Saunders (Tambearly), Tenacity (not giving up); Kym-Benay Greene (Kingsway), Spiritual Excellence/Team Spirit; and Tenille Thompson (Home School) Academic Achievement-High School.
The most decorated gymnast at the end of the evening was Savannah Lightfoot, a student of St. John's College and a dance student of Bahamas Dance Theatre. She worked with lot of heart and determination throughout the camp. She pushed for five weeks to acquire a "pull over" on the Uneven Bars and in week six her goal was achieved. A very quiet and mannerly young lady, Lightfoot and all of the gymnasts who earned an All-Around score of 31 or higher will advance to the next level in the sport. Some of these gymnasts advancing to level two will represent their club at the Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational in December.
All recreational and competitive gymnasts were coached by Kachara Marshall, Monique de Swanton, Dandria Scott, Toneka Johnson, Tenille Thompson and parent volunteer coaches. Medals and certificates were presented to all participating campers to encourage discipline, dedication, determination and desire to succeed. The camp's theme 'Gymnastics Today, Character for Life' is embodied in each lesson and was evidenced throughout the evening's affair.
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