Bahamians “Twist” to New Records at American Twisters Gymnastics Invitational

NASSAU, Monday, March 12, 2012 -- The American Twisters Tim Rand Gymnastics Invitational experienced a “Bahamian Twist” recently (March 2-4) as nine members of the Bahamas Star Gymnastics team competed impressively in the field of almost 800 athletes. Clubs represented from around the USA, Trinidad & Tobago and US Virgin Islands converged at the Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center to battle for top spots.

The Team, under the leadership of Head Coach Alexander Mayet and Assistant Coach Kachara Marshall took in a final workout session at the Park Avenue Gymnastics facility in Cooper City, FL. “We left home ready to compete but the session at Park Avenue fueled the team even more because they were able to workout alongside Park Avenue’s elite athletes who also were competing in the Twisters’ meet,” commented Coach Mayet.

The nine-member team included: Zia Joos, a Level 2 newcomer competing for the third time ever; Kyla Rolle, a Level 3 gymnast; Rachea Knowles and Sydney Wells, competing at Level 4; Caitlin Cash, covering Level 5; Athalia Swann and Kianna Dean at Level 6; Toni Johnson at Level 7; and Toneka Johnson at Level 8. “We were able to compete across the board which allows up-close examination of USA Gymnastics (USAG) standards. We primarily compete in USAG meets so this experience helps us to improve individually and collectively as a Team,” commented Coach Mayet.

Bahamas Star’s team earned impressive results at the Twisters’ meet.

Leading off the squad was Joos, a grade three student at Xaviers Lower School who medaled on the Vault with a 9.0 (3rd place), on the Uneven Bars (UB) with a 9.25 (2nd Place), on the Balance Beam (BB) with a 8.55 (4th Place), and took the first place finish on the Floor with a 9.175. The resulting All Around score of 35.975 earned her a 3rd place finish in her division. These scores gave Joos her personal best in Bars, Beam and Floor.

Queen’s College student Kyla Rolle responded to the pressure by continuing the impressive showing of the BSG team with a 8.75 (9th place) score on the Vault, a Bars score of 9.0 (6th place, an Beam score of 8.7 (7th place) and a 8.825 (6th place finish) on Floor for an All Around score of 35.275 and a 7th place finish.

The Level 4 duo of Knowles, a Queen’s College fourth grader and Oakesfield Primary School third grader Wells posted impressive results as well. Knowles’ 9.05 (14th Place) on Vault, 7.0 (15th Place) on Bars, 7.975 (13th Place) on Beam and an 8.250 (14th Place) on floor resulted in an All Around medal score of 32.275, placing her at 15th out of the 30 gymnast competing at this level. Her Level 4 partner, Wells improved her personal best All Around score of 35.40 achieved only a week prior at the Wolverine Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wells, like teammates Joos and Rolle, medaled in all four events, earning a 9.3 (out of a possible 10) on the Uneven Bars (4th place), 9.4 on the Vault (4th place). 9.1 on the Floor Exercise (6th place) and 8.45 on the Balance Beam (8th Place). The All Around score earned Wells a 6th place overall finish among 30 competing Level 4 gymnasts. And, Wells’ All Around score of 36.25 is now the new All Around best score of all teammates and competing Bahamian thus far for the 2011-2012 season.

Xavier’s Lower School 5th and 6th graders Cash and Swann appear to be tracking their Levels with their Grade. Cash competed at Level 5 and despite a tough field of over 65 gymnasts competing at that level she held her own. Cash achieved her personal best on the Vault with a score of 9.175 (4th place) and respectfully scored a 7.5 (17th) Bars score, an 8.05 (14th Place) Beam score and an 8.25 (12th Place) on the Floor for an All Around 16th place medal finish of 32.95. Following suit, the Xavier’s Lower School 6th grader and Level 6 gymnast, Swann, would continue to trend and ensure that Xavier’s and BSG were well represented. Logging her personal best in Bars with a score of 8.775 (6th place) Tally, as her teammates call her, secured a notable 9.125 (7th Place) on Vault, a 8.15 (11th Place) and an 8.55 (6th Place) on Beam and Floor respectively. These scores gave Swann her personal best All Around score of 34.6 and an 8th place.

Dean, Aquinas College Aces’ 10th grade honor student put on an impressive performance in the Level 6 category, achieving her personal best on the Bars and the Beam with scores of 8.65 (10th Place) and 8.5 (5th Place) respectively for what were deemed her “weaker” events. Dean performed equally well in the Vault with a score of 8.475 (12th Place) and rounded out her score with a Floor score of 8.25 (7th Place) for an All Around score of 34.075 (11th place), more than 2 points higher than her previous high All Around score for the season.

The Sister-Sister Team of Toni and Toneka Johnson was back in action in this their first off-shore meet for the season, putting the exclamation point on the team’s performance. The Prince William High School’s 8th and 12th grade students amazed the spectators with their talents while their proud grandmother looked on. Toni, who competed at Level 7, achieved her personal best in 3 of the 4 events with a score of 9.335 (11th Place) on Vault, 7.35 (11th Place) on Bars, an 8.6 on Beam and 8.20 (14th Place) on Floor for a personal All Around best score of 33.50 (13th Place). Although her Beam and Floor scores 7.7 (12th Place) and 7.1 (14th) were below her expectation, the veteran Level 8 gymnast, Toneka, offered up an impressive showing in her other events, earning a Vault score of 8.725 (1st Place) and a personal best score of 8.125 (6th Place) on Bars, giving her an overall score of 31.65 (10th Place).

Both Coaches were impressed with the results from the Twisters’ meet and are now looking forward to most of them moving on to new levels. “This squad has competed well at their current levels and meanwhile we have been working on the skills required for their next levels,” said Coach Mayet. “There is a cadre of rising stars waiting in the wings ready to vie for spots on next season’s team,” finished Mayet. So, the 2012/2013 team is expected to be bigger and better than ever. Mayet says he is excited about the development of his coaching staff as well which is comprised of Staff Coaches Kachara Marshall, Monique De’Swanton and Dance Coach Idania Garcia-Stroud. “What is most amazing is that most of the gymnasts all improved their scores on the events that have traditionally been the challenge and “Achilles heel” for Bahamian gymnast for years --Bars and Beam. That speaks volumes to the superior training that the club is now benefitting.

This meet as well as Wolverine Classic in Michigan were possible for Bahamas Star as a result of many hours of hard work by the Parent Booster Club and the financial support of the Clubs’ corporate sponsors, in particular Sun Oil Limited, who specifically contributed to these two meets. The Booster Club and School both thank Sun Oil and all Bahamas Star sponsors and supporters for supporting the development of a team of talented gymnasts that is striving to represent the Bahamas in the 2016 Olympics.

Up next for the team is an exhibition performance at the clubs annual Primary School Cheerleading competition dubbed Cheermania 2012 to be held on March 24th at 6PM.

Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club (“BGPBC”) was formed as a non-profit entity in 2009 with one of its primary goals of supporting gymnasts. Bahamas Star Gymnastics (“BSG”), also a non-profit entity, operates the training facility at The Source River Center, formerly Bacardi Plant and home of other talented gym stars from levels 1-9. Classes for boys and girls are scheduled weekly. While incorporated as separate entities, both clubs work jointly to promote the sport of gymnastics in the country. The relationship established by both BGPBC and BSG with clubs in the United States led to the hosting of Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational in December 2011 on Paradise Island. For more information email www.bah.star.gym@gmail.com or call 242-677-3125.