Stars Continue to Improve Season’s Record Back to Back Competitions Yield More Impressive Results
A shy and reticent Aaliyah Gray could not have imagined that she would rock the gymnastics community with a record breaking performance after less than a year of training in the sport. Stacked against her track star and naturally athletic sister, Alexis Gray, and other international competitors, Gray popped a score of 9.650 (of 10) and first place medal on Vault at the 2013 Magical Classic in Orlando, Florida.
An 8th grader at St. John’s College, Aaliyah had already shocked spectators at the 2012 Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational on Paradise Island in December when she swept first place on all apparatus at Level 3 in her age division. Like many youngsters who witnessed and were inspired by American gymnast Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas at the 2012 London Olympics, Gray signed up with her sister and friends in September 2012 to give the sport a “try out”. Gray was bitten by the gym bug immediately and hunkered down with focused workouts to qualify for a spot on Bahamas Star Gymnastics’ competitive team. Coach Kachara Marshall describes Gray as “a delight with one of the best attitudes and work ethics seen in a long time”.
Other shining highlights produced by BSG’s 18 member strong team at The Magical Classic hosted over the weekend of February 15-17 were:
Level 2 - Team Award - 4th Place (of 6 qualifying teams)
Level 2 - Floor Exercise (Age 9-10) - 1st Place - Summer Sturrup (9.550)
Level 2 - Floor Exercise (Age 9-10) - 2nd Place - Tess Carter (9.275)
Level 2 - Vault (Age 6-7) - 2nd place - Jayna Wells (8.975)
Level 2 - Floor Exercise (Age 6-7) - 2nd Place - Jayna Wells (9.40)
Level 2 - Floor Exercise (Age 5-6) - 2nd Place - Aniyah Pratt (9.525)
Level 2 - Floor Exercise (Age 5-6) - 3rd Place - Soraya Halkitis (9.20)
Level 2 - Vault (Age 5-6 ) - 3rd Place - Aniyah Pratt (9.0)
Level 2 - All Around (Age 5-6) - 3rd Place - Soraya Halkitis (36.025 of 40)
Level 3 - Vault (Age 12-15) - 1st Place - Aaliyah Gray (9.650)
Level 4 - Vault (Age 7-8) - 4th Place - Kyla Rolle (9.275)
Level 4 - Vault (Age 8-9) - 5th Place - Zia Joos (9.20)
Level 4 - Floor Exercise (Age 13-15) - 5th Place - Aleah Knowles (8.850)
Level 6 - Vault (Age 10-12) - 2nd Place - Caitlin Cash (9.025)
Level 7 - Beam (Age 11-13) - 3rd Place - Athalia Swann (8.750)
Bahamas Star Gymnastics’ Co-Head Coach Kachara Marshall chaperoned the team and commented that “these girls really feed of each other’s energy”. She is particularly proud of the team spirit which the gymnasts demonstrated in their first meet overseas. Notably, the All Around scores improved for the majority of gymnasts with all of the Level 2-3 gymnasts earning at least one score above 9.0, medaling in individual events and/or in the All-Around with more than half of them earning scores of 35 or higher (out of 40). These gymnasts won the Level 2 team award at Atlantis Crown in December and captured a 4th place finish in the team standing at The Magical Classic.
After getting a taste of Orlando’s headwind of competition from teams from the USA and Venezuela, the Level 4-7 squad travelled to Ann Arbor Michigan for the 2013 Wolverines Classic to face the cold northern winds. During their layover in Orlando, they trained at Ace Gymnastics where they were graciously hosted by owner Joan and Ray Gnat and forged new friendships with the gymnasts. After arrival in Ann Arbor, Michigan they were feasted to another workout session at GymAmerica and were graciously hosted again in the homes of several GymAmerica’s families. The red carpet was rolled out for BSG again for the third consecutive year and coaches from Lady Flames, a club competing during the event, assisted the Level 6 gymnasts during competition.
The results of the Wolverines Classic were phenomenal as Level 4’s Zia Joos and Aleah Knowles improved their scores by 4.40 to 36.175 and 1.35 to 35.075 respectively since their first meet of the season at 2012 Atlantis Crown. Level 7’s Athalia Swann won first place on Vault with a score of 9.30 and teammate Kianna Dean continued to post some solid scores for the season.
The team now puts finishing preparations for the American Twisters Tim Rand Gymnastics Invitational in March and its club’s BGPBC-Bahamas Star Gymnastics Invitational in April. With recent changes in its coaching line up, BSG welcomes Gerard Brennen as new Co-Head Coach who along with Kachara Marshall at the helm are expected to deliver significant improvements to the program. Brennen competed at the collegiate level and specializes in tumbling and acrobatic gymnastics. Other coaches rounding out the technical team are dance coach, Idania Garcia-Stroud and gymnastics coaches Monique de Swanton, Christina Knowles-Turner and Lekeisha Bostwick.
Bahamas Star Gymnastics opened its doors in 2010 with its Starmania Summer Camp and has contributed to the hosting of Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational and other events which have improved the sports of gymnastics in the country.
Aaliyah Gray, left, with older sister Alexis Gray, right, display medals for Level 3 at 2013 Magical Classic in Orlando, Florida after less than half year training in the sport. Aaliyah’s 1st place medal on Vault with score of 9.650 sent shock wave through gymnastics community. Photo courtesy of Bahamas Star Gymnastics
Bahamas Star Gymnastics team pause for a team pose. Photo courtesy of Bahamas Star Gymnastics
Caitlin Cash competes on the Balance Beam at 2013 Wolverines Classic while being supported by coach from Lady Flames, a gymnastics club competing in the event. Photo courtesy of Mark Bogarin/Bahamas Star Gymnastics
Sydney Wells presents for judges as she prepares to mount the Balance Beam at 2013 Wolverines Classic while being cheered on by coach from Lady Flames, a gymnastics club competing in the event. Photo courtesy of Mark Bogarin/Bahamas Star Gymnastics
Tess Carter competes on Balance Beam for Level 2 at 2013 Magical Classic in Orlando, FL. Carter snags several medals including 2nd Place on Floor Exercise. Photo courtesy of Bahamas Star Gymnastics.
