"Hard work trumps talent," and support of this mantra was evidenced by the Level 3 team of gymnasts from Bahamas Star Gymnastics (BSG) who competed over the past weekend at the 2014 Wolverines Classic.
This is the fourth consecutive year that BSG participated in the event which is hosted in Ann Arbor, Michigan by GymAmerica, whose owner Claudia Kretschmer has served as a coach clinician at several technical courses hosted here in New Providence. In back-to-back weekends of competition, the "awesome foursome" of Candace Murphy, Summer Sturrup, Sanaa Saunders and Madisson Deveaux, posted higher scores. In their first appearance at the Wolverines Classic, that quartet all produced better scores than the previous weekend at the Magical Classic in Orlando, Florida, and all finished in the top 10 in their respective All-Around age divisions.
Murphy captured fourth place in her age group with a season high score of 36.175 (out of 40). She improved her All-Around score of 34.925 which was recorded at the Magical Classic, and also finished second on Vault for her age division. Murphy's teammate, Summer Sturrup, who was fighting off a flu bug, rounded out her All-Around division in ninth place by scoring 35.725, thereby improving on her Magical Classic score of 35.250. Sturrup, who blocked off a 9.60 (out of 10) at the Magical Classic, still holds the highest scoring record for The Bahamas on individual events for the season. It is likely that Sturrup's scores would have been higher with better health.
Deveaux, who was the youngest member of the squad, twisted and tumbled to a seventh place finish on both Vault and All-Around in her age division. She celebrated her birthday "on the road" with her teammates, earned a 35.60 in the All-Around at the Wolverines Classic after a 34.40 at the Magical. Delightful Deveaux benefitted from having more competitive experience outside of the country and her improvement underscores the value of exposing gymnasts to a variety of competitive meets.
Sanaa Saunders has certainly emerged as the "dark horse in the race". Saunders, who struggled with a new regiment of training, epitomizes determination and perseverance. Not known to be the quickest in learning skills or considered naturally talented, Saunders has one of the most consistent competitive records.
"She knows how to compete and like her teammate Murphy, knows how to shake off disappointment on one apparatus and pull out a surprise on another apparatus," praised Co-Head Coach Kachara Marshall. Saunders fell of the balance beam at the Magical and came back strong for a third place in the floor exercise. At the Wolverines Classic, she shook off a fall on uneven bars and rallied to a second place on the balance beam. Yet, her all-around score was the lowest of her team, but she ranked highest on individuals events. In The Bahamas, one would say "don't sleep on Sanaa" and in international circles she is described as the gymnast with "killer competition instincts and a poker face".
The team's best scores for the season have been on the balance beam apparatus which is credited to both co-head coach Marshall and dance coach Idania Garcia-Stroud. Known for their high standards and no-excuses approach to coaching, Marshall and Garcia-Stroud have proven once again that they have a winning combination. BSG's coaches received high compliments and commendations from Louis Liguori and Janice Smith, owners of Gymnastics and More in South Carolina where the gymnasts trained during their layover between the two competitions. Liguori, whose gymnasts have been state champions for 19 consecutive years, offered praise regarding how well the Bahamian gymnasts kept pace with his top level gymnasts in training.
Bahamas Star Gymnastics opened its doors on Bacardi Road in 2010 with its Starmania Summer Camp, and has contributed to the hosting of the Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational and other events, such as coaches clinics which continue to improve the sport of gymnastics in the country. BSG will host its own meet, BGPBC-Bahamas Star Gymnastics Invitational, for the third consecutive year in April.

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