The MetroWest YMCA Gymkats competitive gymnastics team competed in the 2012 Snowflake Invitational the weekend of December  14^th – 16th.  The meet was hosted by the Allard Center Gymnastics Team from YMCA of Goffstown, NH and included 9 teams from Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

In their second Invitational Competition of the season, the Gymkats were represented by gymnasts in levels 4 – 7, Xcel Silver and Xcel Gold with many girls placing in individual events and the all-around. 

The Gymkats kicked off their meet on Friday evening with the Level 7 Team.   The team, comprised of Kelsey Driscoll, Kate O’Callaghan, and Taylor Hartman, executed overall season high scores on the vault with an impressive 9.5, 9.25, and 9.0 respectively.  Kelsey Driscoll was also awarded 2^nd place in the all-around competition for her age group with a score of 32.95.  All three Level 7 gymnasts increased their overall scores from the prior meet.

Saturday afternoon competition was comprised of Xcel Silver and Level 5 competition.   In its first year having an Xcel Silver team, the Gymkats were well represented by gymnasts Kyra Patterson, Kaleigh Mascioli, and Valeria Rendon-Gotera.   Patterson posted an all-around score of 35.6 with second place finishes on Vault (8.3), Beam (8.6), and Floor (9.1) and a first place finished on Bars (9.6) to win the all-around in her age group.  Mascioli had 1^st place finishes on vault (8.55) and floor (9.2), with 2^nd place on bars (9.1), 5^th place on beam (8.2) and 2^nd place in the all-around (35.05).  Rendon-Gotera earned first place in her age group on vault (8.6), bars (8.9), beam (8.5), floor (8.6) and the all-around (34.6).  In team competition, where the top three gymnasts’ scores from each event are calculated, the Xcel Silver team only had the three gymnasts competing.  In this scenario, every one of their scores counted.   Yet, with strong performances across the board, the three were able to post a combined team score of 105.25 to take first place in Xcel Silver Team Competition.

In Level 5 competition, gymnast Georgia Cullington earned a 2^nd place finish on beam (8.8), 3^rd place finish on floor (8.8), and 4^th place finishes on vault (8.85), bars (8.4), and the all-around (34.85) while Emma Lyons and Suzanna Sarkar both achieved several personal bests and topped their all-around scores from the prior competition.

Saturday evening competition highlighted the Level 6 and Xcel Gold teams.  In Level 6, Tiffany Chan placed in three events and the all-around while also posting her season high scores on beam and floor.  Hannah Laskosky placed in all four events and the all-around while topping her season high on bars and floor.  Combined, the two gymnasts enjoyed a tremendous 5.75 improvement in all-around scores from the prior competition.

In Xcel Gold competition, gymnast Maggie Mulhall had a strong day overall earning a season high 34.1 and 8^th place in the all-around competition for the 12 and under age division.   In the 13 and older age division, Annie Mulholland had an exceptional personal performance on floor routine earning her an 8.95 (4^th place).  She also earned 2^nd place on vault with a 9.0 while Sarah Hausmann topped her prior meet’s scores in all 4 events earning a strong 33.75 all-around score.  

The meet concluded on Sunday with tremendous success in Level 4 competition.  In the 8 year old division, highlights include 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes in the all-around competition by gymnasts Natalie Cohen (35.5) and Celia Lemieux (35.2) respectively while Ava Yablonski enjoyed season high scores in multiple events and in the all-around.   In the 9 year old age group, Emily Wong posted a tremendous all-around score of 36.55, earning her a 4^th place finish.  Taylor Chapman posted season high scores on all 4 events earning her a 4^th place in all-around competition in the 11 year old age group with a score of 35.65.  Also in the 11 year old age group, Kelly O’Callaghan demonstrated an outstanding personal performance on vault (9.3) and floor (8.8) to help earn her a 10^th place finish in the all-around.

The Gymkats now return to practice to ready themselves for their next competition in late January.