The Williams Lake Gymnastics Club sprung into its competitive season on Feb. 20 attending the Quesnel Technics Gymnastics Club’s Goldpan Invitational Meet.
Ten gymnasts from the WLGC took part in the meet, which was attended by gymnastics clubs from throughout northern B.C.
WLGC coach Mike Stinson said it was a good learning experience for his club, who got a chance to iron out some early-season nerves and nail down their routines.
“It was a good learning meet for our club,” Stinson said. “Everyone’s starting to look good on their routines.
“We’ll use it as a stepping stone as we head off to other upcoming meets. Our next one we’re hoping to get better and stronger.”
In the Provincial 2 Open division, Ellen Kaufman landed second-place finishes in both vault and floor, while finishing fourth in the category.
Jaymie Grove, in the Provincial 2 Argo division, finished second behind Quesnel’s Madison Moore.
In the Provincial 2 Tyro division, Sophia Wong finished seventh overall while taking sixth-place finishes on both vault and floor. Alyssa Cheverie, also competing in the division, placed eighth.
Ashley Palesch, competing in the Provincial 2 Novice division, took 10th.
First-year competitive team member Samantha McKee and teammate Michaela Newberry, both competing in the Provincial 1 Tyro division, landed solid finishes.
McKee took bronze in vault, and finished tied for fifth in bars, while Newberry finished fourth overall in the division with a fourth-place finish on bars, a fifth-place finish on vault and beam and a sixth-place finish on floor.
“Samantha, for her first meet competing, did awesome,” Stinson said.
In the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics division, three Williams Lake gymnasts competed — Ben Yakimovich, Andrew Bettles and Mason Wong.
Wong finished second overall behind Prince George’s Chris Matthews, taking first-place finishes in floor, pommel horse and horizontal bars and third-place placings in rings and parallel bars.
Bettles finished third, finishing first in vault, second in pommel horse and thirds in floor and horizontal bars.
Yakimovich came in closely behind, taking first in rings and seconds in parallel bars and horizontal bars.
Coming up, the WLGC will be sending three athletes to the B.C. High School Gymnastics Championships in Delta from March 12-13.
Following that, the local club heads to Abbotsford for the Twisters Invitational Gymnastics Meet from March 26-27.