SOARING TO EXCELLENCE: Gymnasts sparkle at home meet
“Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new again.”
—Peter W. Allen / Carole Bayer-sager
For more than 50 years the Bartlesville Gymnastics Invitational has connected the good ‘ol days with the current generation.
Once again, the 56th edition of the event generated its own magic of blending past tradition wedded with the new hopes and desire.
It all took place last weekend at the Adams Gym, where the Bartlesville Gymnastics Club hosted its homegrown event — the longest-such running invitational in the United States.
“It is such an honor for me to be part of such a historic event,” said Lorrie Bertolet, the club director.
The club made its giant impact felt among the teams that traveled from throughout Oklahoma and Kansas to participate.
All-Around champions for Bartlesville included: Raynie Ketcher (Level 10), Burklee Orphin (Level 6, Jr. A), Lydia Pierce (Level 9, Jr. A), Nova Foster (AL), Harper Sanderson (A2, Sr. A), Harper McPherson (A3, Jr. !), Timberly Covert (XG, Jr. A), and Emma Jones (XG, Sr. A).
The club also capture 27 gold medals on individual events.
Following are the All-Around results, plus first-place finishes, for the club.
LEVEL 10
Raynie Ketcher (1st All-Around, 36.875, first places — bars, 9.075; beam, 9.5; floor, 9.275); Isa Highfield (2nd All-Around, 34.7); Madelyn Stuart (3rd All-Around, 34.3; first places — vault, 9.325); Lisa Smith (4th All-Around, 9.225).
LEVEL 9 (Jr. A)
Lydia Pierce (1st All-Around, 36.125; first places — bars, 9.025).
LEVEL 9 (Sr. A)
Halle Hirrlinger (4th All-Around, 33.525).
LEVEL 8
Kinlee Littleford (3rd All-Around, 36.35; 1st places — vault, 9.25); Claira Blazic (5th All-Around, 35.1); Lyndsey Lief (6th All-Around, 35.05); Nicole Lickliter (8th All-Around, 17.6); Scout Offutt (9th All-Around, 15.5).
LEVEL 6 (Jr. A)
Burklee Orphin (1st All-Around, 37.35; first places — 9.45); Ella Lindesmith (4th All-Around, 36.725); Lorelei Weikle (5th All-Around, 36.675; first places — beam, 9.5); Quinn Smith (7th All-Around, 36.425); Hayden Littleford (9th All-Around, 36.125); Cami Spears (16th All-Around, 35.075).
LEVEL 6 (SR. A)
Brenlyn Simmons (2nd All-Around, 35.975; first places — floor, 9.475).
AAU A1
Nova Foster, Haylie Clark, Irie Carter, Daisy Washam.
AAU A2 (Jr. A)
Eliza Biggs (1st All-Around, 36.55; first places — vault, 9.0; bars, 9.45); Ava Martin (2nd All-Around, 35.5; first places — floor, 9.3); Ensley Luxton (5th All-Around, 34.85); Sophia Johnson (6th All-Around, 34.35); Natalie Tucker (8th All-Around, 33.7).
AAU A2 (Sr. A)
Harper Sanderson (1st All-Around, 35.65; first places — vault, 9.35); Sophia Pendergraft (2nd All-Around, 35.6; first-places — floor, 9.4); Sami McPherson (4th All-Around, 35.4); Anna Crowley (7th All-Around, 32.35).
AAU A3 (Jr. A)
Harper McPherson (1st All-Around, 35.7; first places — vault, 9.0; bars, 9.0; floor, 9.2); Ella Mayer (4th All-Around, 33.4); Rylee Laxson (7th All-Around, 32.35); Clara Mayer (8th All-Around, 32.3); Harper Alley (10th All-Around, 29.1).
AAU A3 (Jr. B)
Tiemie Dickman (9th All-Around, 31.1).
AAU A3 (Sr. A)
Isabella Bratrsovsky (2nd place All-Around, 34.8); Keely Nelson (9th All-Around, 31.75).
XG (Jr. A)
Timberly Covert (1st All-Around, 37.925; first places — bars, 9.7; beam, 9.625); Dacey Hirrlinger (2nd All-Around, 37.5); Harper Maudlin (6th All-Around, 36.65); Trinity Stephens (8th All-Around, 36.4; first place — vault, 9.3); Ava Campbell (9th All-Around, 35.625); Jenna Casto (11th All-Around, 34.9); Daisha Davis (13th All-Around, 33.625).
XG (Sr. A)
Emma Jones (1st All-Around, 38.15; first places — bars, 9.75; beam, 9.5; floor, 9.75); Sophia Mayer (3rd All-Around, 36.25).
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Local gymnastics club shines at storied home meet
