The Duncan Dynamics Gymnastics Club proved it can contend on the world stage when it sent 16 athletes to their first international competition in Las Vegas in January.
Leading the way were Level 9 gymnasts Darby McIntyre and Micaylla Broadway, who finished second and third all-around in their division at the Lady Luck Invitational, which attracts 2,300 gymnasts from the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
McIntyre placed first in vault, seventh on uneven bars, third on beam and eighth on floor, while Broadway was 10th on vault, second on bars, seventh on beam and fourth on floor. Another Level 9 competitor, Hayley Baker, finished third on vault.
In Level 8, Keerstin Arden placed 10th on vault, fourth on floor and 19th all-around.
In Level 7, Brooklyn Stobbe finished fourth on beam, sixth on floor and seventh all-around, while Tahara Brown was 10th on vault and ninth on bars.
Trystinna Bailey placed seventh on beam, third on floor and 10th all around in Level 6. Rebeca Bailey was sixth on beam and 10th on floor, Cheyenne Mackeil finished eighth on bars and 10th on beam, Anna Akhurst placed seventh on both beam and floor, Sadie Manley was ninth on floor, and Jenna Laughland finished eighth on beam.
In Level 4, Kaia Cools was 10th on vault and Avaling David was 12th on floor.
The Level 3 team won the fourth place trophy, thanks to Amelia Cannon’s eighth on bars, Mia Fahey’s 10th on beam, and Weilee David’s 12th on bars.
“This trip was a huge learning experience for all of the athletes and the latest step in the development of the local club which plans to implement an annual trip to a meet in the U.S.,” club spokesperson Karyne Bailey said. “Exposure to the newly adopted U.S. Junior Olympic program at a U.S. meet was a valuable experience for the girls and the coaches.”
The gymnasts and their parents did extensive fundraising in order to attend the Vegas meet, and are planning to do the same again for next year. A generous donation from James Street Billiards went a long way in helping the club go to Vegas.
