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Polarettes wrap up season with Yukon Championships

Yukon gymnasts were on the floor against a club from Juneau over the weekend in the annual Yukon Championships. The Polarettes Gymnastics Club put a wrap on their competitive season with the event.

Yukon gymnasts were on the floor against a club from Juneau over the weekend in the annual Yukon Championships.

The Polarettes Gymnastics Club put a wrap on their competitive season with the event.

The visiting Alaskan squad brought about 20 athletes to Whitehorse, with another 20 competing for the Polarettes.

Anisa Albisser led the Whitehorse contingent with a “phenomenal” performance said head coach Catherine O’Donovan.

Competing in Level 4, the highest level of the competition, Albisser placed first overall. It was her first year in the Level 4 category and she was also the youngest athlete in that field.

In total five Yukon athletes competed in level 4, which bodes well for the future of the program.

The day saw athletes compete across six categories, split into a morning and afternoon session. Yukon took gold in five of the six events.

“It’s a really friendly competition and a great opportunity for some of my higher level athletes to showcase some of their harder skills that they may not want to risk outside at a bigger competition,” said O’Donovan.

“It’s a great example of the work they’ve put in all year and an opportunity for their friends and family to watch.”

The event was followed by a year-end awards ceremony, where Albisser was crowned athlete of the year.

“All the girls did really well,” said O’Donovan.

“I’m pretty happy we came out with the top title in five of the six categories. You can’t ask for much more than that.”

The club will now be taking a break from competition but will be training hard in preparation for the upcoming 2015 Canada Games in Prince George, B.C.

“We’re moving athletes up to get ready for that,” said O’Donovan. “We’ve got lots of work to do to get ready for a big upcoming year.”

In July, members of the club will have an opportunity to train with Kyle Shewfelt’s coach as they prepare for the Games.

Shewfelt won Canada’s first gold in the 2004 Athens Olympics in the men’s floor exercise competition. It was the first medal ever by a

Canadian in an artistic

gymnastics event.

Contact Sam Riches at

sam@yukon-news.com

Morning session results

P1 - Group A:

1. Maude Molgat - YT

2. Ava Blue Jampolsky - YT

3. Megan Miller - JNU

4. Ella Paldy - YT

5. Riley Boland - YT

P1 - Group B:

1. Aryanna Lavanderos - YT

2. Ruchi Haight - JNU

3. Cady Naegle - JNU

4. Hailey Sherman - YT

5. Kelsey Barker - JNU

P2 - Group A:

1. Bianca Berko-Malvasio - YT

2. Molly Brocious - JNU

3. Alexis Benson - YT

4. Keelyn McDonald - JNU

5. Sasha Kozmen - YT

Afternoon session results

P2 - Group B:

1. Sage Walker - JNU

2. Robyn Poulter - YT

3. Karmen Funderburk - JNU

4. Matisse Robertson - YT

5. Audrey Welling - JNU

P3

1. Emily King - YT

2. Sydney Strong - JNU

3. Megan Lujan - JNU

4. Anna Whisenant - JNU

5. Renee Urriuta-Winn - JNU

P4

1. Anisa Albisser - YT

2. Caitlyn Venasse - YT

3. Reena Coyne - YT

4. Megan Banks - YT

5. Fayne O’Donovan - YT