Whitehorse Daily Star

Polarettes pan for gold in Juneau

Young Polarettes are taking cues from their older teammates.

By Marissa Tiel on May 25, 2017

Young Polarettes are taking cues from their older teammates.

At the Gold Rush Invitational in Juneau last weekend, Yukon gymnasts won 29 gold medals.

The Gold Rush Invitational is a small meet held by the Southeast Alaska Gymnastics Academy, which serves as a perfect introduction to competition for the younger athletes.

“For some of them, it was their first time competing,” said Polarettes coach Megan Banks. “It’s a really laid-back competition.”

The Polarettes Gymnastics Club and the Southeast Alaska Gymnastics Academy go back years. Banks remembers attending the event when she was a young gymnast more than 10 years ago.

The Polarettes had 11 athletes taking part with three coaching staff.

In Level 3 Group A, Olivia Vangel was first overall after taking first on vault and bars, second on beam and third on floor.

In Level 3 Group B, it was a Yukon sweep of the podium. Talia Campbell was first overall (1st vault, 1st bars, 2nd beam, 3rd floor); Maya-Pearl Hudson was second (3rd vault, 3rd bars, 1st beam, 1st floor); and Amelie Guilbeaut was third ( 2nd vault, 2nd bars, 3rd beam, 2nd floor).

Mackenzie Tonner was first overall in Level 3 Group C (3rd vault, 1st bars, 1st beam, 2nd floor); and Camille Belanger was second (2nd vault, 2nd bars, 1st floor).

Sascha Nelson won Level 3 Group D with a second on vault, first on bars, first on beam and second on floor.

In Level 4 Group B, Kate Koepke was first. She had three golds on vault, bars and beam and a silver on floor.

Kalina Morrison, the only athlete in her division, won gold in Level 6 Group A.

In Level 7 Group A, Sasha Kozmen was second with a bronze on vault and three silvers on bars, beam and floor.

Adria Gallina was the only athlete to compete in Junior Olympic 2. She won gold in the division.

With their combined results, the Polarettes also brought home the team award for the second year in a row.

The Polarettes next host Juneau for the Yukon Championships on May 28 at their gym in Riverdale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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