Flyers Gymnastics Has Successful Season At States

Flyers Gymnastics had several of its Team Flyers gymnasts participate in state meets this season.

Levels 3-6 competed in early states at Elmira; Level 7s competed in Suffern; and Level 9 & Xcels competed in Rochester.

Earning gold medal state titles were Maria Rickert, beam 9.2 at Level 4; Madison Kehe, vault 9.35 and bars 8.7 at level 6; and Mara Marsh, bars 9.55 at Xcel gold.

Earning second-place silver medals were Level 4 Kaylin Russell on beam, 9.15; and Level 5 Alaina Gatto on vault, 9.4. Earning Xcel gold was Mara Marsh on beam 9.1 and all-around 36.70.

Earning third-place bronze medals were Level 4 Elizabeth Lai on vault, 9.2; and Maria Rickert on floor, 9.0. At Xcel gold, Mara Marsh medaled on vault, 9.2 and all-around, 36.70. Level 9 Samantha Gilbert medaled on beam with a 9.0.

Also competing and placing at states were Ella Ekstrom, Mia Brown, Kenley Lincoln and Mersadies Nichols in Level 3; Elayna Pitts, Addison Zahn, Gracie Barber and Megan Kubera at Level 4; Corinne Inkley and Lauren Allen at Level 6; Karlee Galloway, Hayley Zukowski and Gilliana Johnson at Xcel Gold; and Rylie Loomis, Cassidy Allen and Kayla Allen at Level 7.

The Flyers coaching staff includes: team ballet coach and choreographer Fawn Schuster, who does everything from routine choreography, ballet, injury prevention and all of the team's flexibility; head optional coach Marissa Melson, who takes on the challenge of coaching Flyers top athletes four days per week; pre-team head coach and gymnastics judge Erin Sleasman, who judges and looks at the girls routines throughout the season; Brian Pumford, personal trainer and boys coach, who comes in one time per week to condition the girls; program director and head compulsory coach Sherri Melson, who coaches the younger team levels while managing the entire gym.