Pictured, from left, are: Izzibella Ordines, Emilie Roush, Allie Arnone, Ava Johnson, Brailey Melquist, Sophia Johnson, Mersadies Nichols, Molly Colburn, Cameron Case, Aubree Evans, Elizabeth Reeves, Charlee Conti and Hanna Clark. Submitted photo

The Lakewood Starz YMCA Gymnastics team is headed to Philadelphia for the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships from Friday through next Monday. Over 1,900 YMCA gymnasts from all over the country will be coming together to compete against one another at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. This is a unique event special to the YMCA gymnastics and the host teams do a great job making this event an enjoyable experience that everyone looks forward to all season long. Gymnasts had to qualify for this event during the 2023-24 competition season by obtaining a certain all-around score. The Lakewood Starz have 13 gymnasts attending from levels 2 through 7. The theme this year is “Dream” and begins Friday by welcoming gymnasts and families at opening ceremonies. Lakewood’s Level 7 gymnast, Mersadies Nichols, who is also a graduating senior, kicks off the competition Saturday morning followed by the level 5s and Xcel Silver. On Sunday, levels 2 and 3 compete. Starz gymnasts finish off the competition Monday morning with levels 4 and 6.