After rising to the occasion at the Fall Gasparilla Classic in October, the Cayman Islands national gymnastics team were back in Florida earning impressive multiple first-place finishes.
Competing in the Xcel Gold, Xcel Platinum, and Level 8, the young gymnasts, who train at Motions Unlimited, delivered a stellar performance at the Charity Challenge Invitational held in Wesley Chapel, Florida, showcasing skill and progress.
“The girls have been working incredibly hard, and their dedication to training is evident in their performances,” head coach Kelley Paz told the Compass. “We’re thrilled with the progress they’ve made and couldn’t be happier with the results.”
Level 8 gymnast Sienna Santiago captured first place in the all-around (AA) with a score of 36.4. She also secured top marks in vault (9.2), uneven bars (9.075), balance beam (9.075) and floor exercise (9.075).
The Cayman Xcel Platinum team clinched first place overall, with exceptional individual performances, including from Zoey Anderson, who finished first in the all-around, second in vault, first in bars, second in beam and first in floor routine, tying with teammate Sophia Santiago in that event.
Santiago placed third in the AA, fourth in vault, third in uneven bars and second in beam. Other results for team Cayman in the Xcel Platinum include Ella Conen, who took fourth in the all-around, third in vault, third in bars, fourth in beam and fifth in floor.
Kirsten Roderick earned fifth in AA, first in vault, fifth in bars, fifth in beam and third in floor. Cira Beraha placed sixth in AA, sixth in vault, seventh in bars, sixth in beam and third in floor. And Siena Clemens-Orr finished seventh in AA, seventh in vault, sixth in bars, seventh in beam and seventh in floor.
Assistant coach Alison Laidler expressed pride in the team’s development and achievements.
“It’s inspiring to see how much they’ve improved from the start of the season,” she said. “These results reflect their commitment and teamwork.”
Those good results continued when the Xcel Gold team secured second place overall.
Individual results were: Jahniya McCoy with sixth in AA, fourth in vault, 10th in bars, third in beam and 11th in floor; Kamila Krupiniewcz, 16th in AA, 16th in vault, 15th in bars, 15th in beam and 14thin floor; Ava Hayward, 13th in AA, 10th in vault, 13th in bars, 14th in beam and second in floor; Kira Skale, ninth in AA, 11th in vault, 10th in bars, seventh in beam and ninth in floor; and Rommy Kling, 14th in AA, 15th in vault, seventh in bars, ninth in beam and 16th in floor.
The Cayman team will now take a short break for the holidays before returning to training and their first scheduled competition in January in Virginia Beach, Paz said, adding, “Congratulations to the Cayman Islands gymnastics team for their exceptional performances.”