The Burbank-based Golden State Gymnastics Competitive Team traveled to Reno, Nev., on Feb. 15 for the annual Starz & Stripes Invitational.
Gymnasts from all over the country competed at this event in USA Gymnastics levels 4-10 as well as in the new USAIGC division.
Golden State Gymnastics team members took home all- around honors in every level in which they competed.
Under USA Gymnastics level 4, Golden State gymnast
Allyson Jessen, 10, Burbank, dominated the field with a huge score of 38.55 - the highest score posted of any gymnast over the entire weekend. Jessen also took first place on vault (9.55), bars (9.375), beam (9.675), and floor (9.8).
Isis Glaude, 8, Burbank, and
Kayla Anderson, 8, went 1-2, respectively (37.475, 37.375), with State Champion Anderson taking home the balance beam title (9.6).
In level 5 ,
Tina Mirzakhanian, 13, Glendale, claimed the all-Around title (35.55), while teammate
Danielle Levy, 12, swept the level 6 division in all fourevents and the all-around (37.40).
In the USAIGC competition,
Angineh Gharabegi, 13, claimed the all-around title in the silver division, and
Katie Connor, 11, of Burbank, won the bronze division floor exercise (9.6) as well as the coveted all-around title.
The level 5 team, made up of only threegymnasts versus competitors with up to 20, came in second place and the level-4 team came in first place.
Immediately following their victory in Reno, the gymnasts headed back to the gym in preparation for their final competition of the season - the 2008 Golden State Friendship Challenge.
This nationally-renowned competition is in its 12th year at the Burbank Convention Center and plays host to hundreds of USA Gymnastics and USAIGC athletes as well as the popular Special Olympians who travel from as far as Illinois to take part. Golden State Gymnastics.
This event is a great opportunity for the Burbank community to see and support the incredible athletes that train right here in their city.
For more information, visit
www.goldenstategym.com and click on "Friendship Challenge 2008."