June 2007

Davis Diamonds Gymnastics Members!

Thank you all for five years in business this year! Many of you have been members since our start. But we hope everyone will come and celebrate with us on Saturday, Sept. 29th at our open house with games, exhibitions, and free play. Admission is free.

We are very proud and excited about our program for our youngest members. Our student-teacher ratio is better than USA Gymnastics recommends to keep high quality in these classes. Our curriculum is refined every year and we continue to train our staff. We now have many members who started as soon as they could walk and are now taking Junior Olympic classes.

We are proud that we do not distinguish between our recreational students and team members. Every participant gets the best instruction because gymnastics gives life learning and social skills, fitness and health. Some gymnasts choose to compete and some choose not to, but they all love doing gymnastics. Last year, a lot of wonderful new equipment was purchased to upgrade our gym for everyone.

Our Cheer team went to Nationals in Disneyland and the core has progressed on to their schools’ Varsity teams. So Denise is rebuilding with many new cheerleaders. Last year saw an explosion in our girls team to over 50 gymnasts. Over 20 participated in level 4 with 10 qualifying to the first ever level 4 State Championships held in our state. Many won medals and top places there. Five gymnasts qualified to level 5 States and four to level 6 States. All eight level 7s qualified for the State Championships where most also placed for at least one medal. Our boys team was also the biggest and most successful ever, including Arvin Domiers qualification to Regional Championships in Hawaii.

We are not resting on our laurels and there are many new initiatives. Funditioning is a new class where students learn to get fit and have fun. Each Parents’ Night Out is now the second Friday of each month and each one has its own exciting theme and activities. Thursday night will now be Adult/ Family Night. There are new open gym times. We invite you to create your own class for a group of 6 or more.

Enclosed is your schedule for the fall. The first day of registration is July 16 and is first-come first-served. Memberships signed before August 15 will be discounted. Please read the new payment policy and release form/emergency information. Memberships are now for 12 months. Our loyal members who pay full tuition over 12 months will get a $15 credit on their account.

Thank you for your support and good luck in the coming year!


Hilde Aune
James Major

Bars Bronze for Davis Diamonds

Swinging a new uneven bars routine for the first time ever in competition, Davis Diamonds' Kasia Shebloski hit for a third place on that event in the 2007 Junior Olympic Level 7 State Championships, held March 17 and 18 in Stockton. Her tall body made her powerful handstands, giant swings and layout back flip dismount look all that more exciting. The Harper Junior High student also hit her other events, including a fifth place for her beam performance, to total a new personal high 35.775, good enough for sixth place all-around. This was Shebloski's best performance at any level and in a very competitive meet.
Her Davis Diamonds teammates also made their best performances when it counted the most. Competing in her very first State Championships, Annie Davis made four-for-four events without a fall to total a personal best 34.125, thirteenth. Davis' steady beam performance earned her a seventh place on that event. Teammate Alex Levine made sixth places on both beam and floor, totalling a personal high 34.40, ninth all-around. Levine's floor performance was awarded a 9.05. In the youngest session, Gaelyn Walche battled her nerves to an excellent ninth place on bars and scored 9.025 for her floor routine, totalling 35.225 all-around. In the junior division, Chloe Shorts and Mallory Barnes also made personal bests in the years most important meet, totalling respectively 34.525 and 34.225 all-around. Barnes placed tenth for her handspring vault in her first State Championships ever. High scores on vault and floor also gave Caitlin Anderson a personal best 34.20 all-around, despite tapping the floor during bars. Teammate Maya Giannetti qualified for this Championships but couldn't participate because of a strained achilles tendon in the last meet. This years team trophy was won by Bay Aerials, Fremont. Over 250 gymnasts qualified for this Championships. qualified for this Championships.

No Gymnast Left Behind!

Davis Diamonds gymnasts made big strides in last weekend's 2007 Byers Invitational. All eight Davis Diamonds level sevens qualified for next weeks' State Championships: Gaelyn Walche, Chloe Shorts, Maya Giannetti, Mallory Barnes, Caitlin Anderson, Kasia Shebloski, Annie Davis, and Alex Levine. No gymnast left behind. Level 9 Ria Domier performed all four routines without a fall, earning a 34.65 all-around, a score over qualifying for the Regional Championships in Utah. In addition, rookie level 4 and 5 gymnasts made strong debut, showing lots of promise.
This years Byers Invitational was held at Sacramento State University and attracted many strong teams from northern and southern California, Texas, and Nevada. Over 700 gymnasts performed in sessions from Friday night to Sunday afternoon in this Junior Olympics sanctioned annual event. The many top gymnasts also attacted a number of college coaches scouting for recruits.
In Saturday afternoon's level seven session, all but one Davis Diamond had already qualified for the State Championships. For Annie Davis, this was one and only chance. But with steady nerves under pressure, Davis totaled 32.60 to qualify. With this performance Davis passed off levels five, six and seven in ten months, what takes most gymnasts two to three years. The youngest Diamond, Gaelyn Walche, hit all her routines without a fall for the first time this season, totalling a new personal best 35.425. This included a 9.05 for her beam routine, sixth. Other high points were Mallory Barnes' 9.1 vault, fifth and sixth places on beam by respectively Barnes and Alex Levine, and Chloe Shorts' fifth placed floor routine, danced to "Mission Impossible".
Competing Saturday morning, Ria Domier hit her bar routine for the first time this season. Domier also scored 9.075 for her floor routine which placed seventh. Domier finished tenth all-around. "I am so happy I made both of my goals for this meet: do all four routines without a fall and score over 34," exclaimed the 14 year-old Harper honor student. "Now I have three weeks to polish my routines for States."
In Sundays' level 4, 5 and 6 sessions, several Davis Diamonds gymnasts tested out their new routines at a higher level. Level 6 Kiki Solano, Houston Palmer and Emmi Koivunen struggled with inconsistencies but Solano still managed an 8.9 for her floor performance. Brand new level 5 Zoe Juanitas fell on bars but gained valuable experience in the youngest division. In her first try at level 5, Anna Verdiguel totaled a 32.325, a very strong showing. Also new at level 5, Laney Teaford nevertheless earned two scores over 8.0 for her bars and floor in her first try. Emily Lufburrow, Chloe Chan and Maggie Koo all totaled over 33.0 in level 4, confirming their progress since the end of last season.

Davis Diamonds Sparkle in San Jose

Held in the San Jose Convention Center, the 2007 Spirit of the Flame Challenge attracted over 700 female gymnasts February 23-25, including ten from Davis Diamonds. Teams attended from Colorado, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Missouri, New Jersey as well as all over northern California. Many of the most distinguished judges in the region were brought in to officiate this annual event, always an exciting high-point of the season.
Sundays level 6 session included Davis Diamonds Kiki Solano and Brooke Rosenblum, testing the waters in level 6 for the very first time, just four months after successfully competing level 5. The step from level 5 to 6 is a difficult one, requiring back flips at the end of the floor and bar routines and a back walkover on the beam. Nevertheless, this pair hit seven of eight routines between them. High points were Rosenblum's winning bars and Solano's second place on beam (9.325). Both girls also performed personal bests on vault. Rosenblum and Solano finished fifth and sixth all-around in the youngest division, totaling respectively already strong scores of 34.25 and 34.025. Teammate Sydney Six wasn't feeling well and struggled, but managed to score her first vault over 8.0. Also in Sundays session, Chloe Chan totalled 32.55 all-around, good for thirteenth among the youngest level 4s. This total included a ninth place on floor (8.35), a good bars performance but a fall off the beam. A much improved Emily Lufburrow performed well in all four events, scoring over eight every time to total 33.125. In the ten-year-old division this was good for eleventh all-around.
Davis Diamonds' level 7 and 9 gymnasts competed Saturday afternoon. Level 9 Ria Domier started by hitting both of her vaults for the first time in competition. But next, a terrifying, hard fall during bars warm-up ended her meet there, although Domier was "just" badly shaken up. Among the youngest level 7s, Gaelyn Walche confirmed her progress in the gym with a 34.55 all-round, seventh, despite a fall on bars. Walche placed fourth on beam and improved both vault and floor. In the junior division, Maya Giannetti performed a steady beam routine to 9.05, seventh. But a stop during bars held her all-around total to 33.85. Mallory Barnes made her first ever score over nine on vault and totalled 32.225 all-around. Among the seniors, Alex Levine improved her performance of her floor routine to "Hedwicks Theme" from Harry Potter to 8.975, almost the elusive nine score. Levine showed progress on beam and vault as well to total 33.375 all-around, eleventh.

Davis Diamonds Sparkle in San Rafael

Hosted by Marin Elite Gymnastics Academy in the Marin Catholic High School gym, eleven Davis Diamonds gymnasts traveled to San Rafael for the 2007 MEGA Invitational, February 10 and 11. This annual Junior Olympics sanctioned event showcases the optional level gymnasts and their difficult, daring acrobatics and always attracts many strong teams.
Davis Diamond Ria Domier, a ninth grader at Harper Jr. High, made a breakthrough in the level 9-10 session Sunday night by winning the floor event, attracting a lot of attention. Her performance to the "Incredibles" music included a spectacular one-and-one-half twisting back flip immediately into a front flip piked, a combination worth 0.2 in bonus. The step up from level 8 to 9 means a big jump in acrobatic difficulty and risk to remain competitive. Domier also placed second on vault and beam and third on bars and all-around. "My goals for this meet were to do my new bar routine without a fall and to qualify for the State Championships this spring. I am really happy I was able to do both tonight," concluded Domier. In the level 7 session, Davis Diamonds' Kasia Shebloski fell off the beam but still totaled a strong 33.55 all-around. Teammate Alex Levine hit both of her beam and floor routines for top-ten places, including an 8.95, seventh on floor. Chloe Shorts performed a sharp beam routine, sticking her no-hands eagle-roll to total 32.80, thirteenth all-around. Right behind in the all-around was teammate Mallory Barnes who also made a personal best vault that was awarded an 8.70. Among the youngest level 7s, Gaelyn Walche continued to improve her vaulting, placing tenth (8.65). Falls on bars and beam kept her all-around score down. But in just the beginning of the season, every Davis Diamond level 7 has already qualified for their State Championships March 17-18 in Stockton.
In the session for level 6, Houston Palmer dominated for the second time in two weeks, winning first place in every event as well as the all-around! These exciting performances included Palmer's first ever 9.0 vaulting, previously her weakest event, and 9.05 for her floor routine. Teammate Emmi Koivunen followed placing second on beam, as well as tumbling and dancing to her first over 8.0 score on floor.
Among the level 5s, Zoe Juanitas continued to improve in just her second meet as a level 5. Juanitas stuck her beam routine to place fifth there (8.4). She totaled 31.10 all-around, qualifying out of level 5 already. Level 4s, Maggie and Esther Koo were able to show how much they had improved since the fall season. Both sisters scored over 34.0 all-around, respectively 34.30 and 34.45. Esther won vault with Maggie in fourth on that event. Esther will compete level 5 in the fall.

Davis Diamonds Brilliant in Golden State Classic

Including twelve Davis Diamonds gymnasts, twenty-eight teams from California, Nevada and Oregon competed January 27 and 28 in the 2007 Golden State Classic in Rancho Cordova, including most of the strongest teams in northern California. With this level of athlete, top judges were brought in from northern and southern California, Oregon, Utah and Arizona. Over 340 gymnasts from California, Nevada and Oregon competed in this annual Junior Olympic sanctioned meet in levels four through ten. The Golden State Classic is traditionally the first big competition of the season for the optional level gymnasts, seven through ten, where they try out new routines and more acrobatic skills.

Competing for the first time as a level nine, Ria Domier revealed great potential for the rest of the season. A regional qualifier in level 8, where she placed fourth on vault, Domier bettered her best scores in her weakest events, floor and beam, in this first try at a higher level. Domier had to scratch bars because of a sore hand but placed fifth here for her layout Yurchenko vault. This vault is a twenty yard sprint followed by a back handspring up onto a table as high as the gymnast is tall, followed by a one-and-one half flip pushing off the table with the hands to land on the feet, all in a straight body position, an amazing demonstration of acrobatic athleticism.

Of the Davis Diamonds level sevens, Maya Giannetti was again best of the Davis Diamonds, totaling 34.425, good for seventh place all-around. This was a personal best and included a third place on beam for 9.075. Caitlin Anderson's goal here was to qualify for the State Championships later in March, which she did with a 32.90 all-around score. One of the youngest optional level gymnasts, Gaelyn Walche gathered valuable experience for the rest of the season. In the oldest level seven division, Kasia Shebloski scored her first 9.0 ever on vault and then totaled 34.10 all-around, seventh place. Alex Levine also improved her vaulting, scoring her first 8.0 score ever on that event. Levine also made her qualifying score to States with 32.05 all-around.

Although this meet is a traditional high-point for optional level gymnasts, levels four through six can also test the waters or confirm their fitness. Performing for the first time as a level 5, Zoe Juanitas placed second on vault, third on floor and fifth all-around in the youngest division. Juanitas did her best ever vault and bars in this meet. Among the older level fives, Katja Jeschke and Amberley Mckenzie showed great improvement from last weeks meet. This time Jeschke placed third on beam and Mckenzie second on vault on their way to much improved all-around scores. Davis Diamonds' Houston Palmer dominated the level six competition with three second places and first place all-around. But first place on beam belonged to teammate Emmi Koivunen who scored her first 9.0 there. Koivunen was third on bars and fourth all-around. Rebounding from disappointing performances last week, Sydney Six improved a lot here, including an 8.2 on beam, fifth. Davis Diamonds level fours Chloe Chan, Samantha Hao and Emily Luftborrow tested their progress and all scored over 32.0 all-around. High points were Chloe Chan's second placed vault, Samantha Hao's beautiful sixth-place floor routine and Emily Luftborrow's exciting seventh placed bar routine (8.50).

Davis Diamonds Snowflake Sparkle

The annual Junior Olympics Snowflake Invitational gymnastics meet is a popular start to the optional level competition season for many teams and Davis Diamonds gymnasts went there to test out new routines. Hosted by Oroville Gymnastics Academy, this years edition attracted teams from all over northern California, including the Bay Area. Davis Diamonds' Gaelyn Walche, Maya Giannetti, Kasia Shebloski, Mallory Barnes and Alex Levine all participated in the level seven session. Walche, Barnes and Levine were all debutants, competing in their first ever optional level meet. In youngest division, Walche totaled a 33.425 all-around, qualifying for the State Championships in her first try despite low start values on two events. Maya Giannetti placed third on beam, with fourth places on floor and all-around (34.05). Her fun floor routine just missed a 9.0 score with 8.95. In the older division, Kasia Shebloski placed third on vault and bars and second on floor. But she lost a top all-around place with a beam disaster. Nevertheless, Shebloski, Giannetti and Walche are all already qualified for the State Championships this spring. In her first optional meet, Mallory Barnes just missed the State Championships qualifying score of 32.0 with 31.75, good for seventh. Right behind was teammate Alex Levine, also performing her new routines for the first time. "This was a good, low-key meet for our young gymnasts to start out. They were all able to do their skills and routines so they have something to build the rest of the season on," observed Davis Diamonds head coach Hilde Aune. "This is a beautiful gym with excellent equipment and a well-organized meet. A good experience for the girls."

Davis Diamonds in Level 5 State Championships

Davis Diamonds Gymnastics qualified Astrid Aune, Natalie Serdahl, Abby Bechtold, Kikki Solano and Brooke Rosenblum to the 2006 Junior Olympics Level 5 State Championships, held November 18 and 19. All five Davis Diamonds were debutants in their first State Championships ever, with all of the accompanying nerves and expectations. Over 300 gymnasts from 43 teams competed in this exciting culmination of the compulsory level Junior Olympics season, representing the best of the best.
The Davis Diamonds high point was Kikki Solano's poise and composure during her beam routine. Without a wobble on the four inch wide beam, Solano even embelished a strong compulsory routine performance, charming the judges, who came up with 9.2. This score proved to be good enough for sixth place in that event. Solano's other strong performances on bars and floor did not get good scores. Solano eventually totaled 33.95 all-around, eleventh. After very strong performances and high scores all season, Brooke Rosenblum also had high expectations. Her floor routine showed what she could do, where she placed seventh. But nerves won out and she fell during her bars routine. But she came back fighting to finish her meet on beam and had a top place going after performing all the difficult skills except the dismount. But landing on her toe caused a wobble during the tuck jump that dropped her to seventh on that event (9.075). Rosenblum totaled 34.10 and seventeenth place all-around.
As the last qualifier in Zone 1, Natalie Serdahl was just happy to be there. But Serdahl performed the meet of her life in her first State Championships, fighting hard and hitting all of her routines as well or better than ever. On vault, Serdahl eventually placed tenth with a strong second vault. Serdahl totaled 32.175 all-around for twentieth place among eleven year olds.
Competing in the very first session Saturday morning, Astrid Aune battled her own nerves as well as the judging. Aune finished fifteenth on beam, her signature event, and totalled a 31.925 all-around for twentieth. Unfortunately, Abby Bechtolds Championship also ended prematurely when she hit a balance beam with her foot during a practice right after qualifying, breaking a small bone in a freak accident. But all of these Davis Diamonds gymnasts have qualified to compete level 6 next season. This years Championships was marred by inconsistent judging. With courtesy and respect for all, official meet referee Tara Gilmore was in constant action. Besides fielding a stream of score inquiries from bewildered coaches, Gilmore first got the beam panel on back on track Saturday morning and then the floor and bar panels. But the meet ended with a score inflation Sunday evening. This years team trophy was won by Almaden Valley-San Jose ahead of San Mateo Gymnastics, with host team Diablo Gymnastics-San Ramon third. The Championships were held at Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill.

Davis Diamonds' gymnasts Brianna Sperry, Houston Palmer, Courtney Meyer, and Lily Wolfe competed in the 2006 Junior Olympic Level 6 State Championships, November 11 and 12. A total of 202 gymnasts qualified for this year's Championships in their respective northern California Zone Championships. The head judge for the floor exercise, Janet Packwood, remarked that this year's level of performance was very high, whitnessed by the fact that over two days and hundreds of floor routines, she counted a total of only three falls. This year's Championships were hosted by the Oroville Gymnastics Sports Academy in Oroville in their wonderful facility. Expectations were high after Houston Palmer won her Zone Championships to qualify to States. But in the first event, bars, usually one of her strongest events, one hand slipped off the bar during the clear hip circle. But from that disappointment, Palmer stormed back to her best beam performance ever (9.075), earning her a sensational fourth place on this event. Trying too hard on floor caused many landing errors and a low score. But Palmer showed her resiliance again by uncorking a personal best vault that earned an 8.75. Palmer totaled 34.125 all-around (14) in the younger 12 year-old division.
In her first State Championships ever, Courtney Meyer was competing for experience. Meyer was just in her fifth level 6 meet but counted just one fall. She totaled 32.80 all-around and still beat many gymnasts from strong teams. Meyer's was the toughest and highest scoring of the four sessions. In the youngest division, Lily Wolfe had her best level 6 meet ever. As the first competitor on floor, Wolfe mastered her nerves and performed elegant dance and acrobatic tumbling in her floor exercise to 8.775. Then she did her best vaults ever to earn a personal best 8.9, tenth. This was followed up with another best on bars. To finish a meet on beam is always nerve-wracking, particularly when the first three events have gone well. But Wolfe hit beam as well to total a personal best 34.375 (fourteenth) when it counted most. So the youngest Davis Diamond finished as the best one. Competing Saturday morning in the oldest session, Brianna Sperry performed all four of her routines without a fall. However, in this Championships, even small form breaks cost many places in the ranking. Form breaks on bars and floor and a step backwards instead of forwards out of her full turn on beam cost Sperry. She totaled 33.80 to place fourteenth among the older 12 year olds.
The team competition was won by Almaden Valley-San Jose ahead of Bay Aerials-Fremont with Byer's Sacramento third.

Davis Diamonds Qualify to States

November 5, Davis Diamonds sent 32 gymnasts to Chico for their USA Gymnastics Zone 1 Championships. High point among many was Houston Palmer's Level 6 three championship victories. Her level 6 team placed second to Galaxy-Redding. Moreover, the Davis Diamonds level 5 team was third, with just five gymnasts, and the level 4 team second to host Athletic Horizons-Chico. Davis and Dixon are at the southern most tip of Zone 1 which includes the rest of northern California to the Oregon border. Junior Olympic Level 5 and 6 gymnasts can only qualify to the State Championships in their Zone Championships. Zone Championships is therefore a difficult competition for the gymnasts because while they try to win, they also have to qualify, and they get just this one chance. Some gymnasts are so good they can fall off the beam and still qualify, while others have to hit their strongest events together with best performances in their weaker ones.

In the level 6 session, Houston Palmer was best when it counted, winning bars with 9.025 and floor (9.175). Placing second on vault and beam, she dominated the all-around with a personal record 35.40, also first. Brianna Sperry was right behind Palmer on bars and most importantly, all-around, to total 34.725. Sperry also placed third on vault, beam and floor. Among the youngest level 6 gymnasts, Courtney Meyer also had her best meet ever, placing third on beam (9.15) and floor with an exceptional 9.30. A great effort on her weakest apparatus, bars, gave Meyer a strong 34.5 total and fifth all-around. Perhaps inspired by her teammates, Lily Wolfe fought for every tenth, performing a personal record 8.725 beam (fifth) and 8.7 floor, her two hitherto weakest routines. Wolfe totalled 33.775 which turned out to be good enough to join Palmer, Sperry and Meyer for the State Championships as well. In the oldest division, Alex Levine danced and tumbled a spectacular floor performance (9.125) to win that event as well as beam and the all-around. Teammate Annie Davis won bars and was right behind Levine all-around. But falls held Levine and Davis under the qualifying score to States. Palmer, Sperry, Meyer and Wolf will compete November 11 and 12 in the Level 6 State Championships, hosted in Oroville.

Among the level 5 gymnasts, Davis Diamonds gymnasts took third, fourth and fifth places all-around in the younger division. Brooke Rosenblum had her first fall this season on beam but unfazed went on to place second on bars (9.2), third on floor (9.25) and all-around (35.65), all very strong scores. Kiki Solano was also right there, placing second on beam (9.05) and third on bars (9.10) for one of her strongest all-around performances when it counted most (35.325). Abbi Bechtold placed fifth for her powerful vault, but also hit her other routines to finish fifth all-around with 34.375. In the 11-12 year-old division, Natalie Serdahl hit all four routines, scoring over 8.5 on both floor and bars to total 33.40. This sum was good enough to also take a place in the quota to the State Championships. In the oldest division, Astrid Aune placed third on her favorite event, beam, with a strong 8.95. But personal best performances on floor and vault gave her a record 34.675 and fourth all-around place. Rosenblum, Solano, Bechtold, Serdahl and Aune will compete in the Junior Olympic State Championships in two weeks in San Ramon.

The qualifying date for their State Championships had already run out so Level 4 gymnasts were just competing for zone championships. The youngest Diamond, Mira Spremich, finished her first season in gymnastics with her best performance, including a fourth on bars and personal best 34.40 all-around. Among 9 year olds, Anna Verdiguel was zone champion on floor and second all-around (36.25). Zoe Juanitas placed third on bars (8.95) and a strong fourth all-around (35.3). Sarah Nguyen performed a beautiful floor routine to 8.8 (seventh). In the 11-12 year old division, Laney Teaford was zone champion on vault (9.4) and bars (9.3). Teaford finished with a strong 35.4 all-around, strong enough for third. Ashley Trostel was zone champion on floor, second on beam and just beat Teaford with 35.7 for second place all-around. Maya Kupperman hit every routine to total a strong 34.75 and fifth all-around. In the oldest division, Katja Jeschke won floor with an exceptional 9.35 as well as placing second on beam (9.0) and all-around (36.15). This Davis Diamonds Level 4 team was second, just 0.35, less than a fall, out of over 100 points for first. Davis Diamonds will be represented by 11 gymnasts in the Level 4 State Championships next month.

Davis Diamonds Spook Halloween Jamboree

Davis Diamonds gymnasts won many age classes, events and team awards in the Halloween Jamboree, October 28 in Oroville. The annual Halloween Jamboree is a Junior Olympics sanctioned event, held in the fabulous Oroville Gymnastics Sports Academy, site of this year's Northern California Level 6 and 2007 Level 9 and 10 State Championships. This year's Halloween Jamboree attracted teams from all over northern California and Nevada. This year's meet was the last test before Zone Championships but gymnasts, coaches and judges all particularly enjoy this meet and many wear costumes. Flips USA-Nevada dressed as sheep, coached by Little Bo-Peep and the Big Bad Wolf. Beam was judged by an insect and a moto-cross rider. Davis Diamonds were coached by a witch and viking.

In the level 6 competition, Brianna Sperry won bars and all-around, Irene Whalen won beam, and Houston Palmer and Courtney Meyer each won floor in their respective age groups. A Davis Diamonds quintet of Whalen, Sperry, Silva, Barnes, and Palmer occupied the first fives beam places, in this nerve-wracking event. The older division was won by Sperry, totalling a record 35.275; her first all-around victory in her first level 6 season. Sperry also placed third on vault (8.55) and second on beam (9.1). Second all-around was Houston Palmer who totaled 34.95 after winning floor with a sensational 9.40. Irene Whalen won beam (9.175) for the third time in three meets, as well as third place on bars (8.85) to finish fourth all-around (34.30). Mallory Barnes continued to improve to a second place on floor (9.075), fourth on beam and fifth on vault. Only a miss on bars kept Barnes back in seventh all-around (33.50). Kelsi Silva also continued to improve to a third on beam (9.025), fifth on floor and eighth all-around (33.10). Besides also winning floor with a strong 9.25, Courtney Meyer was third on beam (9.05) and seventh all-around (33.95) in the middle division. Among the youngest, Lily Wolfe showed how much she has improved in every event with aggressive gymnastics, totaling a new personal best 33.575, good for fifth all-around. Among the seniors, Alex Levine placed second in her signature event, floor, scoring 9.025, as well as a personal best 33.05 all-around (seventh). This Davis Diamonds level 6 team finished second to Miyagi Gymnastics Academy, Auburn, but was best team on floor.

Davis Diamonds had just five gymnasts in the level 5 session, but they dominated the meet, winning the team trophy. In the youngest division, Brooke Rosenblum simply won every single event and the all-around. Her textbook performances of these compulsory routines were awarded scores over 9.0 three times to total a personal record 36.725. This was the highest total of the meet, regardless of age. In the middle division, Kiki Solano was almost as dominating, winning three of four events with scores over 9.0, and the all-around, to total 35.925. Among the older level 5 gymnasts, Abby Bechtold had four second places, including the all-around, totalling a record 34.525. In the one event Bechtold wasn't second, teammate Natalie Serdahl did her best bars ever to 8.875, placing second. Serdahl eventually totalled 33.175 all-round to place sixth in one of her best performances. Megan Aube also had her best meet ever to total a strong 33.0, good for eighth, including a fifth for her floor performance.

The level 4 session was particularly exciting because this was the last chance to qualify for a historical, first-ever Level 4 State Championships. Nevertheless, the Davis Diamonds gymnasts focused and went after their routines, winning the Level 4 team trophy too. In their age group, Laney Teaford, Maya Kuppermann and Ashley Trostel dominated every event. Teaford scored over 9.0 on every event, winning vault (9.4) and bars (9.55), placing second on beam and floor, to total a sensational 37.15 and first all-around. Not yet qualified, Maya Kuppermann nevertheless attacked beam to win that event with 9.05. She also placed third on vault, bars, and floor to finish second all-around with a strong 36.20. Ashley Trostel placed second on bars, third on beam and third all-around. Teaford and Trostel were already qualified for States, but now they get Kuppermann with them! In the senior group, Amberley McKenzie had already qualified, but placed third on vault and beam to finish sixth all-around (35.15). But Maya Tarasenko put together her four best performances to total 34.50 and also qualify. Ashley Hickman also performed well but just missed with 33.55. Anna Eckert-Kramer enjoyed her first gymnastics meet. Relieved to be already qualified, Anna Verdiguel won vault (9.2), bars (9.4), beam (9.1) and the all-around (36.55). Verdiguel was joined by Zoe Juanitas in fourth place all-around (35.3). Juanitas had also already qualfied for States. But perhaps inspired by their teammates performances, Caitlin Mazzoleni and Sarah Nguyen stepped up to score respectively 34.9 and 34.4, thereby also qualifying for States. In the youngest group, inspired by her older sister, Eliana Kuppermann hit four of four routines to total 34.1 and qualify too, with her best performance ever. Kendra Brown and Mira Spremich continued to improve in their first season in gymnastics. Davis Diamonds level 4 gymnasts will now compete in Zone Championships November 5 in Chico and States on December 4. For the level 5 and 6 gymnasts, these Zone Championships are the only way to qualify for their respective State championships.

Diamonds Star in Hollywood Invitational

Davis Diamonds gymnasts Irene Whalen, Leney Teaford, and Maggie Koo each won an event at North Bay Athletic Association's seventh annual Hollywood Invitational in Vallejo. There were also many other top performances by Davis gymnasts in this Junior Olympics sanctioned meet. The meet was held in their rebuild, Hollywood decorated gym, one that was flooded in the last New Years Day storm. The competition was very tough as this two-day meet was also attended by many big, strong teams from Bay Aerials-Fremont, Almaden Valley-San Jose, and Diablo-San Ramon. There were many good gymnasts, good performances and very high scores everywhere as these gymnasts get ready for this years zone and state championships next month.

In the middle level 4 division, Leney Teaford won vault with 9.35, in addition to a strong 9.5 for a sensational third place bars performance. Teaford totaled 35.275 (eighth) all-around, easily qualifying to the first-ever state championships for this Junior Olympics level. Already qualified for States, fellow Davis Diamond Ashley Trostel performed well on all four events, including a 9.2 on bars, to total 35.075 right behind Teaford. Maya Tarasenko was less than a point from also qualifying with an excellent all-around score of 33.025 (thirteenth). Teammates Kendra Brown and Maggie Koo followed with respectively 31.80 and 31.475. But Koo tied Teaford for the vaulting victory. Among the seniors, Amberley Mckenzie made strong scores on vault and bars, respectively 9.05 and 9.125, both good for fourth places. Mckenzie totaled 34.275 all-around to also qualify for the State Championships. Zoe Juanitas, Katja Jeschke, Trostel, Teaford and Mckenzie will now all represent Davis at States. Esther Koo and Ashley Hickman were right behind Mckenzie with respectively 33.30 and 33.025 all-around scores. Ally Stone performed her round-off back handspring for the first time in a meet to place seventh on floor. In the youngest group, Chloe Chan was on track to also qualify for States with good performances that included a 9.05 (fourth) on vault. But a few wobbles during her last event, floor, left her with 33.65, just 0.35 from qualifying. Julia Curtis vaulted to a strong 9.1, third place ahead of Chan and totaled 32.15 all-around.

In the level 5 meet, Kiki Solano had her best meet ever. Solano finished her meet on floor by scoring a 9.025, good for third, reflecting her finish and acrobatic tumbling and her first ever 9 score on floor. Solano totaled 34.20, also a personal best and good for sixth all-around, tied with Madeleine Morotto of Diablo-San Ramon. Among the older level 5s, Nathalie Serdahl also made a personal best of 31.775, including a tenth place for her bars. Senior Megan Aube also had her best meet to date, confirming her rapid progress since this fall. Aube scored an 8.525 for her floor performance (eighth) and totaled a personal best 31.15 all-around.

In the oldest level 6 division, Davis Diamonds Irene Whalen placed third all-around with 33.725 after hitting beam for a season-best 9.10. Whalen showed improvement on all of the other events as well and is already a strong level 6 gymnast in her first year. Annie Davis placed third on bars and fifth all-around for her best meet (33.05). Mallory Barnes continued to shine on beam and also improve on the other events. Third on beam and fifth on vault, Barnes totaled a personal best of 32.725. Alex Levine really started to go in her signature event, floor, placing third there and ninth all-around. Youngest Davis Diamond, Lily Wolfe started off with an 8.55 on vault, best of her team, but had falls on beam and bars. Teammates Emmi Koivunen and Sonja Hendren also continued to improve.

Davis Diamonds Brilliant at Classic

Gymnasts from Davis Diamonds recieved many top honors in the 2006 Byer's Roseville Compulsory Classic held the seventh and eighth of October. Davis Diamonds Gymnastics entered 37 gymnasts, the largest team in the history of the gym. The Davis Diamonds level 6 team placed second behind host Byer's Roseville and was the best beam team. In the youngest age division, Houston Palmer had her best meet to date, winning vault and placing second all-around with a strong 34.05. Palmer was so consistent that all four of her scores counted towards the Davis Diamonds team total. Nevertheless, a beam fall and small steps in each routine reveal that she can still improve towards the highpoints of the season, Zone and State Championships. Teammate Lily Wolfe also performed a powerful vault to place sixth there and eleventh all-around, despite a fall on beam. Right behind in the all-around was another Diamond, Amanda Braun. Braun performed her best level 6 beam ever, 8.35, good for sixth there.
Among the older level 6 gymnasts, Irene Whalen pulled out scores over 8.0 on all four events for the first time ever to place fourth all-around. To get there, Whalen won beam with the highest score of the session and placed fourth on bars, previously her weakest event. Brianna Sperry continued to improve, placing second on bars, fourth on beam and fifth all-around with aggressive, attacking gymnastics. Mallory Barnes had a great start to her meet by scoring the first nine of her career for a strong, clean beam routine, good for third. Barnes followed this up with a fifth place on vault to finish sixth all-around. Annie Davis was held to seventh place all-around by two falls on beam, despite placing second on floor, fourth on vault and fifth on bars. Alex Levine also had her best meet to place eighth all-around. Lillian Krovoza placed eleventh all-around. Sonja Hendren and Emmi Koivunen were in their first meets this season.
Davis Diamonds' Brooke Rosenblum continued to dominate level 5 in this meet too. In the younger division, Rosenblum won beam with a strong 9.375, placed second on floor and finished third all-around (34.325). In the middle division, Kikki Solano won bars and placed second all-around despite a fall on beam. Even though Kikki fell, she still earned 8.50 (fifth) on that event! Without this fall, Solano wins beam and the meet, so there is still lots of potential improvement. In the older division, Abby Bechtold improved her bars and placed eleventh all-around, including 9.025 on beam, seventh. Natalie Serdahl was right behind in fourteenth all-around, still feeling the effects of a finger injury. Senior Diamonds Astrid Aune and Anna Schickele also had good meets. Aune danced and tumbled an artistic beam routine to 9.275, second. Personal bests on vault and bars gave Aune a total of 33.175 (ninth), also a best. Schikele placed ninth on bars and fourteenth all-around in just her second meet ever.
The Davis Diamonds' level 4 team, all ninteen of them, were also successful, even if some were in their first gymnastics competition ever. The high point was Ashley Trostel qualifying for the first ever northern California Level 4 State Championships. Trostel climbed up from a low beam score to place fourth on bars and eighth all-around (34.05). Trostel joins Davis Diamonds Zoe Juanitas, Anna Verdiguel and Katja Jescheke as States qualifiers. In this meet, Juanitas was third on bars and eighth all-around (34.65). Jeschke was third on beam and floor, scoring 9.0 and 9.1 respectively, to total a strong 35.20, fifth all-around. The next qualifiers should be Laney Teaford, this time tenth all-around (33.8), and Maya Kupperman, eleventh (33.775). Teaford was third on bars, fourth on vault and Kupperman fourth on beam (8.90). Alice Renaud and Esther Koo were in their first meet ever, but scored respectively 9.0 and 9.3 for their vaults. Chloe Chan, Eliana Kupperman, Julia Curtis, Mira Spremich, Samantha Hao, Kendra Brown, Emily Lufburrow, Caitlin Mazzoleni, Maggie Koo, Amberly McKenzie, Shelby Traverso, and Maya Tarasenko all contributed to the fourth place Davis Diamonds team effort, just two tenths of 106.875 from third placed Redwod Empire - Petaluma.
This annual Compulsory Classic, for the Junior Olympics compulsory levels four through six, is always one of the biggest and well-run meets of the season. The 2006 Classic was held over two days in Hornet Gymnasium at UC Sacramento State hosted by Byer's Gymnastics Center, Roseville. In each of these Junior Olympic levels, all the gymnasts perform the same routines. Therefore the judges know exactly what to expect, the deductions are highly standardized, the judging is correspondingly detailed and the competition is tough. These levels are a school for higher level gymnastics where sound basic technique is learned, while competing and having fun.

Last weekend, nine Davis Diamonds gymnasts traveled to San Mateo to participate in the 2006 Mikhail's Navy Junior Olympic competition, hosted in their gym by Peninsula Gymnastics. This year's Mikhail's Navy was colored by some severe judging and low scores. Peninsula Gymnastics was founded by Mikhail Margulis, a gymnastics specialist immigrated from the Soviet Union. In the junior level 6 division, the Davis Diamonds continued to improve. Courtney Meyer tumbled and danced an artistic routine to third place in the floor exercise. With fifth place on vault, sixth on beam and improved bars, Meyer made her best showing ever to finish fifth all-around (32.575). Last meet, Irene Whalen fell in her floor routine's front salto, but landed it this time. On her favorite event, beam, Whalen placed second with an artistic performance. Whalen finished thirteenth all-around. Annie Davis' all-around score was held down by three falls on beam, but she improved on all the other events, including a sixth place on bars. Alex Levine placed eigth in the floor exercise, her signature event where she won the bronze at last year's level 5 State Championships. Ashley Trostel continued her march towards the 2006 Level 4 State Championships, the first ever. Trostel hit all her routines for scores over 8.0 to total a strong 33.20. Just small improvements in form should put her over the qualifying score of 34.0. Among the youngest level 4 gymnasts, Julia Curtis showed improvement everywhere to total 31.925, good for tenth place all-around. Teammate Kendra Brown also improved, including an 8.325 score for her floor routine. All three level 4s stuck their beam routines, even though this is their first season ever. Brooke Rosenblum started the level 5 session as the very first performer on beam. She made an exceptional performance of strength and poise. The judges courageously came up with a well-deserved but exceptionally high score of 9.45, even though this was the first level 5 routine they had seen that day. This score became one of the highest of the entire meet, regardless of event. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards Rosenblum had an accident, injuring her foot while waiting for her next event. Rosenblum will be back but the distance between highs and lows is short in gymnastics. Despite her teammate's disappointment, Astrid Aune carried on alone to achieve personal bests on every event, including a strong 8.95 on beam. Aune totaled a strong 32.425 all-around, despite the severe judging.

Davis Diamonds in High-Tech Invitational

Of 22 beam routines they performed last weekend in the High-Tech Invitational, the Davis Diamonds gymnasts counted just two falls. Such consistency on the four-inch wide beam, early in the season, was accompanied by other top results. This annual High-Tech Invitational is a Junior Olympics sanctioned event hosted by Technique Gymnastics in their gigantic facility in Rancho Cordova. In the middle age division of Level 6, Davis Diamonds continued their improvement from the season start, even though all are first year in level 6. Brianna Sperry made new personal bests on bars and all-around (33.75), placing fifth there. Irene Whalen also set new bests on bars, beam and all-around (33.125), despite crashing the front salto in her floor routine. Whalen's high point was her third place on bars, her weakest event last year. Mallory Barnes totaled a strong 32.125 to place eigth all-around, just in front of teammate Courtney Meyer (31.975). Meyer performed a specular floor routine to 9.175, a personal best and good for fourth. Kelsi Silva performed a strong beam to 8.7 (sixth) and twelvth all-around. Amanda Braun didn't have as good a meet this time, placing fifteenth. In the older division, Lillian Krovoza, Annie Davis and Alex Levine all scored over 31.0 all-around to qualify for level 7 next season. Krovoza placed third on beam and fifth all-around. Davis was fourth on bars and seventh all-around and Levine eighth, including sixth in her speciality, floor. Lily Wolfe also totalled a strong 32.125 all-around for twelvth in the youngest division. In the youngest level 4 division, Zoe Juanitas had another strong meet, placing fourth on beam and fifth all-round (34.30). In the older divsion, Katja Jeschke won floor (9.15) for the second time in two meets to total 33.575, good for ninth all-around. Shelby Traverso continued to improve, scoring 32.70 (twelvth) and Ashley Hickman was fifteenth all-around. Among the middle level 4 gymnasts, Anna Verdiguel hit all her routines, placing fifth on vault (8.95) and fourth on bars (9.0), to total 34.875, sixth all-around. This score qualifies Verdiguel in her first try for the level 4 State Championships in December, joining Juanitas and Jeschke. Emily Lufborrow and Caitlin Mazzoleni made great strides since their first meet, scoring respectively 31.25 (twelvth) and 31.175 (thirteenth). Ally Stone was in her very first gymnastics meet. But every Davis Diamond stuck her beam routine and they placed third as a team behind San Mateo Gymnastics and Aerials-Vacaville. In the level 5 meet, every Davis Diamond also stuck their beam routines. Brooke Rosenblum scored an excellent 8.9 on floor, a personal best in level 5 to total 33.925, eigth all-around among the youngest. In the middle division, Kikki Solano and Abby Bechtold both made all-around personal bests of respectively 33.80 (sixth) and 33.20 (eigth). Solano placed fifth on vault and Bechtold fifth on both beam and floor. Among the older level 5s, Astrid Aune made new personal bests on vault, floor and all-around (31.825), qualifying for level 6 next season.

Davis Dimonds Full of American Pride

September 10, 32 gymnasts from Davis Diamonds Gymnastics participated in the 2006 American Pride Invitational gymnastics meet, a Junior Olympics sanctioned competition hosted by Aerials Gymnastics in Vacaville. This was the biggest team ever fielded by Davis Diamonds in their four years of existence. Many made strong performances in this seasons first meet. But for Kendra Brown, Samantha Hao, Ashley Hickman, Eliana Kupperman, Sarah Nyugen, Mira Spremich, Maya Tarasenko, Elena Teaford, Shelby Traverso, Megan Aube and Anna Schickele, this was also their first gymnastics meet ever. Vacaville's big annual invitational meet always attracts many strong teams from all over northern California. In the children's level 5 division, Brooke Rosenblum had another strong meet in only her second as a level 5. Rosenblum placed third on bars and third all-around with 34.225. On beam, she scored the only 9.0 score of her division to win that event. But just 0.05 behind was teammate Christine "Kikki" Solano for a Davis Diamonds one-two on beam. Solano finished in sixth all-around with a strong 33.15. Competing in older level 5 divisions, Abby Bechtold continued to improve with a fourth place on beam and floor, both personal bests, to finish seventh all-around (32.075). Astrid Aune was fifth on bars and beam to total 32.025 all-around (sixth). Natalie Serdahl also performed well on floor (eigth) to place twelvth all-around (31.225). With these scores, all of these gymnasts qualified to compete level 6 next year. In the older children's division of level 6, Houston Palmer hit four of four routines to total a strong 34.10 all-around, good enough for fifth in just her second try as a level 6. Teammates Irene Whalen, Brianna Sperry and Courtney Meyer were all competing for their first time at level 6. Despite falls on beam, Whalen totaled 32.375 (fourteenth), Sperry 32.05 (sixteenth) and Meyer 31.85 (seventeenth), three strong debut scores that qualify them for level 7 next season in just their first try. In the youngest division, Lily Wolfe placed thirteenth all-around, also totaling a strong 31.60. In the oldest division Annie Davis totaled 31.40, despite falls on bars and beam, and Alexandra Levine was third on beam. Level 6 includes very difficult gymnastics, requiring saltos on floor and off bars and a back-walkover on the beam. Level 4 is the entry competition level in gymnastics. This year, for the first time ever, there will be a Level 4 Northern California State Championships so the gymnasts are very excited. In the junior division, Katia Jeschke went four for four, placing second on bars and beam, winning floor (9.125), to total 34.375 for second place all-around. Thereby, Jeschke joins teammate Zoe Juanitas as the second Davis Diamonds qualifier to the State Championships. Juanitas also had a good meet in the children's division, placing second on bars and floor to place fifth all-around (33.95). Other good performances in their respective age divisions were Chloe Chan's second place on vault, Elena Teaford's third place vault, Ashley Trostel and Emily Luftborrow's third placed beam routines, and Ashely Hickman's third place on floor. Chloe Chan, Julia Curtis, Caitlin Mazzoleni, and Ashley Trostel were just in their second meet ever and gained valuable experience.

Davis Diamonds Spring Competitions

Davis Diamonds gymnasts competed in USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic sanctioned meets in Berkeley and Sacramento on May 14 and 20 respectively, enjoying some great successes. Gymnasts, coaches and judges use these off-season meets to measure progress, find weaknesses, learn the rules and scope the competition.
At the Golden Bear Invitational, Berkeley, Zoe Juanitas scored her first 9.0 on floor ever, finishing fifth all-around (33.40) despite a costly fall on her beam dismount. Teammates Maya Kupperman and Abby Bechtold placed an excellent respectively second and fourth all-around. Kupperman won beam (8.80) and totaled a high 34.975. Bechtold was in her first gymnastics meet ever but scored a high 33.525 despite counting two falls.
Diamonds' Courtney Meyer had last season spoiled by illness, but she took her revenge in the level 5 meet. Meyer had the highest vault (8.55) and floor (9.325) scores of the meet, regardless of age division. Two falls on bars dropped her to third all-around, but with a strong total of 34.30. Teammate Annie Davis was in her first level 5 meet ever, but placed second on bars (9.0) and floor (9.15) and all-around (34.20), a sensational debut. Astrid Aune made personal bests on floor (8.425) and all-around (32.275, eighth). This Davis Diamonds Level 5 team managed to take the third place team trophy with just three gymnasts, everyone counting on every event, an extraordinary result.
The level 6 Diamonds struggled here with new routines and skills. Highpoints were Kelsi Silva's sixth place on vault, Lillian Krovoza's sixth on floor, Alexandra Levine's sixth on bars and Emmi Koivunen's ninth on beam, despite a fall.
May 20, more Davis Diamonds competed in Byer's Sacramento's annual Bunney Hop. Level 4s Zoe Juanitas, Anna Verdiguel, Abby Bechtold and Maya Kupperman each hit all four routines without a major deduction or fall. This was extraordinary as this was Verdiguel's first meet in her life and Bechtold's second. Highpoints were Juanita's second place on bars (9.0) and Bechtold's third place on beam (9.15). Juanitas and Verdiguel tied for third all-around with a strong 35.20, Bechtold finished sixth (35.35) just ahead of Kupperman, ninth with 34.60 all-around. This team placed second behind the Novato Gymnastics Team.
Among the level 5s, Brooke Rosenblum was doing her very first competition in this level. Nevertheless, Rosenblum showed she already masters these routines, placing fifth all-around in the younger division by scoring an incredible 34.025. This included a third place on vault and fourth on beam (9.20). In the older division, Annie Davis swung bars to 9.0 (third) and totaled an excellent 33.75 all-around. Davis thereby passed off level 5 and will compete level 6 in the fall.
In her first meet competing level 6, Lily Wolfe also hit all her routines to finish sixth all-around (32.25). This included a third place on vault. Fellow Diamonds Kelsi Silva, Mallory Barnes and Alexandra Levine placed fifth, sixth and seventh respectively in the all-around, held down by falls on beam. But high points were a third place on beam for Silva and thirds on vault and floor for Barnes. "This was a very successful week for us," concluded Head Coach Hilde Aune. "There is so much potential in all of these gymnasts. Now we are all keen to get back in the gym to learn and improve. We are going to have an exciting summer." Davis Diamonds will kick off the compulsory season on August 19, 2006 at the annual Judges Cup.

Successful Davis Diamonds Girls at Region 1 Championships

Davis Diamonds gymnasts Ria Domier and Krista Anderson had the best meets of their careers at the USA Gymnastics Region 1 Level 8 Junior Olympic Championships, April 7-9, 2006. Both gymnasts went "four-for-four", hitting all of their routines and counting no falls. Region 1 includes five states: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Northern and Southern California. California is divided into two states because there are so many gymnasts and so many strong teams. This Championships is the high point of the year for level 8 gymnasts and only the best, most senior judges from all five states were judging. The Championships were hosted by SCATS of Huntington Beach in Titan Gymnasium on the California State University Fullerton campus.
Both Domier and Anderson started their meets on bars, Domier competing Friday afternoon and Anderson Saturday morning. In the older thirteen years old division, Domier swung a clean bar set to a strong 9.125 (14th place). A wobble on her round-off dropped her to 29th on beam, but she stayed on. But Ria danced and tumbled her best floor routine performance all year to 8.80. Having won vault in three meets this year, Domier's strongest event came last. Her stylish but powerful piked Tsukahara vault was rewarded with 9.425 and a sensational fourth place, just 0.075 from first. Domier's all-around total of 35.925 placed her seventeenth. This division was won by Emily Gong (Byer's Sacramento) with 37.20. This was a hard fought division as just one-tenth of a point separated first from fourth places all-around. Domier is an eighth grader at Harper Junior High School.
The younger thirteen years old division was the highest scoring and therefore toughest of this Championships. Anderson started with a high 9.225 score for a great bar routine. Clean handstands and giant swings were recognized by the judges for twelvth place. Next on beam, only a small wobble kept her score below a 9.0. Anderson's score of 8.925 was good for fifteenth place on this event. Anderson's total of 35.075 was enough for twenty-fourth place in her first Regional Championships, after a year out of gymnastics because of illness. Anderson is also at Harper Junior High School. This division was won by Amanda Solomon of Pacific West Gymnastics (Union City) with a meet high 37.625, an incredible 9.4 average per event. Thereby both of the toughest divisions were won by Northern California gymnasts. "Last year Davis Diamonds had just one gymnast qualify for Level 8 Regionals and this year we had two. Both hit all of their routines in the biggest meet of the year, so we are very pleased and proud," concluded Davis Diamonds Head Coach Hilde Aune.

Successful Davis Diamonds Girls at Region 1 Championships

Davis Diamonds gymnasts Ria Domier and Krista Anderson had the best meets of their careers at the USA Gymnastics Region 1 Level 8 Junior Olympic Championships, April 7-9, 2006. Both gymnasts went "four-for-four", hitting all of their routines and counting no falls. Region 1 includes five states: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Northern and Southern California. California is divided into two states because there are so many gymnasts and so many strong teams. This Championships is the high point of the year for level 8 gymnasts and only the best, most senior judges from all five states were judging. The Championships were hosted by SCATS of Huntington Beach in Titan Gymnasium on the California State University Fullerton campus.
Both Domier and Anderson started their meets on bars, Domier competing Friday afternoon and Anderson Saturday morning. In the older thirteen years old division, Domier swung a clean bar set to a strong 9.125 (14th place). A wobble on her round-off dropped her to 29th on beam, but she stayed on. But Ria danced and tumbled her best floor routine performance all year to 8.80. Having won vault in three meets this year, Domier's strongest event came last. Her stylish but powerful piked Tsukahara vault was rewarded with 9.425 and a sensational fourth place, just 0.075 from first. Domier's all-around total of 35.925 placed her seventeenth. This division was won by Emily Gong (Byer's Sacramento) with 37.20. This was a hard fought division as just one-tenth of a point separated first from fourth places all-around. Domier is an eighth grader at Harper Junior High School.
The younger thirteen years old division was the highest scoring and therefore toughest of this Championships. Anderson started with a high 9.225 score for a great bar routine. Clean handstands and giant swings were recognized by the judges for twelvth place. Next on beam, only a small wobble kept her score below a 9.0. Anderson's score of 8.925 was good for fifteenth place on this event. Anderson's total of 35.075 was enough for twenty-fourth place in her first Regional Championships, after a year out of gymnastics because of illness. Anderson is also at Harper Junior High School. This division was won by Amanda Solomon of Pacific West Gymnastics (Union City) with a meet high 37.625, an incredible 9.4 average per event. Thereby both of the toughest divisions were won by Northern California gymnasts. "Last year Davis Diamonds had just one gymnast qualify for Level 8 Regionals and this year we had two. Both hit all of their routines in the biggest meet of the year, so we are very pleased and proud," concluded Davis Diamonds Head Coach Hilde Aune.

Level 7 State Championships

Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26, Davis Diamonds gymnasts had a successful USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Level 7 State Championships. This year's championships were held in San Mateo, organized by Penninsula Gymnastics and are the high point of the year for these gymnasts. Through meets this winter, Davis Diamonds Emma Shorts, Caitlin Anderson, Chole Shorts, Lani Chang and Maya Giannetti qualified to this Championships. "We are a new team and last year we had just one level 7 qualify, so we are very proud of these five athletes and their progress," commented David Diamonds Head Coach Hilde Aune. "Level 7 is a high level of acrobatics and dance and requires exceptional conditioning. And our State has an incredible level and depth; one of the very best in the country. So this is a very tough meet." Giannetti had broken her arm and couldn't participate but Chloe Shorts and Caitlin Anderson both competed in the twelve year old session so they were able to support each other. Both gymnasts went four-for-four, hit their routines, counting no falls in this biggest meet of their careers. Chloe's highpoint was an 8.725, given for a solid, tight beam routine, good for eighth. Shorts totalled 34.375, fifteen place all-around and a new personal best. Caitlin Anderson did her best vault, bars and beam ever, hitting her bar routine for the very first time, in practice or competition! Anderson finished eleventh on vault and beam, totalling 34.275 (fourteenth) all-around among the older twelve year olds. In the fourteen year old division, Emma Shorts had an unexpected fall during her floor routine, but then picked herself up to score 9.025s in both vault and bars events. Shorts finshed ninth on vault. She competed a new bar routine here for the first time but hit to place a strong seventh. This was only Emma's second optional level meet ever, but she totalled 34.175 all-around, eleventh. Among the ten year olds, Lani Chang placed fifth on vault (9.05) despite being ill for the past three weeks. Five months ago, Chang had placed sixth in this event in the Level 6 State Championships. But a gymnastics meet is a two hour marathon of timed warm-ups and routines. Chang's lack of practice and conditioning eventually caught up with her and she finished twelvth all-around (33.85). This year the highest scoring and therefore toughest division was the youngest, won by 9 year old Desi Borgese (West Valley-Campbell) with an high all-around of 38.20, an incredible 9.55 average per event! The team competition was won by San Mateo Gymnastics, followed by West Valley and Diablo-San Ramon, best of 35 teams.

Junior Olympic Level 8 State Championships

Saturday, March 3, Davis Diamonds' Ria Domier and Krista Anderson both had sensational Junior Olympic Level 8 State Championships. Gymnasts had to qualify for this championships through invitational meets during the winter. This year's championships were held in Hornet Gymnasium, California State University, Sacramento. Starting on vault in the older junior age division, Ria Domier threw two sensational piked Tsukaharas, the most difficult vault permitted at this level. This vault is a one-and-a-half back flip in a pike position after sprinting and jumping to a handstand on the vaulting table. The 9.475 average score was the absolute highest of the meet at that point and a personal best for Domier. Domier eventually medaled third in this event. On bars, going all out in her other strong event, Domier brushed the floor with a foot on her mount which knocked several tenths off a big performance. The judges still came up with 9.10 (seventh). Domier stayed on the beam and danced and tumbled a clean floor routine to place respectively eight and tenth in those events. But Domier's total of 36.275 was her first ever all-around score over 36.0 and placed her fifth, qualified for Regional Championships. Ria is an eighth grader at Harper Junior High School. This division was won by the home favorite Emily Gong (Byers' Sacramento) with 37.65. Competing in the younger junior age division, Krista Anderson also had the meet of her gymnastics career. This age class was the highest scoring and therefore toughest of the championships. Nevertheless, Anderson placed fifth on bars with 9.225 for a clean routine with powerful, ram-rod straight handstands from casts, clear-hip and giant circles. Anderson then went on to tumble and dance her best ever floor routine to 9.05. Anderson also totaled a personal best 35.45 all-around, fifteenth and also qualified for Regional Championships. Krista is a seventh grader at Harper Junior High School. This hard-fought division was won by Amanda Solomon (Pacific West-Union City) with 37.85, just one tenth ahead of Elette Craddock (San Mateo). On Sunday morning, teammate Kelly Chang competed in the youngest senior division but a hard landing on her first vault hurt her ankle and she chose not to finish the meet. There are only a little over 5,000 level 8 gymnasts in the entire country and a total of 181 qualified in this championships for regionals. This state is one of the biggest and strongest in the USA. "Level 8 gymnastics is really tough," commented Davis Diamonds Head Coach Hilde Aune. "The girls have to do flips and twists on all of the events to be competitive. But Ria and Krista showed that they can compete with the very best even though the gymnasts who placed immediately ahead and behind them practice many more hours. Both Davis girls easily qualified for Regionals but have even more in them. We are all very proud of what they have accomplished already. But now we have two weeks to polish routines before meeting the best of Utah, Arizona, California and Nevada in the Region 1 Championships." This weekend Davis Diamonds' Lani Chang, Chloe Shorts, Caitlin Anderson and Emma Shorts will compete in the Junior Olympic level 7 State Championships in San Mateo.

Davis Diamonds Qualify to State Championships

Saturday, March 4, five Davis Diamonds gymnasts participated in the annual Novato Classic Junior Olympic meet. For most of the top teams in northern California, this was the last chance to qualify for the various optional levels 7 through 10 State Championships. Davis Diamonds Kelly Chang, Caitlin Anderson, Lani Chang, and Maya Giannetti had already qualified but not teammate Chloe Shorts. So the competition was fierce, many gymnasts were pulling out all the stops, there were a lot of nerves and dramatic events this year too. Meet host was former Davis Gymnastics director Perry Siu. In the junior level 7 division, Chloe Shorts hit all of her routines when it counted. The highlight of her meet came in the last event, beam. When she could have thrown it all away, Shorts was clean and steady for a score of 8.725, eighth. Her all-around total of 32.825 easily qualified her to the State Championships March 25 in San Mateo. Thereby all of the Davis Diamonds optional gymnasts qualified for their State Championships. Her teammates were there for support and get an extra run-through before States. Caitlin Anderson had a fall on bars which held her all-around total to fourteenth place. But a nice beam routine was rewarded with 8.525 (eleventh). Lani Chang also had some small stumbles, placing fourteenth all-around with 33.025 in the youngest division. Maya Giannetti performed a good floor routine but ended her meet after a fall during bar warm-up. In the junior level 8 division Kelly Chang had some misses and a fall but still totaled 32.275 (thirteenth). Chang scored 8.75 (eigth) for her vault. Now she has two weeks to get ready for the level 8 State Championships, March 18-19, hosted by Byer's Sacramento at Sacramento State University. For level 8s, this meet is a qualifier for the Region 1 championships in April.

Diamonds Dominate Vault Again

Davis Diamonds gymnasts won individual events, placed all-around and qualified for the State Championships in the third annual Spirit of the Flame meet held February 24-26 in the San Jose Civic Center. One of the biggest Junior Olympic events of the year, this year's attracted over 500 gymnasts from Nevada, New Jersey, Colorado and all over northern California. Competing in the level 8 Junior age division, Ria Domier had yet another successful meet. For the third time this season, Domier won vault, this time getting a score of 9.25 for her piked Tsukahara, making up for small form breaks with tremendous height and speed. Again, Domier won vault outright with this highest score of the session regardless of age division. Domier then swung a clean bar set to 9.0 (fourth), stayed on the beam (fifth) but almost went out of bounds during her floor exercise. But her consistency gave her a total of 35.80 and fourth place all-around. "I guess I just like to fly," concluded thirteen year old Domier who attends Harper Junior High. Teammate Kelly Chang was also successful vaulting. Chang landed both of her piked Tsukaharas for the very first time in competition, recieving 8.95 for the best one, good for fifth place on this event. She then danced and tumbled her elegant routine to seventh place on floor. Chang's all-around total of 33.25 placed her tenth and qualified for the State Championships. This highest scoring and therefore toughest division was won by Meredith Daniels, US Gymnastics (New Jersey) with 36.75. In the youngest division, Krista Anderson had an uncharacteristically shakey meet. Nevertheless, despite a fall on beam, usually one of Anderson's best events, she still scored over 8.0 on all four events to total a strong 34.475. Highpoint was 8.95 awarded for a clean and powerful bar set despite hitting her toes on the low bar just before a lay-out back flip dismount. Domier, Chang and Anderson have all qualified to the level 8 State Championships March 18-19 in Sacramento and hope to qualify there to Region 1 Championships in April, to be held this year in Fullerton. In the level 7 competition, Lani Chang had a sensational meet in the youngest and also toughest division. Chang won vault with 9.175 for her powerful front handspring in just her second optional meet ever. Other high points were eigth place on floor for her "Peter Pan" themed routine. Chang totaled a strong 34.475 to place eleventh all-around. This score easily qualifies Chang for the State Championships March 25-26 in San Mateo. Also qualifying, but in the junior age division, Caitlin Anderson hit all four of her routines in her first meet this season. Highpoints were ninth place on beam and 33.325 all-around (twelvth). Inexperience at this level gave teammate Cloe Shorts a rough meet on bars and beam and she couldn't show what she could do this time (eighteenth all-around). In the senior division, Emma Shorts stuck beam in competition for the first time ever. Emma's other highlights were a fifth place on bars and tenth place all-around. Emma's total of 33.375 also qualifies her for the State Championships in her first optional meet ever.

Boys Finish Out the Regular Season Strong

Last weekend the boys of Davis Diamonds Gymnastics competed in their final regular season meet of the year. Taking place in San Francisco’s historic Fort Mason, the Gold Country Classic hosted hundreds of the best gymnasts from across northern and southern California. In the very competitive Level 6 competition eleven-year-old Erik Braun had an outstanding day, placing ninth on high bar with clean, high swings and a sky-high layout flyaway dismount. An explosive handspring vault was awarded an 8.9 and Braun earned a solid 8.0 on floor after hitting his best routine of the year. With another great performance, ten-year-old Patrick Long represented the team in the Level 5 younger age division. A powerful, dynamic high bar routine was rewarded with a 9.0 a tie for third place. Showing incredible strength, Long earned eleventh place on rings with an 8.45 and his 49.05 all-around was good enough for thirteenth place. In the Level 5 older age division, twelve-year-old Austin Brown showed he’s among the top in the state, placing second in the all-around with a score of 51.65. In the process he managed to win both pommel horse and rings with scores of 8.15 and 9.1, respectively. Brown also placed second on parallel bars with an 8.7 and high bar with a 9.1. Representing Davis Diamonds in the Level 4 competition were eight-year-olds Kian Tanner and Arvin Domier, nine-year-old Jeff Whalen, and eleven-year-olds Raymond Long and Ian Fletcher. Strong individual performances from all five culminated in a well-deserved third place team finish. Tanner’s impressive strength and high swings earned him an 8.8 and seventh place on rings. He also placed eighth on floor with an 8.3 and a stuck landing tied him for ninth on vault with an 8.9. With a great all-around performance, Domier placed third in the competition with a score of 53.45, just 0.05 behind the second place finisher. With high swings and stuck landings, he won both parallel bars, 8.9, and high bar, 9.4, and placed third on rings with a 9.3. Whalen had his best meet of the year, finishing ninth in the all-around with a 48.95. A powerful vault was rewarded with a team-high 9.1 and a tie for third place, and his much-improved high bar routine earned a 7.9 and a seventh place finish. Long showed off clean tumbling and exquisite balance to earn an 8.6 and a fifth place finish on floor. He also placed fifth on both rings and vault with scores of 8.9 and 9.05, respectively. Long’s consistency throughout the competition earned him a sixth place in the all-around, with a score of 50.3. After a shaky landing off high bar Fletcher displayed poise and determination, storming back to capture fourth place in the all-around with an amazing 52.15. He tied for first on parallel bars with an 8.9, placed second on rings with a 9.45, and earned third on pommel horse with an 8.5.

Diamonds’ Boys Capture First Team Title

In their most impressive showing to date, the boys of Davis Diamonds Gymnastics won the Level 4 team title last weekend at the Almond Blossom Invitational. Hosted by Athletic Horizons of Chico, the competition featured gymnasts from across Northern California, ranging in age from six to eighteen years old. With just four boys competing in the Level 4 division, the Diamonds were at a distinct disadvantage against teams more than twice as large (the top three scores from each event are totaled to determine team awards). What they lacked in quantity, though, they more than made up for in quality. Eight-year-old Arvin Domier continued to astound both the crowd and the judges, hitting all six of his routines and winning the middle age group all-around title with a meet-high score of 53.8. With high swings and controlled strength Domier won three of the six individual events – pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar – scoring 9.0, 9.4 and 9.2, respectively. Though competing in his very first meet, eleven-year-old Ian Fletcher looked ever the veteran athlete, showcasing an impressive combination of muscle and balance on his way to capturing the senior age group all-around title with a 52.7. In addition, Fletcher won pommel horse with an 8.8, and placed 2nd on both vault, 9.4, and high bar, 8.8. Fellow eleven-year-old Raymond Long followed suit with his characteristic clean lines and consistency throughout the competition. Long earned first place finishes on both floor, with an 8.5, and parallel bars, with an amazing and well-deserved 9.35. Strong routines on the other four events culminated in an all-around score of 52.35 and a third place finish in the very competitive senior age group. In the Level 4 older age group eight-year-old Kian Tanner displayed powerful swings and amazing flexibility to win high bar, 8.7, and place second on both rings, 8.45, and parallel bars, 8.5. Tanner set a new personal best, placing second in the all-around with a score of 49.55. In the Level 5 competition Patrick Long, nine, had a solid meet and showed he is the consummate all-around gymnast with his lack of any true weakness across all six events. Long earned second place finishes on vault, 9.3, and parallel bars, 8.8, third on pommel horse and high bar and fourth on floor, rings and in the all-around, finishing out the day with a 49.35. At Level 6, eleven-year-old Erik Braun, with exquisite form and unmatched enthusiasm, had his best meet of the year. Heading into the last event, parallel bars, Braun knew he needed at least a 7.9 to make the first of two 50.0 all-around scores required for qualification to State Championships next month. Powerful swings and a stuck landing earned him an 8.0, a second place finish on the event, a shot at making his second qualifying score next week in the last invitational of the year. Braun and the rest of the boys compete in the Gold Country Classic on February 19th, which will be held in San Francisco’s historic Fort Mason. The Davis Diamonds boy’s gymnastics team is coached by Andrew Bedford, James Major and Nick Raubitschek.

Diamonds Domier Wins Vault

Davis Diamonds were among the best of many strong gymnasts at the 2006 MEGA Invitational, hosted by Marin Elite Gymnastics Academy, San Rafael, February 11-12. The 2006 MEGA Invitational involved optional women gymnasts levels 7 through 10 on Saturday, compulsory women and trampoline competitions on Sunday. This annual event was organized at Marin Catholic High School in Larkspur and attended by gymnasts from all over northern California. In the youngest level 8 division, Davis Diamonds Ria Domier had yet another great meet, this time winning vault outright. Her 9.30 was the highest vault score in level 8 for the meet, regardless of age. Domier performed a piked Tsukahara, a powerful one-and-a-half piked back flip off the vaulting table. On bars, Domier's big swings and the clean lines of her handstands were good for 9.275, a personal best on this event, and second place. Domier followed this up with a 9.0 routine on beam, another personal best at this level, fourth. Domier's total of 35.775 placed her second all-around. This division was won by Gabrielle LaJudice of Byer's-Roseville with a strong 36.525. Teammate Krista Anderson also had her best meet ever in level 8. For the first time as a level 8, Anderson could show the judges what she could do on beam and bars. On bars, Anderson swung powerful circles and flips with straight body lines in her handstands to a personal best of 9.25, third right behind teammate Domier. Anderson also hit her beam routine and scored 8.95, fifth. In this highest scoring, and therefore toughest, age division, Anderson finished fifth on floor as well as all-around with 34.525. In the oldest level 8 divison, Davis Diamond Kelly Chang was in her first level 8 meet. Inexperience and nerves caused falls on vault, beam and bars. Nevertheless, Chang was able to perform many promising skills and finished eigth all-around with 30.35. In the youngest level 7 division, Davis Diamonds Lani Chang and Maya Gianetti were in their very first optional meet ever. Nevertheless, both gymnasts performed like veterans and even stayed on the beam. Gianetti placed seventh all-around with 33.65, thereby qualifying to the State Championships later this spring in San Mateo in her first try. Right behind was teammate Lani Chang in ninth (31.875). Highpoint was Chang's 8.85 vault, good for fifth place. This division level was won by Valerie Calhoun, Byers-Roseville with 36.425.

Ria Rocks Vault and Bars

Davis Diamonds gymnasts Ria Domier and Krista Anderson competed in Technique Gymnastics Golden State Classic on January 29. Domier competed in the level 8 intermediate age division and Anderson in the younger division. 472 optional level gymnasts from all over northern California and Nevada made the trip to Rancho Cordova for this annual Junior Olympic event. Ria Domier started her meet with a fall on beam but did not let that discourage her. Stumbles during her floor routine put her in ninth on that event. But then she stormed back with a 9.25 on vault, given for her piked Tsukahara, the most difficult vault permitted at this level. This score placed her fourth and only 0.05 from first, just half the deduction for not pointing a toe. Finishing her meet on bars Domier scored a personal best of 9.20 to place third on that event. She swung all the difficult elements in her routine with power and style and just a small form break on an easy skill kept her from first. Domier's all-around total was 35.525, eigth. Krista Anderson also started her meet with a fall on beam but then later also on bars. However Anderson also showed many good skills, finishing eleventh all-around. "Krista still has some kinks we need to work out before States and Regionals, but what she did still showed a lot of promise," observed Diamonds coach Sarah Martin. "Both athletes are about where they should be at this time in the season. Ria clearly has a 36.00 all-around in her and Krista will soon have a new, higher scoring vault." Davis Diamonds gymnasts compete again Feburary 11 at the MEGA Invitational in San Rafael.

Diamonds Sparkle in Snowflake Invitational

Saturday, January 21, Davis Diamonds gymnasts Ria Domier and Krista Anderson did well in the annual Snowflake Invitational, their first meet of the 2006 season. Competing in the youngest USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic level 8 division, Domier and Anderson showed that they master this level. Domier won vault with the highest score of the meet, 9.05, awarded for her piked Tsukahara vault, the most difficult permitted in level 8. This vault is a one-and-a-half back flip off a handstand on the vaulting table. Despite a fall on beam, Domier placed third all-around with 34.425. Anderson also had a fall on beam but scored 9.0 on bars for third place on this event. Andereson's total of 34.225 was good for fourth all-around. "This was my first meet in a year and a half because I have been sick," said Anderson. "And I am pleased I got my nerves under control and could do my routines." With these all-around scores, Domier and Anderson both have already made the qualifying score to the level 8 State Championships this spring. Both Domier and Anderson attend Harper Junior High School. The Snowflake Invitational was hosted by Oroville Gymnastics Academy in their beautiful facility, the site of this year's level 9-10 State Championships. The Davis Diamonds female gymnasts are in action next January 29 at Technique in Rancho Cordova.

Davis Diamonds’ Boys Impress at High-Tech Ivitational

Last Saturday, the Davis Diamonds Gymnastics boy’s team competed in the High-Tech Invitational in Rancho Cordova, California. Put on by 2004 Olympian Guard Young and Technique Gymnastics, the competition hosted over 500 gymnasts from across California and Nevada, including several junior national team members. Though up against stiff competition, the Diamonds boys fared very well, all showing marked improvement from their first competition last month. In Level 4, eight-year-old Arvin Domier had an excellent meet, winning both Pommel Horse and High Bar with scores of 8.4 and 8.8, respectively. His consistency throughout the competition earned him a sixth place finish in the all-around with a score of 51.35. With clean lines and a stuck landing, twelve-year-old Raymond Long placed 5th on vault with an incredible 9.4. A score of 48.7 earned Long 14th place in the all-around competition. In his first-ever competition eight-year-old Kian Tanner looked like an old pro, placing 5th on rings with an 8.5, 7th on vault with a 9.2 and tying for 9th on both floor and high bar. Nine-year-old Jeff Whalen had a clean pommel horse routine and a powerful vault, earning him 10th place finishes on both events. In the Level 5 competition, both Austin Brown, twelve, and Patrick Long, nine, had incredible days. With an all-around score of 50.5, Brown eclipsed his previous all-around by an amazing 4.7 points and earned 8th place among our state’s top competitors. Brown also earned 3rd on both parallel bars, 9.1, and vault, 9.4, and tied for 6th on rings with a 9.0. Long was the model of consistency, placing 5th on rings with a 9.0, 6th on floor, pommel horse and vault, 8th on parallel bars and high bar, and 6th in the all-around with a score of 49.75. At Level 6, eleven-year-old Erik Braun, still recovering from a minor muscle strain, competed 4 of the 6 men’s events, scratching from both floor and rings. Braun was rewarded for an incredible pommel horse routine with an 8.9 and a 3rd place finish. His clean, explosive handspring vault earned a 9.1 and tied Braun for 9th place on the event. The boys next compete on February 4th in the Almond Blossom Invitational in Chico, California. The Davis Diamonds boy’s gymnastics team is coached by Andrew Bedford, James Major and Nick Raubitschek.