Gymnastic coaches see final meet here

The Fort Frances Gymnastics Academy’s Springfest 2007 Invitational Inter-Club meet is an annual competition, but Saturday’s event held special meaning for two local coaches.
It was Mirel and Mirela Bica’s last competition at the club as the couple is moving to Saskatoon.
“We were very sad that it was our last competition—my wife and I were very emotional,” Mirel Bica said Monday. “We’ve loved being here [with the club] and in Fort Frances.”
He said they’ve felt so welcome and were surprised by how easily they made lasting friendships.
“I want to thank the club and community for having us here . . . I’d like to thank each and everyone, but the list would be too long,” he remarked.
Bica said many people already have let them know how much they’ll be missed.
“It’s been very rewarding working as a coach,” he continued, noting while it isn’t the best job financially, watching the kids compete and the progress they’ve made has been worth it.
“It’s been one of the best times of our lives.”
And he stressed Saturday’s meet could not have gone any better.
“Everyone exceeded my expectations,” Bica said. “And everyone was very happy with how it went.
“Not everyone was impressed with their performances because sometimes you make mistakes,” he admitted. “But it’s all part of the learning experience.
“I was extremely pleased with how the kids did.”
Bica said the competition ran smoothy and they managed to get done 45 minutes ahead of scheduled, which is a good thing.
There were 55 gymnasts competing from Fort Frances, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Kenora, and Red Lake.
In addition, a separate, yet annual, event was held Sunday—a display day for gymnastic students who are not yet at a competing level.
“It gives them the experience and exposure, so they are not afraid . . . or nervous,” he explained. “It’s a very important stage in any sport.”
Bica said parents were invited to watch the students demonstrate everything they’ve learned.
There were 11 participants in the display day—Taryn Bruyere, Chad Westover, Samantha Westover, Tori-Anne Toriseva, Emma Harland, Caley Harland, Anna Peters, Sarah Calder, Alexandra Gartzke, Julianne Bica, and Avery Sivonen.
“They all did a great job,” Bica enthused.
The local results from Saturday’s meet were as follows:
< *c>Level 2
< *c>(Age seven, eight)
•Claire Herzig—gold overall (gold in vault, gold in bars, gold in beam, and gold in floor);
•Gabriella Peters—gold overall (gold in vault, gold in bars, gold in beam, and gold in floor);
•Nikki Skifstrom—gold overall (gold in vault, silver in bars, gold in beam, and gold in floor);
•Talyssa Kellar—bronze overall (bronze in vault, gold in bars, gold in beam, and gold in floor); and
•Isabella Ettestad—silver overall (gold in vault, bronze in bars, bronze in beam, and gold in floor);
< *c>(Age nine)
•Hailey Beaudry—1st overall (2nd in vault, 1st in bars, 2nd in beam, and 5th in floor);
•Kate Parsons—4th overall (6th in vault, 2nd in bars, 1st in beam, and 4th in floor); and
•Nicole Lepine—7th overall (7th in vault, 6th in bars, 7th in beam, 7th in floor);
< *c>(Age 10)
•Samantha Hervey—6th overall (5th in vault, 6th in bars, 4th in beam, and 6th in floor);
< *c>(Age 11)
•Alyxandra Barnard—2nd overall (2nd in vault, 2nd in bars, 2nd in beam, and 2nd in floor);
< *c>(Age 12)
•Megan Hell—2nd overall (1st in vault, 1st in bars, 2nd in beam, and 2nd in floor);
< *c>Level 3
< *c>(Age eight)
•Kendra Moen—gold overall (gold in vault, gold in bars, gold in beam, and gold in floor);
< *c>(Age 10)
•Katie Sinclair—1st overall (1st in vault, 1st in bars, 2nd in beam, and 2nd in floor);
< *c>Level 4
< *c>(Age 11)
•Shauna Moen—1st overall (1st in vault, 4th in bars, 1st in beam, and 1st in floor); and
•Stacey Cridland—3rd overall (3rd in vault, 1st in bars, 4th in beam, and 2nd in floor);
< *c>Level 5
< *c>(Age nine)
•Anika Alexander—1st overall (2nd in vault, 1st in bars, 1st in beam, and 2nd in floor); and
•Haily Boustead—2nd overall (1st in vault, 2nd in bars, 2nd in beam, and 1st in floor)
Editor’s note: Children aged eight and under do not compete against each other. Instead, they strive to achieve their best in each discipline.
Based on their performance, they then are awarded either gold, silver, or bronze.