The Fort Frances Visserettes & Boys Gymnastics Club has been very busy preparing for the first provincial qualifier, which is being held Dec. 2-3 in Thunder Bay.
Some 22 gymnasts will be representing Fort Frances there.
Head coach Mike Lang said it’s still early in the season but the girls and boys are working hard and should be ready for the challenge.
Cari Brow, Adriana Ota, and Christina York are choreographing the routines. They come together fairly quickly once they have the skills they need.
Gymnastics Ontario changed all the technical rules, noted Lang. Coaches have to study them carefully to make sure the athletes have the correct requirements and no restricted moves.
Competing at the regional inter-club level will be Sarah Blais, Sydney Boustead, Chelsea Hill, Sara Kellar, Hannah Kennedy-Dault, Samantha Loveday, Michelle McFayden, Andrea Nelson, Brittany Rognerud, Kerri and Vicki Stinson, Jeanna Toninato, and Janelle Williamson.
Local provincial competitors are Karly Cameron, Claire Crichton, Chelsea Green, and Cara Yellowega.
Brow will be competing in the Masters category, which is a new category for older athletes who wish to stay in shape and have some fun.
Jesse Brunetta and Travis Hahkala will represent the boys’ club.
The artistic meet will be held at the CLE grounds on Dec. 2 from 8:30-5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 3 from 8-11 a.m., the NW Region will be holding a general meeting at the CLE grounds for all gymnastics and trampoline clubs in the area.
Chairperson Bob Grynol will be informing the clubs of the proposed new regional alignment, club fees for next year, and new standards for provincial qualifiers.
It is getting more and more difficult for clubs in the northwest to compete with the larger centres, he said, noting there isn’t much funding to help bring in and train provincial judges.
In fact, the region is down to just two judges.
Thunder Bay has fundraised hard to bring in six provincial judges for this upcoming meet. Joel Perron and Susie Grynol, two of our previous Fort Frances judges, will be there.
We train judges and then they go off to university and we have to start over.
The Fort Frances Gymnastics Club is hoping to have Perron teach a beginner judging course when he’s home for Christmas. If we can get some parents qualified, who will stay around for a few years, that would help a lot, noted Betty Grynol, who plans most of the courses for the local clubs.
Meanwhile, the Superior Trampoline Club of Thunder Bay will be hosting the first trampoline qualifier on Sunday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Confederation College Bubble.
The judges already will be in town for the artistic meet so that helps with finances.
Last weekend, the Fort Frances Trampoline Club hosted the NCCP Level II coaching theory course at the academy, instructed by Paul Duggan from Kenora.
Adriana Harumi Ota, Alex Rosalina, Adam Cumming, Victoria Stinson, and Devan Hahkala all became qualified.
In other news, the Fort Frances Trampoline Club will be selling tickets on a “Tub of Toys,” with the money to be used to send the coach with the athletes to the next qualifier at the Skyriders Club in Toronto on Jan. 20, 2001.
Please help them out.
The winner of the diamond ring draw sponsored by Brockie’s Jewellers and the Rainbow Rhythmics Club was Betty Ann Laroque. Thank you to all those who sold and purchased tickets.
Finally, trecreational gymnasts are preparing for the Christmas display, which will be held at the Gymnastics Academy on Dec. 16.
The clubs are now registering for second semester classes, which will begin Jan. 7. One free class is offered to anyone who wishes to try the sport out to see if they enjoy it.
Call 274-2966 for more information.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
