The Waterville Gymnastics team went enforce to St. Anselm’s College to compete in the New England Regional YMCA Gymnastics championships. With over 1,000 gymnasts from Maine to New York, the Waterville team consisting of 100 team members qualified 86 gymnasts to compete for New England’s top gymnastics honors. The level 7 competitors did not finish their session of competition until 11:30 p.m. but even so, they were able to climb to the top of the podium, with Maddy Russ of Damariscotta becoming the New England all around champion at level 7.

Meet highlights: Maddy Russ is the New England Level 7 Champion placing 1st all around. Reed Gulden placed 2nd on the uneven bars with a 9.225. The girls were significant contributors to the Level 7 team which placed 1st in all of New England. Level 4’s Kadence Rogers placed 2nd on uneven bars with a 9.5 and Emma Markowitz placed 3rd on uneven bars with a 9.35 and the Level 4 team came in 2nd.

Level 7 – Maddy Russ of Damariscotta is the New England Regional Champion. Maddy had a 9.3 on vault for 2nd place, 8.95 on uneven bars for 3rd place, 9.275 on the balance beam for 2nd place, and a season high on floor with a 9.625 for 1st place.

Teammate Reed Gulden of Walpole placed 4th all around in New England. Reed had a 9.2 on vault for 4th place, a 9.225 on bars for 2nd place, a 9.25 on balance beam for 3rd place and an 8.75 on floor exercise.

Level 7 – Level 4 – Kadence Rogers of Nobleboro was in a very competitive age group and did very well. She came in 2nd on the uneven bars with a season high 9.5, she had a 9.225 on the balance beam and earned a 9.0 on the floor exercise.

Emma Markowitz of Barters Island, Boothbay, competed with a twisted ankle which aggravated a previous injury but toughed it out and competed well. Emma had an 8.65 on vault for 6th place, 9.35 on the uneven bars for 3rd place, 8.5 on the balance beam, 8.625 on the floor exercise and placed 6th all around.

Katie Colomb of Alna, 15, Xcel Platinum, placed 3rd all around for Xcel Platinum. Her scores were: 9.075, vault; 8.8, bars; 8.5, beam; and 9.05, floor. The Xcel Platinum team from Waterville came in 1st place in New England.