Ultimate gymnasts compete for state at regional contest

Submitted by Jane Feely

The Level 8 girls from Ultimate Gymnastics of Gurnee are celebrating after a strong performance representing Illinois at the regional competition held in Bowling Green, Ohio.

The meet, which marks the end of the Level 8 season, sees the best gymnasts from Illinois compete against those from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Athletes competing must have first achieved a set qualifying score at their respective state meets.

Top performance of the weekend for the Ultimate team came from Northbrook’s Carli Betman, who scored 9.55 on vault to secure the regional title in the Senior E age group. Carli, a sophomore at Glenbrook North High School, was second on this event at the Illinois state meet in March. She is also the current Level 8 Illinois state floor champion in her age group.

Katie Schroeder finished her outstanding season at Level 8 with a silver medal on balance beam at regionals. The Grayslake native also placed fourth on floor and fifth in the all-around in the Senior C age group. She is the current Illinois State All-Around Champion and also holds the Illinois state title on balance beam.

Other notable performances of the regional meet included four top 10 finishes for Ella Peter, the youngest member of the Ultimate Level 8 team. Competing in the Junior C age group, Ella placed fourth on vault and in the all-around. She also finished in the medals on beam and floor exercise.

Emily Whitis again showed her strength on floor exercise with a fifth-place finish (9.45) in the Senior A age group, while her teammate Samantha Wahlers was seventh on the same event, scoring 9.425.

Gurnee’s Kyra McCue, competing as an event specialist, placed third on vault in the Senior E age group, while Hunter Bode placed 10th on floor in the Senior D section.

The Ultimate girls also helped Illinois to victory in the state team competition. Illinois placed first in the Junior C age group and was runner-up in both the Senior A and Senior C divisions.

Scores for individual girls are as follows:

Level 8

Junior C age group: Ella Peter (Waukegan): Vault: 9.40 (4th); Bars: 9.45; Beam: 9.35 (6th); Floor: 9.35 (8th); All-around: 37.55 (4th).

Senior A age group: Samantha Wahlers (Round Lake Beach): Vault: 8.525; Bars: 7.30; Beam: 9.00; Floor: 9.425 (7th); All-around: 34.25.

Emily Whitis (Lindenhurst): Vault: 9.025; Bars: 8.80; Beam: 9.10; Floor: 9.45 (5th); All-around: 36.375.

Senior C age group: Katie Schroeder (Grayslake): Vault: 9.20; Bars: 9.325; Beam: 9.325 (2nd); Floor: 9.40 (4th); All-around: 37.25 (5th).

Senior D age group: Hunter Bode (Lake Villa): Vault: 8.525; Bars: 8.75; Beam: 8.475; Floor: 9.275 (10th); All-around: 35.025.

Senior E age group: Carli Betman (Northbrook): Vault: 9.55 (1st); Bars: scratch; Beam: 9.125 (8th); Floor: 9.10.

Kyra McCue (Gurnee): Vault: 9.40 (3rd); Bars: scratch; Beam: scratch; Floor: 9.15.

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