Ultimate Gym represents Illinois at national level
The Level 7 girls from Ultimate Gymnastics of Gurnee traded in their club leotards recently and stepped up to represent Illinois at the National Judges Cup State Challenge. They earned their opportunity to compete at this prestigious meet by winning the Illinois Judges Cup in November.
The meet, held this year in Covington, Kentucky, is an annual fundraising invitational to benefit the National Association of Women's Gymnastics Judges and is the only invitational in the country that supports a four-judge panel for all levels of competition.
Each participating state team puts forward six girls, with the top five scores on each event counting toward the team total. Girls who do not participate in the State Challenge portion of the meet are still eligible to compete in the National Judges Cup.
Top performer for the Ultimate girls was Lea Alatzakis, who won the vault title at the meet, scoring 9.50. She also placed in the top 10 (ninth) in the all-around competition (36.475).
Other notable top 10 performances included a fifth place on vault for Ashley Derrick (9.45), a seventh-place finish for Riley Finnegan on beam (9.275) and two ninth-place finishes for Anna Becker on vault (9.275) and Gianna Pasquesi on bars (8.825).
In the National Judges Cup portion of the meet, Katelyn Chung tied for third place on beam (9.175), was fifth on vault (9.15) and 10th all-around in the 13-year-old age group. Her teammate, Kylee Johnston, took bronze on bars (9.20) in the 10 and under division.
Meanwhile, the Level 8, 9 and 10 girls from Ultimate were competing closer to home at the Legacy Winter Classic. Lyndsey Basara had an outstanding meet, claiming the all-around title in the Junior B age group at Level 8. She also placed second on vault (9.125) and third on floor (9.175). Teammate Kylie Skie placed fifth on floor exercise in the Senior A age group.
At Level 10, Michigan State commit Ally Hoyer was in strong form on her favored event: floor exercise. Her 9.625 score earned her a silver medal in the Senior B age group. She also placed fourth on vault and sixth on beam and in the all-around. Meanwhile, competing in her first season at Level 10, Carrie Grumhaus placed seventh on vault (9.20).
• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.