Ultimate gymnast breaks records at regional level
Level 8 gymnast Sylvia Raquel ended her competitive season in top form with an impressive show of gold medals at this year's Region 5 regional competition in South Bend, Indiana.
Sylvia, who competes for Ultimate Gymnastics, scored 9.70 on floor exercise to win the regional title on that event in the Junior E age group. She also added a first-place finish on beam with a score of 9.675. Her all-around score, 38.175, completed a trio of gold medals for the Libertyville native.
Sylvia also claimed a long list of "firsts" for her Gurnee-based club, breaking a number of club records along the way. Her performance at the meet - where Illinois' best compete against their counterparts from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky - means she is the first Ultimate gymnast to win three regional titles in one year.
In addition, her all-around score and her score on beam were both the highest ever earned by an Ultimate gymnast at the regional level.
The gold medals didn't stop there, however, as Kylie Skie also claimed a regional title at the meet, this time in the Senior C age group. Her score of 9.50 on floor exercise put her on top of the podium. She also added a seventh-place finish on balance beam.
In the high scoring Junior C age group, Gurnee's Lyndsey Basara had a consistent meet. Her 9.425 on floor exercise earned her a bronze medal and she placed 9th in the all-around (37.375).
Sabrina Panlaqui's score of 9.375 on balance beam earned her an 8th-place finish in the Junior E age group. However, the team was without Lake Ritzert, who had to miss this meet due to an ankle injury.
"Our Level 8s did an outstanding job and have so much to be proud of," said Ultimate coach Shane Sanders. "Their combined four first places are the most ever won by Ultimate Gymnastics at a single regional competition. The girls truly stepped up to the plate and delivered their best performances of the season."
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