BY MICHAEL DAVID
More than 350 athletes from all over Idaho descended on the Wood River High School gymnasium March 23 and 24 to compete in the Idaho State Xcel Gymnastic Championships.
The event was hosted by Hailey’s Spirit n’ Motion Athletic School, home to several of the top ranked gymnasts in the state and the region.
The basketball court at Wood River was transformed into a gymnastic arena, filled with apparatus for the competition. The floor exercise mat dominated the gym, surrounded by the uneven bars, the balance beam, and the vault.
SMAS ended up seventh of the 15 teams with Sandra Regalado taking a first place in Senior C class floor and Emilia Leon capturing first place in the Junior C floor competition. Laila Duke took second in Senior A floor exercise and Ashley Carhuamaca took second in Junior A for bars and beam.
Spirit n’ Motion head coach, Amanda Wilson said the event was a huge success, as they welcomed athletes from 21 different gymnastic clubs and their families.
“We saw some amazing athleticism from all of these young women,” she added.