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WEB EXCLUSIVE: A Grand Day Out: Golden Grip performs well in opening meet
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Season openers can be rough, especially when a team has to go on the road.
Yet that wasn't the case Jan. 18-20 when Golden Grip Gymnastics traveled to Phoenix for the Arizona Grand Invitational Meet as the Collin County-based team picked up several trips to the podium as well as the medals that accompany them.
"For the first meet of the season, the girls competed well," said Evgueni Indioukov, Golden Grip head coach/owner and former member of the Russian Federation National Team.
The Level 8 squad stood out as its score of 111.75 brought home the team trophy.
That success yielded plenty of individual medals as well with Planoite Arianna Patterson finishing second in the Junior division all-around (34.725) thanks to gold medal-winning routines on the vault (9.175) and floor exercise (9.45). Golden Grip displayed its apparatus diversity with Megan Fitzgerald finishing first on the uneven bars (8.85) and second on vault (9.0) while Allen's Layher Braley captured a medal on the balance beam (8.350). In the Senior division, Emily Scott picked up a trio of medals with her performances on the bars (9.075), vault (8.75) and beam (8.1).
Golden Grips' Level 7 and 10 teams won medals as well.
In the former category, Lucas resident Starr Hague did so on the bars and beam with dual marks of 8.950. The latter featured Kaley DeWeese placing second on beam (9.225) while teammate Natalie Alkire medaled on vault (9.05).
Patterson, Scott, Hague and DeWeese qualified for the Grand Finale competition thanks to being the team's top qualifier in their particular division.
Next up for Golden Grip is a trip to San Antonio as the team takes part in Friday's Alamo Classic.
"We will continue to fine tune their performances," Indioukov said, "and expect them all to have a great season."
Yet that wasn't the case Jan. 18-20 when Golden Grip Gymnastics traveled to Phoenix for the Arizona Grand Invitational Meet as the Collin County-based team picked up several trips to the podium as well as the medals that accompany them.
"For the first meet of the season, the girls competed well," said Evgueni Indioukov, Golden Grip head coach/owner and former member of the Russian Federation National Team.
The Level 8 squad stood out as its score of 111.75 brought home the team trophy.
That success yielded plenty of individual medals as well with Planoite Arianna Patterson finishing second in the Junior division all-around (34.725) thanks to gold medal-winning routines on the vault (9.175) and floor exercise (9.45). Golden Grip displayed its apparatus diversity with Megan Fitzgerald finishing first on the uneven bars (8.85) and second on vault (9.0) while Allen's Layher Braley captured a medal on the balance beam (8.350). In the Senior division, Emily Scott picked up a trio of medals with her performances on the bars (9.075), vault (8.75) and beam (8.1).
Golden Grips' Level 7 and 10 teams won medals as well.
In the former category, Lucas resident Starr Hague did so on the bars and beam with dual marks of 8.950. The latter featured Kaley DeWeese placing second on beam (9.225) while teammate Natalie Alkire medaled on vault (9.05).
Patterson, Scott, Hague and DeWeese qualified for the Grand Finale competition thanks to being the team's top qualifier in their particular division.
Next up for Golden Grip is a trip to San Antonio as the team takes part in Friday's Alamo Classic.
"We will continue to fine tune their performances," Indioukov said, "and expect them all to have a great season."
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