Half-dozen Hat gymnasts qualify to compete at Alberta Winter Games

By Medicine Hat News on December 21, 2019.

A half-dozen girls from Medicine Hat have qualified to compete in gymnastics at the Alberta Winter Games.

In Airdrie this past weekend for zone trials, Madison Pavlovic-Yanay led the way with a first-place all-around finish in her Level 7 group. She and Olivia Chenard made it in that group, while in Level 6 it was Gemma Snazel, Ria Thacker, Aubri Krassman and Deija Gehring garnering spots on the team.

The top five in each division made up the Zone 1 Sunny South roster which will return to Airdrie Feb. 14-17 for the massive multi-sport games.

Pavlovic-Yanay and Chenard, both 11, were assured spots as only five gymnasts were entered in their group. But Pavlovic-Yanay rose to the occasion anyhow, with first-place scores on floor and uneven bars and second-place marks for vault and balance beam. Her overall score of 36.300 was six-tenths ahead of second place. Chenard won both vault and beam but was hurt by a fourth-place bars routine, taking third in the all-around.

Snazel was second, Thacker third, Krassman fourth and Gehring fifth in the eight-person Level 6 division for Zone 1. Snazel had the best floor routine, Thacker had top marks on bars, Gehring tied for first on beam, while Krassman was bronze on vault.

Fellow Hatter Daniele Hollingworth, on the comeback from some injuries, finished seventh to miss out on the team.