Gymnasts perform at Candy Cane Classic

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 16, 2006

The weather outside may have been frightful, but the gymnasts were delightful as Niagara Gymnastics, Levels 4-6, opened its season with the Candy Cane Classic at SUNY-Brockport on Dec. 10.

For Level 4, age 8, Vinnie Costanzo from Youngstown placed fourth on bars and fifth on beam. Ana D’Angelo from Niagara Falls placed third on beam, with both girls tying for fifth place all-around.

In Niagara Level 5, Brianna Brandon of Grand Island won the floor exercise for ages 7-9 with a score of 9.2.

Niagara Level 5, age 10, was led by Richelle Kloch of North Tonawanda who finished second all-around with a score of 34.95 and won the floor exercise with 9.575. Lauren Testa, also from NT, finished first all-around and first on bars for ages 7-9. Rachel Franz (Tonawanda) and Danielle Thaler (Wheatfield) finished second and fourth, respectively, in that age group.

In the 11-12 year old group, Payton Klidonas and Molly Brown, from Niagara Falls, finished fifth and sixth all-around. Klidonas also won the beam event with a 9.60, while Brown won the vault.

For the Level 6 team, age 10, Kayla Higgins from NT placed fourth on beam with 8.80, ninth on floor with 8.75, finishing in seventh place. For age 11, Jenna Brick (NT) placed fourth on beam with 9.05, eighth on bars, and 10th place all-around. For age 12, Jessica Szelgia from Niagara Falls placed seventh on beam with 8.90.

Kelly Bajorek and Katie Wagoner, both from Wheatfield, led the Level 4 team. Bajorek placed second all-around in the 9-year-old category with a score of 37.075. She was outstanding on bars and floor, winning both events with 9.65 and 9.350, respectively. She also placed third on the bars with 9.025 and fourth on vault with 9.050. Wagoner placed second on both vault and bars with scores of 8.650 and 8.70, respectively, for age 10. She was also third on bars and fourth on floor. She earned the bronze in the all-around with a score of 34.525.

Breanna Gerner from NT had a high score of 8.55 on floor. For ages 11 and up, Kassidy May from Niagara Falls placed first on beam with a score of 9.2. Lia Parks of Youngstown placed sixth on bars, fourth on beam, and fifth on floor earning her sixth place in the all-around.