Meghan Merritt and Kambria Blakely each placed ninth in their age divisions to lead the Moultrie YMCA MGs to a satisfying third-place finish at the 2009 YMCA National Gymnastics competition held last week in Downington, Pa. More than 1,700 gymnasts from 20 states competed in the annual event. Both Blakely and Merritt were named YMCA All-Americans. Blakely got her second consecutive gold medal on vault and Merritt climbed to the second place on the award stand to collect her silver medal for floor.

The week started off on a positive note with senior Leah May receiving one of three $1,000 scholarships given by the YMCA of the USA to be used at the school of her choice.

More than 55 applications for the senior scholarships were sent in.

Excerpts were read from the essay May submitted with her nomination and her fine career was outlined in the presentation that was part of the opening ceremonies.

All those who had seen her win six YMCA national championships (floor twice, bars and vault) including two all-around gold medals were disappointed to hear during the presentation that she would not be able to perform at this year's meet.

May was the first Moultrie gymnast to receive one of these scholarships.

The level 8 team was the first to compete for the MGs.

All event medals are given during the level 8 sessions.

All-around placements are determined when the top 25 in each age division from all sessions competed at all-around finals.

“Our level 8 team included four girls who competed at level 7 until our home meet in May,” said Coach Bob Swadel. “They wanted to move up for nationals and helped us place 10th. We would not have had the four scores on each event needed for team score without them.”

Aubrea Callanta led the team with a 34.475 all-around.

Callanta placed fifth on vault (8.55), third on bars (8.725), fourth on beam (8.45), and seventh on floor (8.75). Callanta qualified for the level 8 all-around finals.

“She led our level 7 team in scoring all year and made the top 25 out of over 100 in her age group at this meet,” Swadel said. “Aubrea has beautiful lines and presentation. She has no weak event.”

Callanta performed even better in her second day of competition raising her all-around to a 35.225 and placing 22nd overall.

Hayley Trouille placed first on floor (9.20), fourth on bars (8.725), and seventh on beam (8.325).

Trouille scored a 34.35 all-around.

“Hayley has been fighting a back injury for the past few months now,” said Coach Elizabeth Harrington. “She performed well in spite of the pain she was in and helped the team to their strong 10th place finish.”

Betsy Booth scored a 33.525 all-around and had the team’s highest vault and beam score.

Booth placed fourth on vault (8.60) and third on beam (8.65), which were both personal bests.

Jordan Bright, the team’s only level 8 in the senior division, placed 13th on bars (8.05) and second on floor with her highest floor score (9.40).

Susannah Harvell had a personal best vault score of 8.50 (8th) and also on bars with an 8.00.

Sammie Phillips received a 7.875 on bars, a personal best for her. Phillip’ s strong floor score of 8.70 bumped the team’s score up and allowed it to finish in the top 10.

Kaydee Phillips competed as the only level 7 gymnast for the MGs in her first YMCA Nationals.

She was only .15 away from placing on vault, where she scored an 8.80, her highest score of the meet.

One might think that gymnastics is a sport just about accuracy and consistency.

For the Championship Division at Y Nationals it is also an endurance contest.

It has the most rigorous schedule of any group in the competition. A warm-up day is followed by two days of all-around and team competition.

If your scores are in the top 10 on any of the four events, you compete again in the event finals on the fourth consecutive day.