Information regarding All American Flames Gymnastix Teams,
The Lady Flames and Men's Fire Squad.

2008

Jan

2007

Jan

Sundae Meet  -  Southgate, MI
4-26-08:  The Lady Flames Level 4's scooped into Mills Gymnastics USA for a tasty competition prior to their state meet.  Four teams battled it out to see who got to put the cherry on top.  The Lady Flames, led by Sophie Jackson's 38.275, received that honor with a team score of 114.075.
    
 

REGIONALS Levels 9  -  Lansing, MI
4-25-08:  With one small hurdle down and one large obstacle in the way of reaching the L9 pinnacle, 3 Lady Flames approached at full speed.  2 of the 3 would clear it while the newest member of the Level 9's would find herself tending to her scraped knees.
     The three members of the Level 9 squad  converged with the best gymnasts from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan at the USAG Region 5 regional competition hosted by Gedderts' Twistars at the Summit in Dimondale, MI.  On the line... a possible trip to Nationals... the Level 9 Olympics!  The cost?  Your best performance under the scrutiny of 4-judge panels hand-picked for this competition, matched up against 60 of the best athletes in your age-group from the 5-state region.  No second chances.
     Courtney Paeth found herself in the hole from the beginning as she began the Jr. C competition with a fall on the beam.  A solid FX performance followed, keeping her hopes alive.  Then the vault of her life!  An inspiring handspring front that drew the attention of others.  She nearly nailed the landing and was excited about the 9.45 score (currently 1st place).  This helped to ease the pain of that full-turn on (or rather off) the beam.  But the rude reality of release-moves was crouching at the door... waiting...  A rather rushed Bars routine found her clamoring for a sense of timing that would never come.  Handling the disappointment like a good-sport, Courtney took her lumps and graciously accepted the silver medal on vault (tied for 1st).
     Day two brought Amanda Stepp and Jessica Leadbetter back to the regional stage for another crack at the Big Dance.  Stepp was ready... driven...  She carried over her exceptional work ethic from States right through to this National qualifier.  She would not be denied.  She methodically knocked down great routine after great routine, making it easy for the judges to award her, not only with the scores needed to qualify, but with the numbers needed to land a roster spot on the Region 5 Team at Nationals.  Stepp grabbed the Sr. A gold on FX and finished 5th in the A.A. (37.000).
     Jessica Leadbetter was primed for the meet of her career.  A great stage for someone who is finally coming-of-age in the all-around.  However, the pressure of the situation seemed to step in just as she was about to attempt her series on her first event... beam!  A balk, then a fall, and her hopes of having a repeat trip were all but dashed.  This wake-up for Leadbetter drove her to her best performance on FX (9.40 - tie 2nd), and her best performance on vault (9.40 - tie 2nd).  Leaving her a simple, solid bars routine away from her desired destination.  The solidity of her final routine was nearly compromised on the landing mat, as she nearly took a knee at the routine's conclusion.  Her 36.300 lasted through the following session of Sr. B's, landing her in the 10th place slot - another shot at Nationals!
 

Videos - follow links below (2-10 mb)
Paeth	1st Vlt (tie)
Leadbetter	2nd Vlt (tie) / 2nd FX (tie) - National Qualifier
Stepp	1st FX - National Qualifier - Region 5 Team Member

STATES Levels 5  -  Midland, MI
4-19-08:  The 2008 Level 5 State Championships, conducted under the 3-tier format, were held at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. The Championship format separated all of Michigan’s (500+) Level 5 gymnasts into three different divisions based on accomplishments at the previous qualifying meets. The evenly divided “thirds” were entitled the U.S.A., American and National Divisions.
     The lower third (U.S.A. Div.) started off the Championships on Saturday. The Lady Flames qualified 4 girls into this division with Rebecca Schultz winning Vault, Colleen Lantz winning Floor Exercise, and Rachael Czarnecki tying for 2nd on Balance Beam in their respective age groups.
     The middle third (American Div.) saw 2 of 21 Lady Flames participate. Bailee McAfee grabbed a bronze medal on Bars while Jessica Jones had one of her best all around performances of the season.
     Sunday evening finished off the Championships with the  National Division competitors. These girls needed to average a 35.100+ in order to participate.  The majority of the Lady Flames (15 of 21) easily met this criteria, and performed as though they belonged.  The Flames Nationals were prepared and fired-up to demonstrate their best at their biggest meet.  No Lady Flames member demonstrated her best better than Mackenzie Shell.  Shell’s team leading 37.575 All-Around performance was the 8th highest score awarded to the 500+ athletes who participated in the 3-Division Championship event. Of the 20 teams participating in the National Division, Shell’s solid performance helped lead her team to the Bronze Medal (3rd Place) finish.  Congrats Ladies on a fine season!
 

National Division
Bielecki	1st Vlt
Brosky	1st Vlt
Nixon	2nd FX / 1st A.A.
Nolfo	1st FX
Shell	2nd Brs / 3rd Bm / 3rd FX / 2nd A.A.
Smith	1st Vlt / 2nd A.A.
Stoutenburg	3rd Bm
American Division
McAfee	3rd Brs
U.S.A. Division
Schultz	1st Vlt
Czarnecki	2nd Bm
Lantz	1st FX

STATES Levels 6  -  Kalkaska, MI
4-13-08:  A respectful end to the Level 6 season came this past weekend in Kalkaska, MI as Water’s Edge Gymnastics played host to the 2008 Level 6 & 7 State Championships. The Lady Flames put forth a concerted effort at the Kaliseum in an attempt at breaking into a top 3 team placement, but fell just short, settling for forth place in the state. The girls lead the state on the vault apparatus with a convincing team score of 28.700, lead by Michigan’s best Level 6 vaulter Amanda Holderby (9.625). Their vaulting performance was not enough to overcome a season-long struggle on the balance beam, where the lone bright-spot Brooke Konik (9.45) lead the team with her best performance of the season. The Flames kept pace on the Floor Exercise, as they have all season long, and put forth a serviceable Bars presentation.  Katie Karadjoff brought home individual gold in the 13yr age group.  Amanda Holderby and Abby Godwin both brought home the silver  all around medals in their respective age groups.  Thanks Level 6's for your season of hard work and congratulations on your accomplishments.
 

Godwin	1st Vlt / 1st FX / 2nd A.A.
Holderby	1st Vlt / 3rd Brs / 1st FX / 2nd A.A.
Karadjoff	1st Vlt / 2nd FX / 1st A.A.
Kennedy	2nd Vlt / 2nd Brs
McDonald	3rd Vlt

STATES Levels 8 & 9  -  Lansing, MI
4-5-08:  The Optional ladies made their way to Lansing, MI this past weekend in search of treasure at the 2008 State Championships hosted by Gedderts' Twistars.  Although the Level 8 girls did not find each trinket they set out to discover, they were still rewarded with some very valuable artifacts that would make even the staunchest of Indiana-s stop Jones-en.  Each girl qualified to their 2008 finale in Peoria, IL - L8 Regionals.  Congrats to our event champions Grace Wypasek (vault), Delina Phillips (beam/floor), and Kristen Patchel (All Around) on a fine job at states!  Also, hats off to Samantha Pennazoli who secured the Bronze Medal (all around)... less than 1/10 away from the gold.
     The Level 9's also secured some treasure on their first stop toward Nationals.  Jessica Leadbetter is the 2008 L9 Beam champion, along with being a co-champ on vault, in her age division.  Amanda Stepp, repeating a similar performance from earlier this season, hung around on each event, and outlasted most of her competition, as she brought home the bronze medal (3rd) in the All Around.  This year's state meet also saw each girl qualify to the next round, Regionals, where Twistars will once again play host.
 

Leadbetter	1st Vlt / 1st Bm
Stepp	3rd A.A.
Patchel	2nd Vlt / 2nd Brs / 1st A.A.
Pennazoli	2nd FX / 3rd A.A.
Phillips	2nd Vlt / 1st Bm / 1st FX / 2nd A.A.
Wypasek	1st Vlt / 3rd FX / 2nd A.A.