STATES - Lady Flames Opts - Grand Ledge, MI
3-28-09:  The Lady Flames Optional girls participated in their State Championships this past weekend, hosted by Gedderts' Twistars and held at Grand Ledge High School. 
     The Level 8 girls struggled to break into the top 3 placements while settling for 7 individual 4th place medals.  The 8's were led by Jessica Leverenz' 36.800, followed closely by Megan Schweihofer's 36.650.  The 5-girl team each qualified to Regionals held in Lima, OH, April 25, 2009.
     The Level 9 girls had a couple surprising finishes with both Courtney Paeth and Delina Phillips capturing the gold medal on vault in their respective age divisions.  Paeth (9.4) and Phillips (9.375) combined with senior gymnast Grace Wypasek (9.2) to lead the state of Michigan on the vault apparatus.  Senior Kristen Patchel went from disappointment to elation with a memorable finish as she recovered from a disappointing balance beam performance (7.575 - ouch).  Kristen needed her best performances on the final two events to secure one more chance to compete at Regionals in her final season.  Patchel, not willing to let the dream die, heeded a divine "hunch" by her vault coach which upped her start value from a 9.0 to a 9.7.  Needing a 9.2 on the vault to qualify, Patchel utilized her 3 touch warm-ups to prepare for the increased difficulty.  The previous 5 months Kristen suffered from an all-to-familiar anxiety which literally crippled her performances, instead, settling for the much easier 9.0 routine.  She had prepared the 9.7 earlier in the season, but never competed it.  However, faced with the realization of "early" retirement from the sport she loves, she found the motivation to slay the monster.  Following a spirited Floor routine which got her in the ballpark with a 8.825.  Kristen stared-down the pitcher on her final event - needing a homerun with only two pitches.  Coupled with her coach's knowledge of her abilities, her physical preparedness and the atmosphere in which she was in, the calculated risk netted the result which was exactly what she needed to make Regionals, a 9.2.  You couldn't script it any better.  Thanks to all the gymnasts and coaches who helped Kristen with shouts of encouragement.
     The Level 10's followed the 9's excitement with some of their own, as sophomore Amanda Stepp continued her Uneven Bars improvements (9.125).  Junior Jessica Leadbetter also showed some life on the aforementioned apparatus, only falling on her developing Tkachev.  Stepp finished 7th on Vault and 5th on Floor while narrowly missing an All Around placement with her 36.800.  Both girls qualified to the Level 10 Regionals in All American Flames first year at the J.O.'s highest level.  Their performances received some Division 1 Collegiate interest the following day.  Congrats ladies, your hard work is being recognized!

STATES - Fire Squad - Lake Orion, MI
3-21-09:  This past weekend the Fire Squad boys participated in the 2009 State Championships held in Lake Orion, MI.  The Level 4 boys placed 5th in the state as a team.  Individually, these men showed great athleticism enroute to some very admirable hardware.
     Carter Lane (L4) received the prestigious Rising Star Award.  This award is given to the boy who shows excellent work ethic, attitude and promising ability.  The recipient also is an inspiration to his team.  In the words of his coach, "Carter is one of those kids who makes his whole team better."  We are very proud of him!  Lane received the Rising Star along with placing first on several events as well as the All Around.
     Robert Blandino (L6) qualified for Regionals with an impressive 84.40 all around score (only a 77.00 was required) as well as placing first on High Bar.  Jack Wettlaufer (L4) placed first on vault.  Sergei Bowles (L5) tied for first on Parallel Bars.  His brother, Christopher (L5), tied for the silver on the Pommel Horse.  Jarrett Jones (L4) captured the bronze medal on the Floor Exercise, while his teammate Keegan McAfee (L4) tied for the bronze on the High Bar.
     Great job gentlemen!

Wolverine Classic - Saline, MI
3-14-09:  The final competition before the Lady Flames Optionals' state meet was the Wolverine Classic hosted by Gym America.  A couple sick-bugs and bruises helped the Flames look a bit lethargic coming off an exciting weekend prior in Columbus, OH.  The Level 8 team, lead by Megan Schweihofer's 36.525, finished with a 2nd Place Team award just behind Cutting Edge Athletics.  The Level 10's Amanda Stepp completed her first blind-full on bars at a competition.  She finished with a respectable 36.375.  Paeth won vault for the Level 9's.  Phillips landed a nice HS-Front for a 2nd place award.  Leadbetter and Wypasek each placed 2nd on both vault and floor at their respective levels.

boys' pics

Arnold Gymnastics Challenge - Columbus, OH
3-6-09:  This past weekend brought warm temperatures and even hotter routines as the All American Flames Gymnastix teams participated in the 2009 Arnold Gymnastics Challenge at the Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.  While the Fire Squad has taken part in the festivities in the past, which brings out 17,000 athletes in various sports, it was the first time the Lady Flames played at the "Arnold."  Most of the Flames were "Pomped-Op" to witness the (3) 1st Place Team Trophies received by the Levels 4, 5 & 8 squads, the 2nd Place Team Trophy received by the Level 6 squad, and the 3rd Place Team Trophy received by the Lady Flames Level 9's and the Fire Squad's Level 4's.
     Besides gymnastics and the plethora of hulking body-builders, weight-lifters, fighters and lighting-quick ping-pong specialists the "Arnold" featured, well, THE Arnold.  Mr. Schwarzenegger was on-hand during the gymnastics demonstration put on by the Ohio State University gymnasts and Olympic athletes Blaine Wilson and Raj Bhavsar.  And after his many years involved with physical fitness, the Governator gave props to the gymnastics community by recognizing it as "the ultimate in fitness."  This couldn't be more apparent than the gymnasts taking part in the Marine Corps physical fitness challenges blowing-away the other contestants with their physical abilities.
     This was also the first time that the Lady Flames Optional gymnasts had an opportunity to take part in Event Finals.  The 'Finals' were to take place as the conclusion of the gymnastics event.  The 'Event Finals' were the top 8 Optional gymnasts, per event, who participated in the previous days' competitions.  All American Flames qualified 6 of their 13 Optional competitors to the Event Finals:  Amanda Stepp (L10) on Vault & Floor, Jessica Leadbetter (L10) on Vault & Floor, Delina Phillips (L9) on Vault & Floor, Courtney Paeth (L9) on Vault, Holly Manter (L8) on Bars & Floor, and Amanda Holderby (L8) on Vault.  At the Event Finals, the top 3 scores were recognized during awards.  Jessica Leadbetter (L10) place 3rd on Floor.  Delina Phillips (L9) placed 1st on Vault with a stuck Handspring Front.  Amanda Holderby (L8) placed 1st on Vault.