72°
STAMFORD, Conn. Arena Gymnastics of Stamford won both team titles at the 2012 USA Gymnastics Level 7 and 8 Connecticut State Championships held this past weekend at Hamden Halls Beckerman Athletic Center.
Arena dominated the Level 7 competition, scoring 186.275. New England Gymnastics Express of Glastonbury and Newington was second with 181.825 and Gymnastics Revolution of Bethel finished third at 180.525.
Leading the Arena team was 14-year-old Ilana Olin of Wilton. Ilana won four individual titles all-around (37.55), balance beam (9.65), floor exercise (9.6) and uneven bars (9.4).
The 13.5-year-old age group saw Arenas Eliza Donovan from Westport win gold in the all-around (36.575), beam (9.325), floor (9.2) and bars (9.2). Teammate Bianca Dinisoe of Norwalk won the 13-year-old all-around title (36.7), also taking gold on bars (9.45) and silver medals on vault (9.45) and beam (8.95). Westports Hannah Rose won the 13-year-old floor title (9.4) and finished third all-around (35.7).
In the 11-year-old age group, Arena teammates Abby Graham of New Canaan and Nicole Humphrey of Darien shared the balance beam title, with both girls scoring 9.375. Graham also finished second all-around (36.825), second on vault (9.4) and third on floor (9.1). Nicole was fourth all-around (35.825) and second on floor (9.3).
Brett Edmonds of Old Greenwich finished second all-around (37.05) in the 10-year-old age group, winning titles on balance beam (9.65) and floor exercise (9.45) and finishing third on vault (9.2).
In the Level 8 competition, the Stamford-based gymnastics team scored 147.725, securing the state title over second place Dearys Gymnastics (146.275) of Danielson.
Ashlyn Wahl of Greenwich won the 12-year-old all-around title, scoring 37.45. Ashlyn also took home gold medals on balance beam (9.65), uneven bars (9.525) and floor exercise (9.4) and finished third on vault (9.05). Wahl will represent Connecticut at the USA Gymnastics Level 8 Regional Championships in Maine on April 28.
In the 13-14-year-old age group, Emma Kirchner of Ridgefield won the uneven bars title with 9.575 points. Kirchner finished fourth all-around (36.1) and has qualified to represent Connecticut at the Regional Championships on the 13-14-year-old State Team. Also, 14-year-old Madeline Henrie of Stamford finished fifth on floor (8.975) and sixth on bars (9.2)
Pamela Onorato (36.075), Rayna Weiser (35.85) and Kristen Onorato (35.80), all 15-year-olds from Westport, finished second, third and fourth in the all-around, respectively, to qualify for the Regional Championships on the Connecticut Senior State Team. Pamela won the bars title (9.4) and finished second on balance beam (9.475). Rayna took the gold on floor (9.4) and the silver on bars (9.325). Kristen took third place on beam (9.275) and floor (9.175). Also contributing to the Arena team victory was Kate McGrath, 15, of Stamford.
In all, Arena gymnasts won 22 individual event and all around titles in addition to winning the team titles.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
