The Fayette Citizen-Sports Page

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Welcome home

Fathers return from military service to see daughters compete

By MONROE ROARK
mroark@TheCitizenNews.com

The USAG Level 4 team from Gym South finished third in state competition last month, but the meet was a huge win for a couple of families on the team.

For two of the seven girls on the squad, the fall season was the first time their fathers saw them compete after extended service overseas in the U.S. military.

The team consists of Madeleine Angles, 13; Betsy Brown, 13; Audrey Fisher, 10; Britteny Hodges, 12; Tori Kinamon, 9; Justine Miller, 10; and Alexis Salvanera, 9. Leading up to the state meet in Cartersville, they competed in six meets during the fall season, all in metro Atlanta except for one in Hilton Head, S.C.

The girls compete in various age groups individually and together as a team. Some of them have competed together for several years.

Justine’s father, John Miller, and Madeleine’s father, Keith Angles, are both in the U.S. Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Miller left at Christmas in 2001 for Kuwait and returned in July of 2002; he then left again for Iraq the next October and came home in July of last year. Angles was in Afghanistan from January until July of last year.

In the state meet, Justine placed first on the bars, second on the beam, third on the floor and second in all-arounds. Madeleine was first on bars, third on floor and third in all-arounds.

Betsy was third on bars, second on floor and second in all-arounds; Brittney was first in vault, beam, floor and all-arounds; Alexis was fifth on beam; Tori was third on floor; and Audrey was seventh on beam and floor.

The team is still hard at work, with a schedule of meets remaining throughout the school year.

 

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