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Gym South turns 20, adds new programs

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Gym South in Fayetteville will celebrate their 20th anniversary this year and they have a number of new programs and new successes to celebrate.

One of the most remarkable new elements to the gym is the optional program, which is being coached by Chandra Pecovsky. The program is for gymnasts that perform at a higher skill level. Like the gymnastics that people are used to watching on television, the gymnasts must perform certain requirements but their routines are all different. There are currently three girls on the optional team; Kiley Bidelman, 11, and 13 year olds Carley Powell and Amanda Barton. They have performed in three meets this year and will compete in the Excalibur Cup, an international competition in Virgina Beach, this weekend.

The gym also offers a prep-op program, coached by Jessica Allen, for gymnasts who excelled in their recreational classes an opportunity to compete. They will compete in their age group but at lower skill sets, offering them a chance to master the basics and move up levels. The team, consisting of nine gymnasts, competes in eight meets a year. They recently took first place in a meet in Hilton Head, S.C., winning 24 out of 30 first place individual awards. Members of the team are Briana Smith, Eboney Turnipseed, Kathryn Aquino, Lauren Van, Nyla Andrews, Jordan Carey-Jackson, Christian Tucker, Betsy Starkey and Anna Dobbs. Beth McDowell and Bobby Allan coach the girls in levels 2-6. There are 40 girls on the team and the girls practice year round. There are several competitions during the year with the main focus being the annual state meet. The level two team will kick off their season at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Kennesaw, Feb. 18-20. The level three team won their first meet of the season, the Hilton Head Invitational, Jan. 27. The team got good performances from Mackenzie Carlson, who won all four events; Aliyah Reeves, who won the vault; Deja Carter-Jackson, second on the floor; Hannah Hancock, who won in beam, floor and AA; Ansley McDaniel, whowon in bars and AA and Emerald Hoe, who won in beam and floor.

The level four team had a number of first place finishes and placed third at the state meet in December. Kirstie Barkroot was the state beam champion, while Shamira Johnson placed fourth and Kathryn Woodruff placed ninth. Jasmin Clay placed second on the vault, beam and floor and Lauren Spier placed second on bars and third on floor. Kirsten Stubbs took third in vault and beam and Amber Guidry took fifth in vault. The team also got good performances throughout the season from Ryan St. Clair, Bria Stearns, Senneca Ward and Joceyln Blandor.

All of the level six girls acheived qualifying scores in their season to move up to level seven. The level five girls narrowly missed qualifying for the team finals in the state meet. The level five team consisted of Kaitlin Barkroot, Audrey Fisher, Kaycee Bunn, Alexis Salvanera, Brittney Hodges, Justine Miller, Betsy Brown and Tori Kinnamon. The level six team was made up of Brittany Johnson, Brooke Fletcher, Kristin Hudson and Lena Alston. Coaches McDowell and Allan also coach a special olympics class every Wednesday, free of charge to Fayette County’s Special olympics athletes.

The boys team, coached by Stefan Benedict and assisted by Mitch Griffen, Kyle Sherritt and Daniel Groce, has 18 boys between the ages of 7-17 competing in levels 4-10. Last year, three boys were national qualifiers, Jeremy Adams, A.J. Thompson and Daniel Groce.

The gym has a total of 550 students that practice at the gym on a regular basis. They offer special day camp programs during school holidays and Parent’s Night Out events throughout the year, as well as hosting birthday parties, school events and programs for organizations like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. As for special celebrations to mark their 20th anniversary, Benedict is hoping to launch a number of specials and events this summer.

For more information on Gym South, visit www.gymsouth.com or phone 770-461-5528.