On February 9th, three local High School teams of gymnasts competed at the Comox Pajama Party in Comox, BC. This meet serves as the trials to attend the BC High School Provincial Championships for gymnastics. In the high school program, there are six levels of competition: Level 1 Junior, Level 1 Senior, and Levels 2 through 5.

Powell River Christian School athlete Madison Belyea was the sole competitor for her school. Belyea won Gold on Vault, Bronze on Uneven bars, Silver on Beam, 5th place on Floor for a Silver All-Around win. This secured Madison a berth to the Provincial Championships.

Partners in Education athlete Trinity Jacques rejoined the gymnastics program a mere two weeks before the competition and made the quick decision to join the trials and hope for the best. Jacques won Bronze on the vault and placed on all other events. She had to wait to see if she might get a coveted wildcard berth for the provincials and we are pleased to announce that she was invited to attend.

Brooks High School sent a team of five athletes to the trials: Mira Khang, Jordyn Mackenzie, Naomi Harrison, Rachel Traer and Hillary English. Khang competed in Level 1 Junior. Khang won her division with a Silver on Vault, Gold on Bars, Gold on Beam, Silver on Floor for Gold All-Around. Mackenzie also won her division, Level 1 Senior, winning the gold in every event and Gold All-Around. English competed in the Level 5 division, bringing home Bronze medals for the beam and floor. Combined with her two 4th place finishes she received a 4th place All Around. English also received a wild card invitation to attend the Provincial Championships.

Harrison and Traer placed in all their events; however, they did not qualify to attend the Provincial Championships. “It is a stark reminder that gymnastics is a sport where you will have good days and off days. Even Olympians have off days,” says Office Administrator Karyne Bailey. “We are so proud of all of our athletes because even one small slip can be the difference between a gold and 10th place. It’s all in how perfect you are this one time…. the one time the judges are judging. You can land it perfectly 100 times in practice, but still falter at a competition. That is the nature of the sport.”

This Wednesday, March 4th, the three teams will leave Powell River and travel together with their coach and chaperone down to Victoria, BC, the location of this year’s BC High School Sports Gymnastics Championships, where they will compete over two days in four different levels. We wish them all the best as they compete against the best high school gymnasts from across British Columbia.