The first Haverhill YMCA Gym Stars National team competed in the YMCA Gymnastics National Competition on June 19 in San Diego and came away with an all-around winner, 20 top-10 finishes and memories to last a lifetime.
"It was so much fun and so exciting," said 11-year-old Emily Mills, who was the national all-around winner in the prep-op intermediate division. "It was a good meet for all of us"
In order to obtain an invite to Nationals, the team was required to earn certain scores throughout the season. At last year's event, there were more than 1,800 gymnasts from 108 teams across the nation at the national competition, while this year's meet drew 97 teams from 19 states.
The Haverhill Stars has girls aged 8 to 13, trains three times a week at the Haverhill YMCA and has been together for three years.
Coached by Wendy Lescord and Paula Kacherian, the team celebrated its success at the YMCA's teen center Monday night in Haverhill with pizza and ice cream.
"The girls already received their medals out in California," said Judy Dugar, gymnastics director at the YMCA. "We're just celebrating how well they did."
The goal for next year, Dugar says, is to get more girls to qualify for Nationals. With a three-night-per-week training schedule, that shouldn't be too difficult.
"We just need to keep on working harder," Mills said.
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