Ultimate Gymnasts make huge splash in the Dells

THUNDER BAY – Members of Ultimate Gymnastics Women’s Artistic competitive squad made a huge splash in the Waterpark Capital of the World this past weekend, as the team took to the mats in Wisconsin for the first time in the club’s 10-year history.

With a smaller contingent of athletes making the trip to America’s Dairyland, the local club continued its masterful ways, reigning supreme at the 2024 Wisconsin Dells Gymnastics Vacation Classic hosted by CSA Kids Gymnastics.

Success was sweet and results unmatched, with no need for a sugar coating, as the 10 team members helped the club pile on to their already impressive, region-leading medal run this season. Several athletes scored personal bests and were rewarded for it, lending credence to the club boasting the best, most positive, supportive and most talented coaching tandem anywhere in the North.

Four athletes splashed their way to the peak of the podium with each putting forth a phenomenal effort resulting in first-place all-around finishes in their respective age level and category. Leading the way was Kallie Wegher (Xcel Bronze) who made waves at her first ever meet, with a near-perfect overall tally of 38.85 (out of 40).

Wegher astonished onlookers by adding yet another almost perfect 9.90 for vault alongside a superb showing of 9.75 on the uneven bars.

Marleigh Pepin (Xcel Bronze) was almost equal to the task, effortlessly turning out a fantabulous all-around score of 38.45 while nailing down individual event tallies of 9.75, 9.65 and 9.60 for vault, uneven bars and floor.

Paisley Bisignano (Xcel Silver) amassed a pretty phenomenal 37.075 all-around score and added an incredible 9.65 on the uneven bars. Jaana MacLean (Xcel Bronze), in her first ever gymnastics competition, brought it with an amazingly awesome 37.00 All-Around total score, adding a 9.45 marker on both vault and uneven bars.

Two athletes narrowly missed the top tier of the podium, with each landing second place all-around finishes for the weekend. Kyla Dubinsky (Xcel Bronze) took home second place in the all-around category with an outstanding 37.90 tally, also achieving equally impressive personal bests of 9.70 and 9.55 for uneven bars and vault. Young up and comer Rilynn Hancharik (Xcel Bronze) nailed down a second place all-around finish with a phenomenal showing of 37.25 while also posting incredible individual event scores of 9.75 and 9.50 on the vault and uneven bars.

Standing tall with third-place all-Around finishes on the podium, Trinity Bisignano (Xcel Silver) and Miley Couzelis (Xcel Bronze), each dazzled with fantastic finishes and outstanding results of 37.95 and 37.65 respectively, with Bisignano blowing up the standings with amazing 9.75 and 9.50 tallies for uneven bars and floor, and Couzelis collecting phenomenal personal bests of 9.60 on balance beam and 9.50 for vault.

Arja MacLean (Xcel Silver) and Ava Zappitelli (Xcel Bronze) both churned out extremely impressive outings with MacLean, who completed her day with an amazing 36.30 score to land her in the top 10 in the all-around, bringing home a personal best individual score and a nearest-thing-to-perfect 9.80 marker, good enough for 4th place on the Uneven Bars. Zappitelli, equal to the task, grabbed a fifth place all-around finish with 37.25 and a season best outstanding 9.60 marker and 4th place for vault.

The trek to the Dells puts a wrap on 2023-2024 competitions for the clubs incredible 10th season. Results speak volumes as this season goes down as the most successful one for the club and any club in the entire region.

A facility expansion should be a near-future consideration for the club as space to hang banners is quickly being gobbled up. The Xcel Bronze team walked away with the first place team award, giving club officials the challenge of finding room for the banner up in the rafters on Alloy Drive.

The Ultimate Team’s 2024-25 season competitive tryouts will be held in early April.

Ultimate Gymnastics is Thunder Bay’s premier private gymnastics facility offering children of all ages and skill level the opportunity to learn the sport of gymnastics both recreationally and competitively, as well as tumbling and Thunder Bay’s original, long-running ninja program Parkour, in a fun, friendly and positive environment.

For program information visit www.ultimategymnastics.ca.