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By DAVE KONOPKI davek@leader.net
Wednesday, March 19, 2003 Page: 9A
A little more than four years ago, Joelle Rose traveled from Boston to
Wilkes-Barre and planted a few gymnastic seeds at the YMCA. The result has
been tremendous growth – and success.
Members of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA’s Level 4 team recently competed in a
statewide tournament at Ligonier Valley High School near Pittsburgh.
Wilkes-Barre finished fifth in the team standings and two members won state
championships in their respective age groups.
Plains Township resident Haley Waslasky took first place in parallel bars
in the 8-9-year-old division, while Plymouth’s Brittany Lamb finished first in
the vault in the 9-11-year-old division. Waslasky also captured second in the
beam and all-around, while Lamb earned a third-place medal in all-around.
A combined more than 150 gymnasts competed in three age divisions during
the event. The top seven finishers in floor exercise, bars, vault and
all-around received medals. The six Wilkes-Barre members who qualified for the
state competition brought home 22 medals.
“It was a wonderful experience for them,” said Rose. “It’s a challenge to
get there and to (earn) a medal is a great thing. We talked to the girls
before the competition and told them there was a good chance we could win some
medals. They really did a nice job.”
There were approximately 50 gymnasts in the YMCA program when Rose arrived
in Wilkes-Barre in 1999. Today, there are more than 250. That number includes
approximately 60 on the competitive team; 15 on the pre-team (a noncompetition
squad for Level 1-3 gymnasts who plan to advance to the competition team); and
175 boys and girls ages 1 and older who take gymnastics classes at the YMCA.
There are also plans for the YMCA to secure a separate facility for the
gymnastics program. And maybe someday, says Rose, another competition team.
“The program has really grown,” she said. “And our goal is for it to get
even bigger. There are (YMCA) board members looking at places for an off-site
facility. Everyone here has been very supportive.
“We have some boys in our program, but we don’t have enough for a team. It
would be great to have a boys team in the future.”
The success of the competition team is no accident, says Rose. The girls
practice three hours a day, four days a week. Practices are held from 5 to 8
p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. There’s also
an optional practice from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday – and it’s always well-attended.
“They’re very dedicated,” said Rose. “They practice four days a week all
year. They take off one week during the summer. Most of the girls are
one-sport athletes because it takes up so much of their time. These girls
really work hard.”
And they have a good time, says Waslasky.
“It’s fun to do,” said the Solomon-Plains Memorial School student. “Our
coaches are great. They teach us a lot of stuff. I want to keep doing it until
I get to the Olympics.”
Team members will be busy during the next few months. The Wilkes-Barre
squad will send 10 members to a state competition for levels 5 and 6 on April
26-27 in Hanover (York County), and five local gymnasts will compete at the
level 7 and 8 state championships May 3-4 in Phoenixville.
The Wilkes-Barre YMCA will also be represented by 11 gymnasts at a national
competition July 3-7 at the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Ga. More than
2,200 gymnasts from across the country are expected to compete. The team held
a fund-raiser to defray the cost of the $100 per gymnast registration fee, but
each girl will be responsible for her own travel and lodging expenses.
Any boy or girl interested in participating in the gymnastics program
should call Rose at 823-2191, ext. 155. The registration fee for the
competition team is $71 for YMCA members and $93 for nonmembers. The
registration fee for the pre-team is $55 for YMCA members and $71 for
nonmembers. For the cost of the noncompetitive gymnastics classes, call the
YMCA at 823-2191.