Okanagan acrobatic gymnasts close out season with large medal haul

Overcoming injuries and fears, Okanagan Gymnastic Centre acrobatic athletes returned home with several medals from the National Acro Cup in Oakville, Ont.

Sadie Mamchur and Jackson Peters teamed up to win gold in the 12-18 age group with a combined score of 75.65 in the balance dynamic and combine routines while teammates Erica Sproule and Shayly To earned top spot (50.55 points) on the podium in the girls’ pairs level 11-16.

The OGC’s Emma Beselt and Courtney MacDonald combined to take the silver in the girls’ pairs level 11-16 and Megan Bailie, Kirsty Marshall and Brie-lynn Sargeant finished fourth in the girls group level 11-16.

Sara Ross and Ava Clark claimed the bronze medal in the girls’ pairs level 7 while Charli Hall and Kirsty Marshall placed fourth in the same category. A fifth-place finish was turned in by Megan Bailie and Brie-Lynn Sargeant.

Overall gold went to Jade Nyrose and Jacob Wong in the level 7 mixed pairs competition.

Head coach Shawna Peters said she and coach Maddi Arnold were “very proud” of each team.

“They worked very hard throughout the season and they all saw a steady increase in their personal scores as the season went on,” added Peters, who accompanied the team to other meets in Las Vegas and Texas.

Peters noted that acrobatic gymnastics hopes to boost the exposure of its “beautiful sport” throughout Canada and have more clubs become interested in starting up programs.

The OGC team will be showing off its routines at this weekend’s Ogopogo Invitational at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna.

The Ogopogo begins at 8 a.m. on Friday and continues until about 4 p.m. while action resumes Saturday at 8 a.m., with the final events beginning at 5 p.m. On Sunday, competition again starts at 8 a.m. and continues until about 4 p.m.