COUGAR TEAM MEMBERS BRING HOME GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZECOMMERCE CITY – Eight-year-old gymnast Kennedy Waltenburg is a state champion, winning the all-around title in her age bracket at the recent Colorado Association of Recreational Athletes (CARA) state meet. Waltenburg took gold medals in vault and uneven bar, along with a bronze medal on the balance beam in Level 4 competition at the meet, July 29-30 in Aurora. Waltenburg scored a 34.8 to take top all-around honors, finishing a perfect season during which she won the all-around title at four meets, as well as regional championships.
The Commerce City Cougars girls’ gymnastics team was one of 30 recreation teams from throughout the state to participate in state competition. Other teams included Aurora, Broomfield, Durango, Foothills, Fraser Valley, Grand County, Greeley, Gunnison, Hyland Hills, Johnstown All-Stars, Silverthorne, South Suburban and Thornton.
Cougar Ariana Bezjak placed a close second, taking the silver medal in all-around competition with a score of 34.625. She also won silver in vault, uneven bars and balance beam.
Teammate Brianna Novak is a state champion in balance beam, taking top honors in that category for the Optional 2, 13-18-year-old division. Novak won silver on uneven bars and silver in all-around competition as well.
Other Cougar gymnasts and their honors from the state meet include:
· Optional level 3
Lindsay Webb - fourth on vault.
· Optional level 2
Brianna Novak, second in all-around and uneven bars, first place on beam;
Hayley Sternberg, third in floor exercises;
Bailey Nitura, first in floor exercises.
· Optional level 1, 13-18-year-olds division
Samantha Steinhall, second on floor;
Jerika Jiron, sixth in all-around, fifth on vault and beam.
· Optional level 1, 12-year-olds division
Myracle Fielding, fifth on floor, sixth on bars.
· Compulsory level 5, 11-year-olds division
Destiny Morehouse, fifth in all-around and vault, fourth on bars.
· Compulsory level 5, 12-year-olds division
Savannah Edelen, first on bars;
Willow Neilson, fifth on vault.
· Compulsory level 5, 13-18-year-olds division
Torrye Hampton, fourth in all-around, fifth on vault, second on floor;
Danelle Lazcano-Concelman, fourth on vault.
· Compulsory level 4, 8-year-olds division
Kennedy Waltenburg, first in all-around, vault and bars, third on beam;
Ariana Bezjak, second in all-around, vault, bars and beam;
Zoie Martinez, fourth in vault.
· Compulsory level 4, 9-year-olds division
Isabelle Reichow, fifth in all-around, fourth on bars.
· Compulsory level 4, 10-year-olds
Kaylie Catalano, fourth in all-around, fifth on beam, second on floor;
Haley McCrackin, fifth in all-around, third on vault;
Megan Moon, second on vault;
Madison Waltenburg, first on bars.
· Compulsory level 4, 11-18-year-olds
Keyton Siler, first on vault.
The Cougars are sponsored by the Commerce City Parks and Recreation Department. For more information about the gymnastics program, call the Recreation Center at 303-289-3760.
