The Wilton branch of the Riverbrook Regional YMCA hosted the Connecticut State Championship on March 23-24 — the second of four championship meets this season. Six teams from across the state competed against the Wilton YMCA gymnasts for recognition — Darien, Glastonbury, Lakewood Trumbull, Meriden, Rye and Westport/Weston.
The Riverbrook YMCA was turned into a circus with the gymnasts performing in and receiving awards under the ‘Big Top.’
The lead volunteers of the Gymnastics Parent Organization (GPO) oversee the creative efforts and coordination behind all home meets, including Coleen Amero, Carolyn Deane, Michelle Harrington and Liz Massaua.
With States as the last Wilton home meet of the season, the team recognized its graduating seniors — Ella Mancuso (Level 7) and Nina Torres (Level 6), who have both also acted as junior coaches in the gym this year.
“It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to continue this sport and the competitive team commitment all the way until graduation,” Director and Coach Victoria Bronson said. “I’m proud to have been their coach and to have had the opportunity to watch them grow inside and out of the gym. We all wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors and congratulations.”
Overall, Wilton received five Individual Championship titles and 30 Event titles. For Team standings, Levels 2, 6 and 7 each landed in third place overall. The placement results for Wilton gymnasts participating in Levels 2-7 were as follows:
Level 2
Blake Bartlett (Child) won gold on vault, silver on bars, bronze on beam and silver on floor, resulting in a first-place AA finish. Fallon Sommer (Child) received gold on beam and bronze on floor, ending in a third-place AA placement. Paige Fankhauser (Child) was awarded bronze on bars and silver on beam, while Elyse Wohlberg (Child) took gold on bars and Lucy Scarozza (Child) placed bronze on vault.
Level 3
Sophia Howell (Child) won gold on vault and bronze on floor.
Level 4
Madigan O’Shea (Senior) won bronze on floor.
Level 5
Addison Grippando (Senior) won gold on floor and bronze on vault, resulting in a third-place AA finish.
Level 6
Abby Deane (Junior) won silver on vault and gold on bars, while Emery Amero (Junior) placed silver on bars. Kyra Doran (Senior) won gold on vault and bronze on floor, while Alyssa Duarte (Senior) received silver on vault.
Level 7
Cailyn Cruickshank (Senior) received bronze on bars and gold on beam, leading to a second-place AA finish. Alyssa Mariani (Senior) finished bronze on vault, bronze on beam and silver on floor, resulting in a third-place AA award. Teagan Stengrim (Senior) won gold on vault, gold on bars and bronze on floor, while Ella Mancuso (Senior) took silver on vault.
Next up for Wilton gymnasts is the YMCA New England Regional Gymnastics Championship hosted by the Plaistow Community YMCA in Plaistow, NH from May 17-19, followed by the YMCA National Gymnastics Championship hosted by the Willow Grove YMCA, a branch of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, from June 20-24.