Port Chester Girls Compete in Regional Gymnastics Event

The International School of Gymnastics in Harrison recently sent eight local girls to compete at the US Gymnastics Xcel Regional Competition in Boxborough, MA. According to an ISG release, the eight girls, ages 8 to 14 traveled to Massachusetts on June 8th and June 9th.  
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To qualify, the girls competed at the State Level Xcel Competition hosted at Galaxy Gymnastics in Orangeburg, NY this past May.  ISG earned a 1st place for their bronze level team and a 3rd place for their silver team at this state meet. 

Individual gymnasts earned various medals in multiple events.  Based upon their scores from the State qualifier, eight ISG gymnasts from various age and skill levels were then selected to represent NY against five other New England States at the Regional Xcel event.

ISG’s six Silver Division competitors were Nell Shapiro of Harrison, Sydney Sullivan of Port Chester, Cicely Käufer of Larchmont, Luisa Nahr of Larchmont, Natalie Tempesta of Port Chester, and Zoe Gaillard of Mamaroneck.  

ISG’s two Gold Division competitors were Sophia Jacobi of Harrison and Gianna Tempesta of Port Chester.

The ISG gymnasts joined other NY gymnasts from as far as Albany, Orange County and Rockland County, and, according to the release, the girls competed in NY state uniforms for individual and team awards on the beam, bars, floor, vault and all around. 

The Xcel competition is a relatively new branch of US Gymnastics competition and is unique in that it does not have compulsory requirements according to the ISG release. As a result, there is more creativity in the design of the routine and a wider range of athletes have an opportunity to compete.  This is the first year that NY State has participated in the Xcel competition.  While none of ISG’s Silver or Gold division girls medaled in their individual events at Regionals, the NY Silver Division (ages eight to ten years old) won third place overall.  

Coach Joann Distler said in the release, “We were thrilled with our girls’ performances at this event. Everyone put 100% into the preparations for this competition and some kids had a ‘personal best’ kind-of-a- day even if they did not earn a medal. As our girls gain experience with this type of competition, we are going to see more and more success in the future.”