The 2016 Pennsylvania USAIGC (United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs) State Championship was held Saturday May 14th and Sunday May 15th at KMC Dance and Gymnastics Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
This Championship is the qualification competition to the National Championship in Orlando, Florida. USAIGC President Paul Spadaro, New York, was in attendance for the two-day event. More than 400 gymnasts representing 20 clubs throughout the state travelled to Kennett Square for the competition. The competitors’ ages ranged from 6 – 39 years of age. The gymnasts competed at Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Premier levels on four events: balance beam, floor, uneven bars, and vault. Team, individual, and all around scores were recognized. A two judge scoring panel was used as well as BTS (Beyond the Scores) live scoring system. Fifty-one gymnasts represented host club KMC of Kennett Square.
KMC Gold gymnast and state champion, Leanna Pfeffer took first place on three out of four events. Pfeffer scored a 9.015 on vault, 8.675 on uneven bars, and 9.475 on her floor routine. The highest individual event score was obtained by Bronze Diamond gymnast and state champion Natalie Lindner who scored a 9.75 on the beam. Natalie also achieved the highest all-around score for the entire competition achieving a 37.6.
The following KMC gymnasts are 2016 PA State Champions: (Scores are out of a possible 40.0)
Gold (15&up): Leanna Pfeffer 36.125, Silver (15&up): Anna Lipsman 37.05, Bronze Diamond (12-13): Natalie Lindner 37.6, Bronze Diamond (10): Camryn Brost 37.075, Bronze (12): Stephanny Gheen Regowski 35.55, Bronze (10): Cassidy Bonura 35.825, Copper II (11&up): Lily Steffensen 36.7, (9&10): Isabella Albers 36.95, (7&8): Allie D’Angelo 36.7, Copper (10): Kendall Rybarczyk 36.825, Copper (8): Abigail Smith 37.225, Copper (7): Sarah Wood 36.6, Copper (6): Sophia Armande 35.725.
Head Coach Iryna Aliyevska was able to line the gym entryway with First Place State Championship Team banners at every level represented by KMC: Copper (1st), Copper 2 (1st), Bronze (1st), Silver (1st), and Gold (1st). Aliyevska was assisted by Coach Jerry Fix and Coach Don Furrer.
The senior most gymnast represented at the event was 39 year old Premier gymnast Liz Albert of Endless Mountain. Albert was accompanied by her husband Damon who is also her coach as well as her two daughters who are also gymnasts.
Per KMC score chairperson Paul Brost, “her Premier level vault was the single most difficult and spectacular routine of the meet.”
“The 2016 USAIGC PENNSYLVANIA State Championship was once again Professionally organized and executed,” Spadaro said. “Your warm hospitality to our gymnasts, coaches and parents was wonderful. You should be proud of what you and your gymnasts accomplished!”
