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Kona Aerials Gymnastics standouts (from left) Savannah Udac, Tianna Morimoto, Kaili Yuen, Nicole Cristobal, Hadley Beach. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7)

Special to Hawaii 24/7

Hawaii Gymnastics State Meet was March 20-21 at Aiea District Park In Oahu. The meet was for the gymnastics Levels 7-10 (Optionals). Kona Aerials Gymnastics of Kailua Kona had a strong showing at the meet, with five athletes placing among the state’s elite.

For Level 7 Tianna Morimoto captured a 2nd place on Vault with a 8.75 and received a 4th place All Around.

Hadley Beach scored a 9.0 for her floor routine for 4th place and placed 5th in the All Around.

The Level 8 gymnasts have the opportunity to qualify for Regionals at this meet.

Kaili Yuen took a 2nd place for in her Floor Routine with a 9.025 and a 6th place all around finish.

Savannah Udac took 2nd in Vault with an 8.7, 3rd in Bars with a 8.875, 3rd in Beam with a 8.45, a, 3rd in Floor with an 8.9 and a third place All Around Trophy with a 34.925.

Nicole Cristobal took 1st in Vault with a 9.15, 2nd in bars with a 9.55, third in beam with a 8.75 and first in floor with a 9.35. She captured a 1st place trophy for the all around with a score of 36.8.

All three Level 8 Kona Aerials gymnasts qualified for Regionals Competition in Auburn, Washington on April 10-11. Cristobal finished 2nd in the State for Level 8 and will represent Hawaii on the Hawaii State Team at the Regional Competition.

Kona Aerials Level 8 gymnasts Savannah Udac, Nicole Cristobal & Kaili Yuen (Photo courtesy of Kona Aerials Gymnastics)

Special to Hawaii 24/7

Honolulu, Oahu – Jan. 8-10

Kona Aerials Gymnastics has started its Optional Season. Optionals are for gymnasts who have been training for approximately five years and design their own routines for the competitions performing difficult skills and exciting routines. Optionals are split into levels from Level 7 to Level 10 gymnasts.

Hawaiian Island Twisters Gymnastics hosted this meet at their gym in Honolulu. The meet included teams from Australia, Canada and the mainland making it the first international sanctioned meet of the 2010 season.

Kona Aerials Gymnast Tianna Morimoto, Level 7, performed an outstanding beam routine taking home a third place medal.

Level 8 gymnast Kaili Yuen received second place medals for both her vault and floor routines.

Level 8, Nicole Cristobal scored 8.9 in vault, 9.0 on bars for two second place finishes. She scored 8.8 on floor for a third place medal and 9.0 on balance beam for first place. Cristobal captured the first place all around trophy with a score of 35.7 topping her age division.

Level 8 gymnast Savannah Udac received a first place medal for her vault, a third place medal for floor, a second place medal on bars with a 9.3 and first place medal on beam with a 8.9. Udac also captured the first place all around trophy in her age division.

The girls also joined together as a team and won the third place team trophy for Level 8. Team awards are decided by adding the top three scores on all events for the athletes. Teams with more than three athletes have a big advantage so for a team of only three girls to capture a third place trophy that means that every score from every athlete counted.

Kailua, Oahu – Jan. 15-17

Kona Aerials Gymnastics Team competed at the 34th Annual Aloha Gymfest in Kailua, Oahu. This is one of the longest continuously held gymnast meets in the country.

The meet is hosted each year by Kokokahi Gymnastics and this year the event was Jan. 15-17 at the new gym at Le Jardin Academy. Competitors came from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, New Jersey, California, Washington and all over the Hawaiian Islands.

This is a multinational competition that gives our local girls the chance to meet and compete with athletes from all over the globe. There were more than 250 athletes competing in various levels and age groups.

Kona Aerials gymnast Tianna Morimoto, Level 7 placed sixth place on vault and eleventh in the all around.

Gymnast Kaili Yuen, Level 8, captured a ninth place all around finish.

Savannah Udac placed well in the rankings with a 8.9 on vault for a third place, 9.3 on uneven bars for second place, 9.125 on floor for fourth place and a 36.025 all around score giving her a second place finish.

Kona Aerials gymnast Nicole Cristobal received a 9.05 on vault for first place, 8.95 on bars for first place, 8.8 on beam for 4th place, 9.325 on floor for first place giving her a 36.125 and a first place all around finish.

Kona Aerials Gymnastics next meet is Feb. 6 at Pantheon Gymnastics in Hilo. For further information, visit http://gymnasticshawaii.com/Kona_Aerials_Gymnastics/Home.html

Special to Hawaii247

Kona Aerials Gymnastics Team hosted its first compulsory meet of the season Saturday, Sept. 26.

The competition included athletes from Pantheon Gymnastics in Hilo, Pacific Gymnastics Hilo, What’s Up Gymnastics from Oahu and the host team Kona Aerials Gymnastics.  

Kona Aerials gymnasts Hadley Beach and Tianna Morimoto, both Level 6 gymnastics lead the way. 

Beach won first place for beam and floor, and added second place on vault and bars giving her a first place all around finish with 35.425 .  

Morimoto won first on both vault and bars and second on beam and floor giving her a second place all around finish with 35.1.  

Level 6 Reiko Ikeno placed a strong third on beam.  

This was the first competition for the Level 4 girls and they performed spectacularly with Ileana Hinchcliff taking a first on bars and floor and a first place all-around.   

Maya Racine received a 9.3 on vault for a second place finish.  

Myra Liufau had a third place finish on floor.    

Tatelyn Spencer had an 8.8 on beam for third place.  

In the 6-year-old age group Aulike Kaiwe took first on vault, second on floor and beam and third on bars for a thirrd place all-around.  

Also in the 6 year old age group Zine Hassfurther took 3rd on both Beam & Floor.   

Kona Aerials Gymnastics is located at 74-550 Honokohau Street, Kailua Kona – in the big white tent above the harbor and have tumbling, trampoline, gymnastics and fitness classes for all ages.

For further information, call 329-4313.

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday Furlough Educational Day Camp

Join our staff of professional coaches and educators at Kona Aerials Gymnastics as we help fill the school void. We will run a fun filled day of fitness, art, science, math, and English. All groups will explore, contribute, think and learn as they get fit and meet new friends. Our program will help keep our children on task and learning, while adding fitness and art to their learning experience.

How does it work?
The students arrive between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. Our day will start at 8:10 a.m. with an exercise class followed by team building games. We will then divide into age appropriate groups. There will be 40 minute rotations and a lunch break. The classes will finish at 2:30 p.m., pick up by 2:45 p.m. There will be extended care available till 5:30 p.m.

The Cost:
$40 a day: extended care $15 more per day
OR
$575 for all 17 days, $775 with extended care

*You must pre-register. We will be registering students 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct 3 & 10, on site at Kona Aerials.

When:

Oct 23  Dec 4   Jan 29  Mar 12  May 14
Oct 30  Dec 11  Feb 5   Apr 23
Nov 6   Dec 18  Feb 12  Apr 30
Nov 20  Jan 15  Mar 5   May 7

Where: Kona Aerials Gymnastics Club
(a non-profit organization)
52-550 Honokohau St,
(808) 329-4313/ (808) 987-4491
email: konaaerials@aol.com

Some of the state's top gymnasts will compete Saturday at Kealakehe High School, including a trio from Kona Aerials Gymnastics. (Photo courtesy of Sue Dabritz/www.seapics.com)

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com Contributing Editor

Some of the state’s top young gymnasts will be on the Big Island for a day of tough competition Saturday, March 28 at Kealakehe High School. 

The 2009 Hawaii State Optional Gymnastics Championship, hosted by Kona Aerials Gymnastics, will feature about 100 young athletes who had to qualify for the meet.

This year’s theme is “Dream More to Expect More” and island gymnastics enthusiasts can expect to see a whole lot of top action as keiki in Levels 7-10 compete for state titles in a slew of categories.

The girls design their own routines, which must include certain levels of skills, in the hopes of impressing judges from Oahu and from the mainland.

The scores from this meet will determine who will be going to Montana to compete in regionals (Levels 8-10 only).

The championship meet also will feature a special presentation for graduating seniors, including Lynsey Montell from Pantheon School of Gymnastics in Hilo.

Tickets for the entire day at $10 for an individual and $15 for a family. Keiki under age 5 are admitted free. Programs are $5.

A full concession stand also will be offered, with food prepared by Mindy Bachand – a gymnast parent and caterer. Another highlight is a silent auction to help offset isle gymnasts’ travel costs.

The last time the Hawaii State Optional Meet was hosted on the Big Island was 1999. Five years ago, Kona Aerials hosted the Compulsory State Meet, which includes the lower levels of gymnastics.  

The meet director is Nanette Guiffrida, coach and owner of Kona Aerials.

The day’s schedule:

Doors open at 8:20 a.m. 

* Level 7

8:30 a.m. – open

8:50 a.m. – march in

1 p.m. – awards

* Level 8

1 p.m. – open

1:25 p.m. – march in

4:30 p.m. – awards

* Levels 9 & 10 

5 p.m. open

5:30  p.m. -march in

8:30 p.m. – awards

Competing for Kona Aerials Gymnastics:

* Level 7 – Kaili Yuen

* Level 8 – Nicole Cristobal, Savannah Udac

* Kona Aerials coaches are Nanette Guiffrida, Sierra Davis and

Allison Alterman

Competing for Hilo’s Pantheon School of Gymnastics:

* Levels 9 & 10 – Stephanie Goya, Tiana Montell, Lynsey Montell, Cara Nakayama

* Pantheon’s Level 7 athletes may include Nohealani Martins, Allena Shimabukuro, Kacie LaGuire, Shannon Carvalho, Sharis Banasan, Keao Nonies

* Pantheon coaches are Pattie and Gerry Walkabout

Kona Aerials Gymnastics attended Gymnastics in Paradise Invitational meet Jan. 9-11 hosted by Hawaiian Island Twisters at Aiea District Park in Honolulu.

Kona Aerials Optionals Team members (from left) Nicole Cristobal, Kaili Yuen and Savannah Udac. (Photo courtesy of Susan Dabritz/wwwseapics.com)

Competing teams included:

Arctic Gymnastics Center – Anchorage, Alaska

Central California Gymnastics Institute – Visalia, Calif.

Delta Gymnastics Society – Delta, B.C., Canada

Denali Gymnastics Academy – Wasilla, Alaska

Girls Co-op Gymnastics – Bethlehem, Penn.

Gymnastics East – Bellevue, Wash.

Hawaiian Island Twisters – Honolulu

Island Tumblers Gymnastics – Waipio Gentry, Hawaii

Kona Aerials Gymnastics – Kailua Kona

Pantheon School of Gymnastics – Hilo

Puget Sound Gymnastics – Puyallup, Wash.

Seattle Gymnastics Academy – Seattle, Wash.

Westside Gymnastics Academy – Tigard, Ore.

What’s Up Gymnastics – Waipio Gentry, Hawaii

World Class Gymnastics – Newport News, Va.

———

Level 8

Nicole Cristobal – 9-10 year old age group

8.6 Vault – 4th

8.7 Bars – 5th

8.45 Beam – 5th

9.1 Floor – 2nd

34.85 – all around – 4th Place
 
Savannah Udac  - 12-13 year old age group

7.45 Vault – 5th

8.775 – Bars – 4th

8.5 – Beam – 4th

8.5 – Floor – 4th

33.225 – all around – 5th place

Level 7

Kaili Yuen – 10 year old age group

9.2 – Vault – 2nd

8.325 – Bars – 3rd

9.3 – Beam – 1st

8.95 – Floor – 3rd

35.775 – all around – 2nd place

The Kona Aerials gymnastics team 2008

A host of Big Island gymnasts traveled to Oahu over the weekend for the 2008 Hawaii Compulsory Gymnastics Championship and came home with top scores.

Kaili Yuen, of Kona, earned a first place in the floor exercise, and coupled with her scores on three other disciplines, brought home the first place all-around title.

Kaili Yuen, of the Kona Aerials, performs a leap on the beam. (Photo by Susan Dabritz/SeaPics.com)

Hadley Beach, of the Kona Aerials, prepares to dismount from the uneven bars. (Photo by Susan Dabritz/SeaPics.com)

Other first place finishes went to Shannon Carvalho on the bars and Bryana Smith for her floor routine.

Compulsory is levels 4-6 and all levels do the exact same routine for their level.

Next month, the Optionals start competing – Levels 7-10 – and the athletes must make their own routines that incorporate a certain level of skills.

The weekend meet was at Kailua District Park on Oahu and hosted by Island Tumblers Gymnastics. Friday, Dec. 5 showcased Level 6 and Saturday, Dec. 6 featured Levels 4 & 5.

Results for Kona and Hilo gymnasts:

Level 6 – 10 year old age group

Kaili Yuen – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
9.325 – Vault – 2nd place
8.675 – Bars – 3rd Place
9.4 – Beam – 2nd place
9.4 – floor – 1st place
36.8 – All Around – 1st place

Shannon Carvalho – Pantheon Gymnastics, Hilo
9.225 – Vault – 6th place
8.825 – Bars – 1st place
8.225- Beam – 12th place
8.975 – Floor – 8th Place
35.250 – All Around – 6th place

Tianna Morimoto performs a dismount off the beam. (Photo by Susan Dabritz/SeaPics.com)

Hadley Beach – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
8.65 – Vault – 11th place
7.9 – Bars – 9th place
9.150 – Beam – 5th place
8.525 – Floor – 10th place
34.225 – All Around – 10th place

Sharis Banasan – Pantheon Gymnastics, Hilo
8.825 -Vault – 10th place
8.15 – Bars – 8th place
8.9 – Beam – 6th place
8.275 – Floor – 11th place
34.150 – All Around – 11th place

Level 6 – 11 year old age group

Kacie LaGuire – Pantheon Gymnastics, Hilo
8.975 – Vault – 5th place
8.9 – Bars- 4th place
8.6 – Beam – 6th place
8.675 – Floor – 6th place
35.150 – All Around – 5th place

Tianna Morimoto – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
9.3 – Vault – 3rd place
8.25 – Bars – 6th place
8.25 – Beam – 8th place
8.9 – Floor – 3rd place
34.7 – All Around – 6th place

Allena Shimabukuro – Pantheon Gymnastics, Hilo
9.4 – Vault – 2nd place
7.725 – Bars – 9th place
8.3 – Beam – 7th place
8.475 – Floor – 7th place
33.9 – All Around – 7th place

Level 6 – 12 year old and up age group
Nohealani Martin – Pantheon Gymnastics, Hilo
9.05 – Vault – 7th place
8.625 – Bars – 4th place
8.850 – Beam – 6th place
8.6 – Floor – 7th place
35.125 – All Around – 5th place

Keao Nonies – Pantheon Gymnastics, Hilo
8.6 – Vault – 9th place
7.325 – Bars – 8th place
7.65 – Beam – 9th place
8.45 – Floor – 8th place
32.025 – All Around – 9th place

Level 5 – 10 year old age group

Hannah Hewitt – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
9.0 – Vault – 3rd place
9.075 – Bars- 3rd place
9.15 – Beam – 5th place
9.35 – Floor – 2nd place
36.575 – All Around – 3rd place

Grace Fincher – Pacific Gymnastics , Hilo
8.75 – Vault – 8th Place
7.0 – Bars – 8th place
8.125 – Beam – 8th place
8.5 – Floor – 6th place
32.375 – All Around – 8th place

Level 5 – 11 year old age group

Reiko Ikeno – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
9.225 – Vault – 3rd place
8.775 – Bars – 4th place
8.9 – Beam – 4th Place
9.2 – Floor – 3rd place
36.1 – All Around – 4th place

Keely Shigenaga – Pantheon Gymnastics, Hilo
8.45 – Vault – 9th place -
7.175 – Bars – 10th place
8.175 – Beam – 10th place
7.3 – Floor – 10th place
31.1 – 9th place

Level 4 – 7 year old age group

Ilenna Hinchcliff – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
9.25 – Vault – 2nd place
7.25 – Bars – 5th place
8.4 – Beam – 2nd place
7.2 – floor – 8th place
32.1 – All Around – 6th place

Level 4 – 8 year old age group

Bryana Smith – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
8.85 – Vault – 6th place
8.25 – Bars – 7th place
8.425 – Beam – 8th place
9.225 – Floor – 1st place
34.75 – All Around – 6th place

Demetria Scofos – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
8.7 – Vault – 9th Place
7.975 – Bars – 8th place
8.375 – Beam – 9th place
7.575 – Floor – 10th place
32.625 – All Around – 9th place

April Wong – Kona Aerials gymnastics, Kailua Kona
9.325 – Vault – 3rd place
6.0 – Bars – 10th place
9.15 – Beam – 3rd place
8.9 – Floor – 5th place
33.375 – All Around – 9th place

Level 4 – 11 and up age group

Jordan Bilotti – Kona Aerials Gymnastics, Kailua Kona
9.25 – Vault – 4th place
8.525 – Bars – 6th place
8.5 Beam – 6th place
8.0 – Floor – 9th place
34.275 – All Around – 6th place

—

The girls belong to the following clubs:

Pantheon School of Gymnstics
Coached by Pattie & Gerry Walkabout
484 Kalanikoa St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: 808-961-2502
E-mail: vwalkabout@aol.com

Pacific Gymnastics Flippers
Coached by Quinn & Candice Nelson
215 B Railroad Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: 808-934-0642
E-mail: gymnastdevel808@yahoo.com

Kona Aerials Gymnastics
coached by : Nanette Guiffrida and Sierra Davis
73-5563 Olowalu Street
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
E-mail: konaaerials@aol.com

— Scores, photos and information provided by Susan Dabritz/SeaPics.com