The Flip-Flop Gymnastics teams competed at the Kinetic Kids Invitational that was held at Pomperaug High School in Southbury on Jan. 21-22.

Brooklyn Geida of Niantic and Emma Pfau of Guilford represented Flip-Flop in the Xcel Platinum competition. Geida came in second place for her event high of 9.2 on floor, as well as fourth on bars and beam, fifth on vault, and third all-around with a 35.65. Pfau earned fifth for her high score of 8.95 on vault, third on beam, and totaled a 32.675 for fifth all-around.

The Xcel Gold team was led by Grace Jacaruso of Essex with a high score of 8.95 for sixth place on floor, as well as sixth on bars, fifth on vault, and fourth on beam with all-around with a 34.675. Brianna Minervino of Higganum came in fifth on both bars and floor with a high of 9.0 on floor and sixth all-around with a 34.15. Kelsey Lucarro of Deep River came in first place for her event high of 9.175 on bars and finished seventh overall with a 34.075. Katie Zimmer of East Hampton scored a high of 9.15 on vault and totaled a 33.625 all-around. Paige Thomas of Ivoryton earned fifth place for her event high of 8.5 on balance beam and finished with an all-around score of 33.15. Emerson McAraw of Old Lyme came in fourth for her high score of 9.1 on floor and finished with a total of 31.4 all-around.

The Xcel Silver athletes also earned second place in the team competition. Lauren Matarazzo of Deep River earned 9s on three out of four events, second place for her high of 9.45 on bars, and second all-around with a 36.5. Reagan Furgueson of Centerbrook came in first for her event high of 9.4 on floor exercise and was fourth all-around with a 36.0. Lucy Fader of Old Lyme had an event high of 9.25 for fifth place on floor and finished third with an all-around score of 35.85. Deep River’s Mia Alio placed fourth for her high score of 9.3 on bars and fourth all-around with a 35.7. Madison Neviaser of Essex also had an event high for fourth place on bars with a 9.35 and totaled a 35.65 overall. Madeline Jacaruso, also of Essex, earned a high score of 9.2 on bars and finished seventh all-around with a 35.6. Grace Arnold of Old Lyme came in third on bars with a 9.4 and fifth overall with a 35.4. Taylor Rae of Deep River had an event high of 8.9 on balance beam for fourth place and came in ninth all-around with a 35.3. Jamie Pullin of Chester earned a 9.2 on bars for sixth place and totaled a 35.1 all-around. Mackenzie Neviaser of Essex scored an event high of 9.15 on bars and finished with an all-around of 34.6.

Flip-Flop’s new Xcel Bronze team continued its successful season and snagged second place in the team competition. Christina Grace of Old Saybrook placed third for her high of 9.25 on bars, as well as third on floor, first on vault, and second on beam and all-around with a final score of 36.35. Katherine Bergmann of East Haddam came in fourth for her high score of 9.05 on floor and finished third overall with a 35.875. Halley Pierson of Westbrook earned first place for her event high of 9.675 on bars and totaled a 35.75 for fourth place all-around. Haylee Weglarz of Deep River had an event high of 9.025 to place her fourth on bars and finished fifth all-around with a 35.075. Sienna Joplin of Chester earned a high score of 8.95 on bars, placed third on vault, and finished with a 34.925 all-around. Charlotte Jacobson of Deep River had an event high of 9.0 on bars, came in fourth on vault, and totaled a 34.65 all-around. Killingworth’s Carlee Harwood earned fourth place for her high score of 9.25 on floor and sixth all-around with a 34.625. Gretchen Burgess of Lyme scored a high of 8.8 on both bars and floor exercise and totaled a 34.5 all-around.

Ella Gibson of Essex represented Flip-Flop’s Level 8 team. Gibson earned first place for her 9.5 on floor, as well as first on vault and sixth all-around with a 34.225.

The Level 7s were a team of three: Isabella Carlo of Old Saybrook, Maria Denya of Old Lyme, and Mia Lawrence of East Haddam. Lawrence scored 9s across the board, earning second place for her high of 9.35 on floor, as well as first on vault, bars, beam, and all-around with a 36.75. Denya earned fifth place for her high of 9.0 on floor, as well as fifth all-around with a 34.775. Carlo scored an event high of 8.775 on vault and totaled a 32.6 all-around.

The Level 6s worked hard to earn second place in the team competition, championed by Juliana Gagliardi of Killingworth. Gagliardi scored a high of 9.25 on floor and finished fifth overall with a 36.125. Leah Frantz of Deep River placed fourth for her high of 9.125 on floor and totaled a 35.2 all-around for third place. Sarah Cole of Chester had an event high of 9.025 for second place on vault and finished fourth all-around with a 34.95. A top performance by Killingworth’s Rebecca Rosenblum-Jones earned her a 9.225 on floor and a total of 34.875 all-around. Ella Stevens of Centerbrook earned third place for her score of 8.85 on balance beam, as well as sixth all-around with a 33.6. Chester’s Erin Ward came in fifth for her event high of 9.075 on floor and totaled a 33.425 all-around.

The Level 4 team was shy a few competitors, but had a strong meet, led by Chase Conrad of Ivoryton. Conrad placed second for her high of 8.65 on balance beam, as well as fifth place on vault and all-around with a 32.775. Julie Hartt of Deep River earned fourth place for her event high of 8.4 on vault, sixth on uneven bars, and eighth all-around with a 32.7. Corina Pagliuco of Ivoryton had her best performance on floor with an 8.575 and totaled a 31.75 all-around.

The Level 3s came together to earn fourth place in the team competition, led by Ava Mazzotta of Haddam. Mazotta earned first place on both vault and balance beam with an event high of 9.3 on beam and finished with an all-around score of 35.0 for fourth place. Sadie Laurie of Old Saybrook came in second for her high score of 8.7 on vault and finished fourth all-around with a 33.75. Hailey Fosque of Westbrook also had an event high on vault, placing third for her score of 8.3, and totaled a 32.0 all-around. Talia Bauer of Old Saybrook earned a high score of 8.525 on bars for second place, as well as seventh all-around with a 31.925. Other highlights included Higganum’s Meghan Brown with a high of 8.4 on vault and 31.175 all-around, plus East Haddam’s Emma Tenabe and her high score of 8.3 on vault and 30.8 all-around.

For more info Flip-Flop Gymnastics, visit www.flipflopgym.com or call 860-526-4132.

Information courtesy of Hannah Schmelzer