Month: April 2016

Bright Raven Gymnastics had both boys and girls qualify to advance in USA Gymnastics competition to Regional Championships this month. The boys traveled to Landover, Maryland April 1-3 where 15-year-old Jesse Underwood of Greece emerged as a three time State Champion winning first place in pommel horse, high bar and all around. He earned the silver medal for his performance on vault and parallel bars and the bronze for rings and floor exercise. In the 11-year-old Level 8 competition, Ethan Rio of Avon took second place on the parallel bars and third place on the high bar.

In the Level 7 competition for ages 11-12, Justin Ciccone of Greece earned second place in floor exercise and Cole Pringle of Pittsford earned third place on the parallel bars.

In the Level 10 competition, Matthew Blahyj of Webster earned a high all-around score of 79.00 finishing in seventh place and qualifying him to advance to National Competition to be held in Battle Creek, Michigan in May.

The boys competed in the Region 7 Championship which included gymnasts from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia in addition to New York. The girls competed in the Women’s USA Gymnastics Region 6 Championships which includes New York and the New England States.

The girls Level 7 and 8 gymnasts competed in Northborough, Massachusetts April 16-17 where 11-year-old Madeline Pitts of Victor earned the title of State Champion on vault and finished second on floor exercise in the Level 7 competition. Jada Moore of Gates, Bailey Chudner of Victor and Emily Field of Greece competed in the Level 8 Regional Championships each making a strong showing. Jada earned fourth place on vault. Bailey Chudner was fourth on the uneven parallel bars and Emily Field took fourth on balance beam.

The Level 9 gymnasts traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts April 8-10 where 16-year-old Annika Haber of Pittsford placed third on vault and 14-year-old Madison Conn of Gates was fourth on vault.

Jesse Underwood

Maddie Pitts

Bright Raven Gymnastics of Gates traveled to Suffern, New York April 1-3 to compete in the 2016 Level 7/8 USA Gymnastics State Meet where four team members emerged as champions in their respective divisions.

In the Level 8 Junior D competition, 13-year-old Jada Moore of Gates earned first place on vault and also placed second in floor exercise. In the Jr E division, Bailey Chudner, age 14 of Victor placed third on vault, uneven parallel bars and all around. Emily Field of Greece was third on balance beam in the same division. 12-year-old Sydney Sack of Spencerport placed third in floor exercise in the Child Division.

In the Level 7 Child D competition, 11-year-old Madeline Pitts of Victor was named a three time State Champion, finishing first on vault, balance beam and floor exercise. In all around competition, Madeline finished in third place. 12-year-old Kylie Rozzie of Spencerport finished in first place in floor exercise in the Junior A Division. In the Senior C Division, 14-year old Cameron Kull of Pittsford was first in floor exercise and third on balance beam. Abby Wilkins of Pittsford earned second place on the uneven parallel bars and third in floor exercise in the Senior D division.

Four of these Bright Raven Team members have qualified to advance to the Level 7/8 Regional Championships by earning high all around scores at the State Meet. Jada Moore, Bailey Chudner, Emily Field and Madeline Pitts will travel to Northborough, Massachusettes later this month to compete against gymnasts from the New England States in addition to New York.

Cameron Kull

Jada Moore

Kylie Rozzi

Madeline Pitts

Bright Raven Gymnastics Boys Team Coach Karl Jaanimagi was named the 2016 New York State Men’s Gymnastics Coach of the Year at the USA Gymnastics State Championships held March 18-20 at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. In Coach Karl’s first season at Bright Raven, he has led the Boys team to twenty-three team awards including seven first place finishes. Bright Raven also had ten individual state champions in 2016 and the top Level 7 team in the State. Graduating senior Matt Blahyj (McQuaid Jesuit) was recognized as the highest scoring senior gymnast in the state and was awarded the Joseph Chichetti Memorial Scholarship. Bright Raven also had eight boys advance to compete in the Regional Championships in Landover, Maryland April 1-3 also bringing home numerous awards. Coach Karl has previously been recognized as a two-time New York State Service Award recipient and was named the 2013 USA Gymnastics National Collegiate Club Coach of the Year for his work with the SUNY Brockport Men’s Gymnastics Team.