Gymnasts Achieve Season High Scores at State Meet

Above are the Level 5 gymnasts (Emily on left, Emma on right) posing with Chow’s Coach and Owner, Mr. Chow. Mr. Chow is the coach of Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas. The girls were thrilled to have their picture with him. Picture taken earlier in the season. (submitted photo)

The Iowa Compulsory State Championships continued on Saturday with the Level 5 gymnasts.  Emily Schutz and Emma Dawson, both of Oskaloosa, represented Transform Academy in the competition. Because the gymnasts are split by age at state, the two girls competed in separate sessions. Coach Meghan Slay had this to say about the competition:

“Emma and Emily were awesome on Saturday! It’s tough for the girls to be without their teammates at meets, but you never would have known that watching these two. Both girls achieved new season high scores on Vault, Bars, Beam, and in the All Around. Emma got her first 9.00 and Emily, whose age division was stacked with great gymnasts, was within 0.10 of the gold on beam!  I could not be more proud of them. Not only did they stick all their routines, they also stepped it up and had the best meet of the season! Both girls have a busy few months ahead of them as they will be competing Level 6 in a few meets this spring.  Every eight years USA Gymnastics makes major changes to its women’s program.  May of 2013 is the end of a cycle and next year Level 6 will be an Optional level, which means the gymnasts get to do their own routines instead of the same routines as everyone else (compulsory).  Just this month USA Gymnastics released the mobility requirements and we found out that in order to be eligible for L6 Optionals next cycle, a gymnast must score a 31.00 AA as a L6 Compulsory this cycle.  We decided to push our 5’s to 6 immediately and will be traveling out of state with the hopes of achieving the mobility score.  They have the skills they need, so it’s just a matter of putting it all together in routines.  The hard work and determination of these gymnasts never ceases to amaze me and I have complete confidence they can do it!”

Level 5’s All-Around placements:

Dawson—Tied 4^th, Schutz—7^th

For details and more information on Transform Academy gymnastics, please email transform.gymnastics@gmail.com, call 641-295-1434, or by stopping by the facility at 2209 Park in University Park (former Vennard College gym).  Transform also offers other activities such as dance, cheer, & tumbling.