Alexandria hosts Area 4 Special Olympics gymnasts

The Alexandria Special Olympics gymnastics team hosted the Area 4 meet on May 7 and took home plenty of top finishes.

The meet included Alexandria, Perham and St. Cloud as all three teams competed in the lakes rec gymnastics center. Athletes participated in events based on gender, age and skill level.

Sarah Abbott had a huge day in the rhythmic events. She took first in the ball, hoop, rope and ribbon routines. Natasha Randall joined her with a tie for first in the ball and rope, while Pam Thull also took first in the hoop.

Alexandria added 19 first-place finishes in the artistic events. That led to three local athletes earning top honors in the all-around category. Crystal Krohnfeldt, Ileesha Mercer and Amanda Nelson shared that title, while Stephanie Braud finished second.

The Alexandria area team is coached by Karyn Sportel and Deb Braud, along with athlete as coach Allyson Estes, Sara Dolan and Stacia Parkin.

The local Special Olympics will travel to Minnetonka June 24-25 for the state gymnastics meet. Golf practice will kick off June 7 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Nordic Trails. Those interested in volunteering with the program can call Sportel at (218) 639-5347. Bocce practice starts June 16 from 3-4:15 p.m. at the YMCA. Anyone interested in helping with the bocce program can call Betty Johnson at (320) 491-5823.

AREA 4 GYMNASTICS MEET

RHYTHMIC ROUTINES – BALL – First place – Natasha Randall, Sarah Abbot; Second place – Heather Botner, Heidi Gooden; HOOP – First place – Pam Thull, Abbott; ROPE – First place – Randall, Abbott; Second place – Botner, Thull; Third place – Gooden; RIBBON – First place – Abbott

ARTISTIC EVENTS – WOMEN’S VAULT – First place – Amanda Nelson, Crystal Krohnfeldt; Second place – Nicole Anderson, Stephanie Braud, Ileesha Mercer

MEN’S VAULT – First place – Jonathan Kohls, Billy Scheffler

WOMEN’S BALANCE BEAM – First place – Anderson, Krohnfeldt, Nelson; Second place – Braud; Third place – Mercer

MEN’S STILL RINGS – First place – Jonathan Kohls, Billy Scheffler

WOMEN’S UNEVEN BARS – First place – Nelson, Anderson, Krohnfeldt; Second place – Braud, Mercer

MEN’S HIGH BAR – First place – Kohls, Scheffler

WOMEN’S FLOOR EXERCISE – First place – Nelson, Mercer, Krohnfeldt; Second place – Braud, Anderson

MEN’S FLOOR EXERCISE – First place – Kohls, Scheffler

ALL AROUND – First place – Krohnfeldt, Mercer, Nelson; Second place – Braud

Tags: alexandria sports, area sports, sports, special, olympics, gymastics