At least 16 talented Tri-City tumblers qualified to join Team BC at the Canadian Gymnastics Championships in Charlottetown, PEI next month.
In all, 94 artistic and trampoline gymnasts from across the province won the opportunity to attend the national championships following performances at the 2011 BC Gymnastics Championships in Langley last week.
Among the leading hopefuls at this year's nationals are National Youth Team members Tamara O'Brien and Kyle Carragher, both of Port Coquitlam and both "expected to challenge for several medals during the championships," according to the Richmond-based Team BC.
Port Coquitlam's TAG Sports Centre boasts the largest stable of Tri-City qualifiers for this year's nationals, including Carragher and O'Brien, as well as Erin England and Alex Phillips-Taylor of Port Moody; Jewel McDonogh and Dayna Weststeyn of Port Coquitlam; Alexa McPhee and Taylor Chan of Coquitlam; and Anmore's Kassidy Kask.
Kerrigan Gymnastic Academy's Addyson Cheladyn of PoCo, Colin Schular Ram of Coquitlam and Cole Palmeri of Port Moody all qualified for Charlottetown in the men's artistic gymnastics category.
Joining them are Tri-City hopefuls Brittany Rogers, Ariana Gomes and Rachel Ebbett of Coquitlam, and Jordan De Jong and Robert Watson of Port Coquitlam.
The Charlottetown national championships will be held May 23 to 28 at the University of PEI.
The Canadian Gymnastics Championships are used to identify athletes to represent Canada at the 2011 World Gymnastics Championships.
PROVINCIAL CHAMPS
Lauren Wang and Caleigh Mayer of Coquitlam's Club Aviva became provincial champions at the 2011 B.C. gymnastics championships last week in Langley.
Wang captured the girls P3 Argo crown after placing first on bars, second on beam and third on both floor and vault.
Mayer won the girls P5 Open title by finishing first on bars, second on both vault and floor and 10th on beam.
At the B.C. trampoline finals, Aviva's Arianna Gomes bounced to first in provincial 'A' tumbling in the Novice 11-14 division.
