A Cariboo Chilcotin gymnast has made history with a perfect 10 in competition, a first for the local club, according to coach Annie Glanville.
Presleigh Schwartz scored a perfect 10 on the beam for her performance at the Kelowna Invitational.
"I felt very happy," said nine-year-old Presleigh of her performance when she managed the high score.
But while Presleigh had the only perfect score, there were many local gymnasts with exceptional results.
Glanville said the entire Cariboo Chilcotin Gymnastics Association is celebrating a successful season of competition and most will be heading to provincial championships in April.
With 40 competitive gymnasts ages seven through 18, the young gymnasts travelled to competitions from December to February.
The young gymnasts train for six to 16 hours a week, depending on the level they compete at, with level ranging from CCP 1-3 and Xcel bronze, silver, gold and platinum.
The Cariboo-Chilcotin gymnasts started off their season at an icebreaker tournament in Kelowna in December, followed in January and February with returns to Kelowna for the Snowflake Cup and the Kelowna Invitational. The group also headed to Prince George in February for the Prince George Invitational.
Athletes competed in vault, bars, beam and floor, with all 40 gymnasts bringing home medals, ribbons and team awards over the course of the season.
"These gymnasts have dedicated themselves to rigorous training in order to earn a coveted spot at provincials," said Glanville. She said the athletes show commitment through their extensive work on conditioning, memorizing routines and mastering a range of skills.
Glanville said there were a number of results worth highlighting.
Gaby Fichtner was presented with a special vault award at the icebreaker for her vault skills and a special floor artistry award at Snowflake Cup .
Scarlett Button was presented with an award for the best overall bar routine at the Snowflake cup.
Harmony Glanville and Brooke Williston won a special bars swing and amplitude award at the Snowflake Cup.
Callia Pook won a special floor artistry award at the Snowflake Cup and Brooklinn Rion won a special vault recovery award at the Snowflake Cup.
Ruth Cheung CCP 1 received the highest all-around score and Presleigh Schwartz CCP 2 received the highest all around score at the Snowflake Cup.
Tenley Glanville received a special award for her floor artistry and Makita Villeneuve receive a special award for her sensational circles on bars at the Snowflake Cup.
Aria Feddema received a special award for her bars performance at the Kelowna Invitational. Elsie Scott received a special award for her leap line at the Kelowna Invitational.
The Cariboo Chilcotin CCP 1 and CCP 2 team was the highest scoring team and placed 1st at the Kelowna Invitational.
The senior silver team placed first at the Kelowna Invitational. The team included: Makita Villeneuve, Tenley Glanville, Brooke Williston, Brooklyn Page and Ariah Reid.
"We are fortunate to have an exceptional and loyal coaching team, whose dedication and collaborative efforts consistently bring out the highest level of performance in each athlete," said Glanville.
The competitive coaches work as a team, said Glanville, with the team made up of: Peggy Willcox, Annie Glanville, Ariana Dyck, Mikayla Bremner, Ava Johnson, River Frost and Xaria Jourdain.
For their efforts and accomplishments, the gymnasts will now prepare to head to Langley in April. Twenty Cariboo Chilcotin Xcel gymnasts will attend the 2025 Xcel GymBC Championships taking place at the Langley Events Centre. Seventeen gymnasts will compete at the 2025 Compulsory GymBC Championships.
Glanville said these provincial championships are the "largest and most prestigious annual gymnastics events in B.C."
