The Rocky Mountain Classic gymnastic meet was held in Hamilton on Saturday. With 150 gymnasts from across Montana, Dale Berry Court was a beehive of activity. Teams from Missoula, Helena, Bozeman, Great Falls, Havre, Kalispell and Hamilton competed in the last meet before the State meet the first weekend in April.

Although boys can and do compete, there were predominately girls competing at the Rocky Mountain Classic. Ages eight to 18 competed in various levels from beginning to the more advanced gymnasts who are judged not only on the requirements but also on artistic values.

“The compulsory levels are 4, 5, and 6,” said Rick Haacke, meet director. “They have a routine that is mandated that they have to do. They are performing that routine as good as they can.”

He went on to say that Levels 7, 8, 9 and 10 have to come up with their own routine. There are requirements that must be incorporated into that routine and the gymnasts are judged on those requirements.

The Rocky Mountain gymnasts from Hamilton did very well, according to Haacke. Three gymnasts finished first in each of their levels. Nicole Turner won the all around for Level 4. Megan Nelson took the all around in Level 6 and Chivahna Keating won Level 7. All of the gymnasts qualified to compete at the State Meet in Kalispell on March 29-30.

Keating is one gymnast goes above and beyond the norm to practice and compete in gymnastics. Keating is from Salmon, Idaho, but she doesn’t spend much time there. She is enrolled at Darby Elementary School. Her mother drives her to school every day. Then, after school is finished for the day, the two continue on to Hamilton where Keating puts in two or three hours training before heading back over Lost Trail Pass and home. Haacke says Keating is a natural and truly loves the sport. Her dedication and perseverance have paid off. She has placed first in every meet this year.

The were four venues that the gymnasts competed on during Saturday’s meet – the vault, the uneven parallel bars, the floor and the balance beam. Each apparatus has its own set of compulsory moves that the young gymnast have trained and trained for with each of the gymnasts having success at different levels.

The warm ups take about an hour for each level to do but between competition, there was plenty more action out on the mats. Tumblers tumbled and showed off their skills from the tiniest tot to the older girls. The cheerleaders had a chance to show their cheers and tumbling skills as well. With more and more gymnasts moving into cheerleading in the high school and college levels, the young girls are getting a leg up on the competition at an early age.

The Level 4’s took second place as a team in Saturday’s competition. Nicole Turner finished first in the bars, second on the floor and first all around. Miranda Herbert was first in on the beam and second in all around. Kendal Gordon was first in the vault and first on the bars. She was fourth all around. Danika Whaley was fourth on vault and fourth on the beam.

Sierra Keating took fifth in the vault and on the beam for the Level 5 competitors from the Rocky Mountain gym. She was third in the all around competition. Caitlin Dillon was first in the beam and fourth in the all around. Genesis Keith was second on the beam and sixth in the all around. Hayley Hudgins was second on the bars. Whitley Schlapman took fifth on the bars and on the floor. The team placed third.

Megan Nelson, who has placed well all year, continued to do so on Saturday at the Level 6. She took first on vault, second on bars, third on beam and second on the floor exercises. She was first in the all around competition.

Chivahna Keating took the all around in the Level 7 competition. She was first on vault, second on bars, third on beam and first on floor. Aspen Evans took third in the all around. She was third on bars, fifth on beam and third on the floor.

With total concentration, Sierra Keating gets ready to make the move to the high bar during her competition in the uneven bars. Jean Schurman photo.

Balancing on a beam only four inches wide, Hayley Hudgins moves easily back and forth during her competition. Jean Schurman photo.

Caitlin Dillon flies off the vaulting horse during her competition at the Level 5 ranks. Jean Schurman photo.

Whitley Schlapman finishes a move during her floor exercise competition at the Rocky Mountain Classic. Jean Schurman photo.

All Valley Classic

The 16th Annual All Valley Classic was held last Tuesday in Hamilton. Sponsored by the Kiwanis, this event is a fundraiser for the Kiwanis scholarship program as well as a last chance to see some great high school basketball.

In addition to the game, athletes from across the valley were honored for outstanding achievement in their respective sports. Hamilton’s Ryan Turley, who was All State in football and basketball as well as a multiple event placer at the State Track Meet, was named Player of the Year. Sunni Bleibtrey of Corvallis was the girls Player of the Year. She was All State in Soccer, all conference in basketball and placed at state in track.

Brooke Zeiler of Florence was the girl’s player of the year in basketball. Jason Schallenberger of Hamilton was the boy’s player of the year in basketball. Eric Taylor of Victor was the football player of the year and Keith Mullan of Stevensville was the lineman of the year. Kayla Schmid of Florence was the volleyball player of the year. Schmid set a state record with 144 aces this year. Also from Florence, Kate Street was named the softball player of the year. Street’s high school record includes 77 wins in four years. The Hamilton Golf team was recognized, as was Jake Wilson for his individual win at the Class A Golf Tournament last fall.

Megan Auch from Corvallis dropped in 11 treys to win the three-point contest for the girl’s while Reid Baerlocher also dropped in 11 three-point shots to win for the boys. /p>

U-11 Sabres win big

The U-11 Sabres of Stevensville recently competed at a tournament held at the Washington/Grizzly Stadium sponsored by the UM Women’s Soccer team. Six teams competed in the U-11 division but the teams came from all over Western Montana. Usually the Stevensville players have a difficult time matching up against these other teams. But not this time. The Sabres won five games in a row, including the championship. They did it in convincing fashion as well. They defeated their opponents 8-3, 7-3, 10-1, 5-3, 3-2.

Because of accelerated game rules such as 20 minutes games with no half time, the games moved fast and the team adjusted very quickly to these rules. Faster than the coach, Kevin Liston, in fact. (According to him.)

Shown are the players from left to right in the back row: Curtis Liston, Carly Sebastian, Ethan Fadely. Front: Joseph Fecteau and Payden Belcourt.

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