VALDOSTA —
Five gymnasts from the Valdosta YMCA’s gymnastics team will be competing at the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships later this month in Milwaukee, Wis.
Taylor Eakin, Rachel Fricker, Grace Perry, Brooke Perry and Sarah Lynn Edwards will be competing against some of the top gymnasts in the nation.
The 74th annual YMCA National Gymnastics Championships will be held from June 29 to July 2 in Milwaukee.
The prestigious competition will include 103 teams from 18 states, with around 1,400 gymnasts attending.
Eakin, Fricker and Grace Perry will be competing in the Level 8 competition.
Brooke Perry and Edwards are in the Level 7 competition.
The gymnasts have performed in events throughout the Southeast during the year. In order to qualify for nationals, they must have at least one score of 33 in the all-around competition (floor, balance beam, vault and uneven bars) at one of the meets.
Eakin is a 15-year-old Level 8 gymnast. She has been a Valdosta YMCA team gymnast for seven years. This is her first year as a Level 8 gymnast. Her best all-around score this season was a 34.525 in Vidalia. This is the third time that Eakin will be attending the national meet. She will be a sophomore at Lowndes High School in the fall.
Fricker is 14 years old. This is her first year as a Level 8 gymnast. She started gymnastics in 2004, and has been on the Valdosta YMCA team since 2007.
Her season-best all-around score was a 34.375 in Tifton. This is her second time attending the national meet. She was the winner of the team’s “Most Valuable” award for Level 8, and also won “Most Inspirational” for the 2011-12 season. Fricker will be a freshman at Lowndes High in the fall.
Grace Perry is 13 years old. Her best all-around score this season was a 34.325 in Vidalia. This will be her third trip to nationals, and her first time as a Level 8 gymnast. Grace will be an eighth grader this year at Hahira Middle School.
Brooke Perry, Grace’s sister, is 15 years old. Her highest all-around score this year was a 35.150 in Macon. This will be her third time attending nationals. Brooke will be a sophomore at Lowndes High this fall.
Edwards is 16 years old. Her highest all-around score this year was a 31.475 in Tifton. This will be her first time attending nationals. This is her first year as a Level 7 gymnast. Edwards will be a sophomore at Lowndes High this fall.
The gymnasts are currently practicing 14 hours per week, as they prepare for the meet.
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Submitted Photo Valdosta YMCA gymnasts (from left to right) Sarah Lynn Edwards, Brooke Perry, Taylor Eakin, Rachel Fricker and Grace Perry will compete in the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships later this month.
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Valdosta YMCA gymnasts heading to nationals
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