Maui Gymnasts Win Gold at State Championships
Valley Isle Gymnastics athletes covering USA Gymnastics Levels 4 through 6, traveled to Oahu to compete in the November 17 & 18 State Championships in Ewa Beach.
Of the 173 athletes competing across the various levels, Valley Isle Gymnastics athletes claimed five individual apparatus gold medals, four silver medals, and seven bronze medals. The Level 6 team placed third among the six teams competing.
Maui’s newest state champions are Alana Motley (Level 4 uneven bars), Megan Bouthillier (Level 6 vault), Alani Kapiioho (Level 6 vault), Kumari Giubardo (Level 6 balance beam), and Imlitala Giubardo (Level 5 floor exercise).
Silver medalists are Alana Motley (Level 4 vault and floor exercise), Alani Kapiioho (Level 6 balance beam), and Yamuna Giubardo (Level 6 floor exercise).
Receiving bronze medals were Shyanne Sheldon (Level 5 vault tie and Level 5 balance beam tie), Imlitala Giubardo (Level 5 balance beam), Nohealani Ledesma (Level 6 vault), Megan Bouthillier (Level 6 balance beam tie) and Alani Kapiioho (Level 6 floor exercise and all-around).
“There’s never been any doubt in my mind that these young ladies are tough and committed to their sport,” says head competitive coach Ajja DeShayne. “The girls clearly recognize their status as the outer island gymnasts who don’t have the advantages that come along with being able to hop in the car and travel from workshop to workshop and competition to competition. That they can walk into a major competition amongst the best the state has to offer and claim dominance is such a testimony to their work ethic. Our entire staff is so proud of all the girls.”
Following are the Valley Isle Gymnastics athletes’ scores and rankings from the State Championships:
Level 4
Hie Luna-Beamer
9.30 vault (4th place tie), 8.60 bars (5th place), 8.325 beam (4th place), 8.40 floor (4th place), 34.625 all-around (5th place)
Alana Motley
9.675 vault (2nd place tie), 9.675 bars (1st place), 8.15 beam (7th place), 9.50 floor (2nd place), 37.00 all-around (4th place).
Level 5
Shyanne Sheldon
9.00 vault (3rd place tie), 8.225 bars (6th place), 8.80 beam (3rd place tie), 9.075 floor (4th place), 35.10 all-around (4th place).
Imlitala Giubardo
9.05 vault (4th place), 7.875 bars (8th place), 9.225 beam (3rd place), 9.575 floor (1st place), 35.725 all-around (5th place).
Level 6
Nohealani Ledesma
9.075 vault (3rd place), 8.80 bars (5th place), 8.30 beam (6th place), 8.75 floor (5th place tie), 34.925 all-around (5th place).
Megan Bouthillier
9.525 vault (1st place), 8.825 bars (4th place), 9.375 beam (3rd place tie), 8.90 floor (5th place). 36.625 all-around (4th place).
Alani Kapiioho
9.50 vault (1st place), 7.925 bars (7th place), 9.05 beam (2nd place), 8.80 floor (3rd place), 35.275 all-around (3rd place).
Yamuna Giubardo
9.30 vault (5th place), 8.575 bars (4th place), 8.35 beam (7th place), 8.95 floor (2nd place), 35.175 (4th place).
Kumari Giubardo
9.35 vault (4th place), 7.95 bars (8th place), 9.25 beam (1st place), 7.00 (7th place), 33.55 all-around (7th place).
The Valley Isle Gymnastics men’s team, also with a history of state champions, will begin its competition season in early January.
About Valley Isle Gymnastics
Valley Isle Gymnastics was established in the spring of 2004 to meet the growing need for professionally run, wholesome and healthy activities for Maui’s youth and is committed to providing a dynamic, fun, productive and safe atmosphere for young people of all skill levels. Valley Isle Gymnastics offers gymnastics and tumbling instruction for children from walkers through 18 years old. Well-known for its commitment to service, Valley Isle Gymnastics has received the Maui County Mayor’s Small Business of the Year Award, Hawaii Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Business Ethics, the Special Olympics Organization of the Year Award, and has received numerous recognitions and awards for community service.
Photo credit to Ajja DeShayne of Ajja Photography.
