Texas East Gymnasts compete in WOGA Classic

Members of the Level 9 TEG team

Gymnasts from the East Texas area recently competed in the WOGA Classic. This competition began several years ago and grew to its current status which drew athletes from 19 different states and 10 different countries. The foreign gymnasts represented Russia, Ukraine, Japan, Great Britain, Australia and Canada.

The competition attracts these foreign athletes partly because the host gym's owners hail from Russia and were Olympians in their day. Also, the competition is well run and winning athletes who do not want to maintain NCAA status can receive prize money.

Texas East Gymnastics took their entire Optional team, comprising of gymnasts in Level 7 through Elite. Alaina Johnson competed in the Elite session and placed 5th on Floor with a 14.45 and 4th on bars with a 13.65. Alaina trains very hard and just prior to the WOGA Classic was training with coach Martin Parsley at the Women's National Team Training Center with Martha Karolyi and other National Staff members. Alaina aspires to be a member of the Senior National Team.

Morgan Key represented TEG in the Level 10 session. This competition was Morgan's second of the year and was by far her best. After her first competition, she and her coaches really felt she could improve on all four events so she got in the gym every day and put the time in. Her hard work paid off when she sailed through four events maintaining an average of 9.0. Morgan placed 2nd in the All Around.

Members of the Level 7 TEG team

The Level 9 team, comprised of Emily Rickman (Tyler), Erin Odom (Whitehouse), and Denaya Moore (Mineola), also performed well. Emily Rickman's successes are even sweeter given that she could not workout on her right arm for eight weeks at the end of summer due to an injury. Emily pushed through her frustration of not being full speed in workouts by focusing on other parts of her gymnastics and by believing that not only would she come back to her pre-injury level but surpass that and compete the next level. Emily's perseverance worked and paid off as she finished 3rd in the WOGA Classic on Floor, 5th on Vault and 8th All Around.

Erin was coming off the flu and did not complete all four events; however, she did place 9th on Vault with a 9.0. Denaya's highlight was on her best event, Bars, where she scored a 9.35 and placed 2nd. She also placed well in the All Around, 4th, and 6th on Floor. Denaya is a powerful, fast twitch athlete who has a big future.

Ciara Maradiaga, a Level 8 from Tyler was perhaps the most consistent gymnast of the weekend. Her performances and scores demonstrated the day in and day out work ethic she exhibits in the gym. Ciara scored a 9.55 on Vault, 9.5 on Bars, 9.475 on Beam and a 9.5 on Floor. She placed 2nd on everything except Vault which she won.

The Level 7 team finished up the weekend for TEG with an exclamation point. The team consists of Cori Roach of Pollok, Amanda Hamilton of Dibol, Haven Hughes of Bullard and Apryl Hansen of Tyler. Cori is easily the punchiest of the team and scored a team high 9.4 on Floor placing 3rd, Amanda placed 7th on Floor with a 9.1. Apryl and Haven both brought home gold medals, Apryl won Beam and Haven won Bars. Haven finished the event off by being the All Around gold medal champion. Apryl finished second and helped the Level 7 team take 4th place overall.