Morris competing at nationals in Ohio

Storey Morris (above) and Denaya Moore advanced past regional competition to compete at the next level. For Morris that is the Junior Olympic national championships, taking place this week in Ohio.

Texas East Gymnast Storey Morris captured All Around gold (incuding firsts in three events) at the regional championships and is competing this week in the Junior Olympic national championships in Cinncinati, Ohio.

Morris, a junior from Flint, competed as a Level 10 gymnast; Level 10s advance to nationals only if they are in the top seven All Around spots, according to Martin Parsley, TEG coach.

Level 9s continue on to Westerns if they place in the top 19 All Around.

The regional competition featured gymnasts from six surrounding states competing for the few top spots to advance to the western or national championships.

Morris captured gold on the bars, beam, floor and the All Around. She also brought home silver on Vault. In the Junior Olympic gymnastics system a 10.0 is perfect; therefore, a 40.0 All Around would also be perfect. Morris came close to perfect, scoring a 9.7, 9.8, 9.7, 9.6 respectively on vault, bars, beam and floor and a whopping 38.8 All Around.

Coach Parsley said it was no surprise when his phone began ringing the next morning at 8 a.m. from colleges all over the United States!

Denaya Moore, a 13-yearold from Mineola, likewise qualified to her pinnacle championship in the Level 9 competition. Moore experienced a few more ner ves than her older teammate.

"Luckily though, Denaya swings bars to near perfection," said Parsley. Her impressive 9.7 score cushioned her very nervous 8.65 score on the balance beam! Moore performed very well on floor and vault, earning a 9.45 and a 9.3. Her high bar score gave her a fourth place finish in her age group.

Also competing for TEG were Level 10 Morgan Key and Level 9s Emily Rickman and Erin Odem. The regional competition is packed with pressure and these athletes, fine and talented as they are, simply could not keep their nerves in check, said Coach Parsley.

He said TEG coaches were proud of their accomplishments and the fact that the each overcame personal obstacles and had a fine competition year.

Rickman placed 11th on the beam with a 9.5, and Odem finished ninth with a 9.375.

Morris is excited about the opportunity compete in Junior Olympic event again, said parsley. The competition will further her exposure to potential colleges as there will be about 30 to 40 university coaches at the national championships, scouting perspective team members.

Morris has two offers on the table and will be able to take official campus visits in September.

In the mix are about 26 universities including the University of Kentucky, University of Denver, Ohio State University, University of Nebraska and University of Utah.