Texas East gymnasts feel the magic at Disney

Texas East Gymnastics traveled to Orlando, Fla., to compete in the Magical Classic Gymnastics Competition. With Disney World as an added draw, this Florida meet is very well attended, drawing athletes from all over the United States and Canada and Mexico.

The sun shone bright and temperature soared as the TEG girls flipped and tumbled to numerous first place finishes and other awards, too. TEG's two Level 10s, Morgan Key and Denaya Moore, put quite a meet together. Denaya performed a Yurchenko layout half on vault for her first time in competition and received a 9.675 to place second. Morgan won first place on bars and floor with a 9.275 and a 9.125 respectively.

The Level 9 team comprised of Ciara Maradiaga, Erin Odom and Emily Rickman has many strengths and showed them by bringing home gold, silver and bronze hardware.

Erin's fast strong legs allowed her to vault to a first place finish with a 9.35 and tumble to a second place finish on floor with a 9.25. Erin also finished second in the All Around. Ciara's smooth rhythm and long lines swung her into first place on bars with a 9.375.

Emily's steady consistent work ethic works to her advantage in the sport of gymnastics where four different events make up an athlete's all around score. Emily was the epitomy of consistent in Florida where she placed first on bars and beam and third on floor.

The Level 8 team was first to compete at the meet and placed themselves in the fourth place team rankings. Team members include Apryl Hansen, Cori Roach, Amanda Hamilton and Haven Hughes. Haven led the team with first place finishes on bars, floor and the All Around. Amanda and Apryl also helped the team with their fourth place All Around finishes and high rankings on vault, bars and floor. Cori participated in the team score with her floor finish of fourth place and had a personal best on beam by competing her flight combination for the first time.

Highlighting the weekend was the Level 7 first place team finish. Out of eight team members, there were six first place finishes.

Both Sarah Shaffer and Angela Rogers won their All Arounds while Drew Watson and Savannah Maradiaga both took silver in their All Arounds. Kortlyn Hill took second place on vault with a 9.65 and Sarah Dorsey won third place on beam with a 9.325. Hannah Jacobsen also performed a first time, personal best by completing a floor routine with all three tumbling passes and scoring an 8.825.

The trip was rounded out with visits to Disney World's Magic Kingdome, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

The traveling meet served its purpose as a team building event for TEG.