TEG attends Western and National Championship

Texas East gymnasts Ciara Maradiaga, Erin Odom and Emily Rickman.

The Level 9 gymnasts from Texas East Gymnastics recently returned from St. Louis, Mo., and the Level 9 Western Championships. The Level 9 team from TEG is made up of Ciara Maradiaga, Erin Odom and Emily Rickman.

Emily, the youngest on the team, faced the fiercest competition by being in the youngest age group. She performed in

true champion form by being

consistent and steady for all four

and

routines, said coach Martin Parsley.

Erin exploded on Vault and stayed solid on the other three events, he said.

Ciara was more than balanced on beam, and that shot her straight to the top of the awards stand.

Ciara is the gold-medal winning, best Level 9 beam worker this side of the Mississippi, said Parsley.

Following the Missouri trip, Parsley turned right around three days later and went to Kissimmee, Fla., with Level 10 Morgan Key. This was Morgan's first trip to nationals.

The National Championship takes the top seven gymnasts from each age group from each region and brings them together in one competition to see who truly is the best gymnast in the nation.

"Nationals is unlike any other gym meet," said Parsley. "There are literally four sets of equipment set up and four groups of gymnasts going non stop! The competition is much more of a team format rather than individual so there is a lot of cheering, chanting and friendly rivalery happening.

Emily Rickman - 14th All Around

Erin Odom - 8th Vault, 10th All Around

Ciara Maradiaga - 1st Beam, 3rd All Around

Morgan Key - 9.225 Beam