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Community Corner

Madison Area YMCA Rosettes Gymnastics Team Places First at Nationals

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Madison Area YMCA’s hard-working, talented Rosettes gymnastics team took first place in the 2014 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships that were held in Tampa, Florida!

The Madison Area YMCA Rosettes traveled to the Tampa Convention Center from July 1, through July 5, where they proudly represented the Madison Area YMCA and competed against 35 teams in Level 8 and won by a full point. In 2013, the team captured second place at Nationals in Savannah, Georgia.  The Rosettes Level 9 team moved up the ranks from 10th place last year to second place this year.

In total, 102 teams comprised of more than 3,000 gymnasts participated at Nationals this year. The Rosettes competed in Levels 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9. All Rosettes teams and individuals placed in the top three for each division, with 56 Rosettes awarded medals.

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Guided by the excellent and seasoned leadership of the Madison Area YMCA Gymnastics Director Ellen Gavin, our talented staff also includes Associate Gymnastics Director Christina Lopez, Gymnastics Coach “Professor” Vladimir Peleksic and the coaching staff consisting of Cassandra Baumgartner, Kristin Durning, Leslie McPeek,  Meredith Valentine and Karley Walek. We also wish to acknowledge our instructional staff, led by Madison Area YMCA Performing Arts Director and Preschool Gymnastics Associate Director Kimberly Buccheri, who help prepare our smallest gymnasts for potential future Rosettes team participation. Many gymnastics team members also serve as peer instructors. Outstanding and dedicated parent support is a major factor in the team’s phenomenal success.

It is during times like these that we must take a moment to reflect upon the wonderful opportunities that our Y provides to all in our community. It is powerful that through the generosity of hundreds of individual donors, led by our Board and staff in the form of financial assistance, our Y helps make dreams like this a reality.

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There is evidence every day in the Y’s Family Center, F.M. Kirby Children’s Center, Madison Day Care Center and beyond—to places like the Tampa Convention Center—that the core values of our Y are espoused. One of the stories that reinforced our emphasis on values came when a young Rosette who won four medals during the competition, selflessly gave one of her medals to another teammate who did not receive one. Through her actions, this Rosette clearly displayed that she understood that the team’s first place achievement was gained through a collective, collaborative attitude of teamwork. She exemplified what the Madison Area YMCA’s Gymnastics department practices every day in the gym: team unity, determination and a high regard for the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, responsibility and respect.

It was also exciting to learn that a CEO of another Y, who attended the competition, told Coach Ellen that the Madison Area YMCA was “the happiest, friendliest team” at Nationals. Given that 102 teams competed, we salute our Rosettes for this and all their efforts!

For more information on gymnastics programs at the Y, including summer mini camps, year-round gymnastics classes and the Rosettes competitive team, click here: http://www.madisonareaymca.org/programs-and-schedules/gymnastics


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