Avalanche open gymnastics season with medal haul at the Missy Marlowe Wasatch Open

IDAHO FALLS — Close to 50 local gymnasts opened their competitive season in Utah over the weekend at the Missy Marlowe Wasatch Open, bringing home a variety of individual awards and team honors for Idaho Falls’ Avalanche Gymnastics Academy.

“This was a great way to open the season,” Avalanche Head Coach Cayla Beutler said. “This is the culmination of all their hard work throughout the summer and fall, so it was great to see them make such an impact from the very start.”

An incredible 44 of Avalanche’s 48 gymnasts qualified for State over the weekend, bringing home some team titles along the way.

Avalanche created their first ever Level 2 team over the summer and they took first place against teams from across the mountain west. Marley Bird was first in the all-around with a score of 37.000, placing first on both bars (9.400) and floor (9.450). Stella Redd took second in the all-around with an impressive 36.600 that included a first place finish on bars (9.300) and second place finishes on vault, beam and floor. Mia Steen took third on beam with a solid 9.000.

“Mia said she will never forget how she felt when they called Avalanche and announced their first place team finish,” assistant coach Katie Steen said. “All the girls were so excited.”

The Level 3 girls also put up some impressive numbers, including Addie Jaynes who finished second on bars with a 9.300 and took home the second place all-around medal with a 36.250. Eisley Craynor also finished second in the all-around in her age division, posting a 36.050 with a first place medal in vault (9.600) and second place on bars and beam, both at 9.150.

The Level 4 Avalanche girls brought home the third place team trophy, led in part by Heidi Schempp who took first place in the all-around at 37.275 as well as first on bars and beam. Cecilia Winslow took third overall with consistent third place finishes on vault, bars, and beam, posting an all-around score of 36.100. Grace Redd took home second place medals for beam (9.250) and third on vault (9.400) with Chiara Turner taking second on bars (9.225).

Bella Haderlie led the way for Avalanche’s Level 5 team, placing first in the all-around with a 36.500 while also taking first on beam (9.350) and second on vault. Hazel Hewit took fourth, posting a 35.450, while also taking second place medals for beam (9.150) and floor (9.125).

The Level 9 and 10 teams took second place with some impressive showings from Amelia Frerich’s and Carlee Russell who finished second and third overall for Level 9. Frerich’s also took second on floor (9.050) with Russell taking third on bars and floor. Newly minted Level 10 gymnast, Lillian Wheeler finished third in the all-around with a 32.500 that included a second place medal for floor and third place finishes on vault and beam.

Xcel Gold gymnast Caimbree Maughan took first in the all-around with a staggering 36.650 and an impressive 9.500 and first-place medal on vault. She also finished first on floor with a 9.200 and a second place finish on bars (9.175).

While injuries in gymnastics are a way of life and helps make them stronger, mentally and physically, seeing Claire O’Neal compete at Missy Marlowe was a shocking surprise for those who knew her story.

“Claire experienced double broken ankles this summer and at the time we weren’t even sure if she could keep doing gymnastics,” said Claire’s mother, Erin, adding that surgery, months of recovery and being out of the gym not being able to train only added to the uncertainty of competing.

Even with double casts and being wheelchair bound over the summer, Claire’s Level 6 teammates would often visit and join her in limited workouts of mostly upper body conditioning. That interaction and her sheer determination made the difference.

“She had her highest season starting scores ever this weekend. We are so thankful for the amazing coaches at Avalanche and the support she had from her teammates. They truly shined this weekend.“

The Avalanche will compete again next week at the Pike’s Peak Cup in Colorado Springs, Colo. before the Rumble in the Jungle meet at the end of January.