Local gymnastics team win state titles

Boy gymnastic teams from Sonshine Academy recently earned two all-around state titles and won 14 individual events recently in the Arkansas men's state meet at Sonshine Academy.

Sixty-six gymnasts from across the state competed in Levels 4 through 9.

Sonshine Academy's Level 5 team of Will Clipp, Preston Dunn, Jake Fisher, Collin Weatherly and Dylon Wright placed second in its division, just behind Didion Athletics from Van Buren. Champions Gymnastics of Jonesboro placed third.

In the Level 4 competition, the Sonshine team of Garrett Dunn, Joshua Farewell, Dean Priest, Austin Schichtl and Trey Smith placed fourth in spite of missing two key gymnasts due to illness.

Sonshine Academy qualified three gymnasts to compete in the USA Gymnastics Region 3 Championship meet to be held in Fort Smith. The qualifying gymnasts are Jordan Bell, Ryan Valovich and J.R. Evans.

The Sonshine Academy Boys Teams are coached by Anatoly Ryndin, Terry Bell, and Scott Wright.

The individual event state champions from Sonshine Academy were:

Valovich (Level 8, 15-18): floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, high bar, and all-around.

Bell (Level 8, 15-18): parallel bars

Evans (Level 6, 12-13): vault

Fisher (Level 5, 7-9): floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, high bar, and all-around.

Farewell (Level 4): floor

Priest (Level 4, 6-7): floor