Lights flashed and music blared as teams of gymnasts walked across the floor Saturday at the Maine Academy of Gymnastics. With flags hanging from the ceiling and bunting draped on the walls, each squad was introduced amongst a cheering crowd and flashing cameras.
The Westbrook gym hosted its annual American Flyers Cup over the weekend, with 248 girls between the ages of 6 and 18 competing in various divisions. A dozen teams from throughout New England were represented.
The Yellow Jackets of Middleton, Mass., topped the competition among Levels 4, 5 and 6, while a pair of New Hampshire programs – Atlantic Gymnastics of Portsmouth and New England Gymnastics Training Center of Hudson – were most successful in Levels 7 through 10.
The competition went on all day Saturday and much of Sunday, as owners Paul and Lisa Amundson transformed the former warehouse into a glittering spectacle. Frequent messages from parents and friends were read over the PA system to encourage the young acrobats.
Scarborough’s Helena Diodata, one of only two Level 10 gymnasts in Maine, took top honors in the uneven bars in her class, and teammate Melanie Mauro won the balance beam. However, Justine Foster of Atlantic finished first in their group overall.
Sophie Moore of Cape Elizabeth topped a field of 12 in the floor exercises among Level 5 9-year-olds. She finished sixth overall.
Another Cape resident, Emily LoBosco, finished sixth in the vault in the Level 5 10-year-old division.
“I like tumbling and using the trampoline,” said LoBosco, a gymnast for seven years.
South Portland’s Maria Cianchette was seventh in the vault in a field of 16 in Level 6. Her mom, Carolyn, a gymnast when she was a student at Waterville High School, enrolled her daughter in gymnastics when Maria was just “three or four.”
“She’s been (at Maine Academy of Gymnastics) for five years. It’s the best program in the state,” Cianchette says. “They challenge the girls, but they want them to have fun. Most importantly, school work comes first. If they’re not doing well, they’re not allowed to take part.”
Regardless of the competition, the participants seemed to enjoy demonstrating the physical skills that they’ve been working on.
“I like gymnastics because it’s fun and exciting,” said Ariye Krassner, 14, who competes at Level 9. “There’s always something new you can learn.”
She added that she enjoys working out at the Maine Academy.
“You have a whole other family here,” she said, “and it’s positive and encouraging and makes you feel good about yourself.”
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