KENSINGTON – The P.E.I. School Athletic Association’s (PEISAA) commissioner for gymnastics is anticipating 341 gymnasts from 25 schools to compete in the 2018 ADL provincial championships on Saturday. Competition at Kensington Intermediate-Senior High School commences at 9 a.m. “We are thrilled to have ADL onboard supporting our young student-athletes,” said commissioner Paul Goguen in welcoming the Island business as the PEISAA’s new sponsor for gymnastics.
There will be competition in eight categories, with gymnasts competing for the P.E.I. School Milk Foundation awards. The provincial championship follows four zone competitions that attracted more than 750 gymnasts. Each zone is eligible to send their top three teams, and top 20 all-around gymnasts from each category.
Looking forward to competition
Phil Bridges, the school sports co-ordinator for the PEISAA, is looking forward to Saturday’s competition. “Every year it seems that our numbers are going up,” Bridges noted. “I’ve heard so much about this sport, and how these young athletes can control many hard movements with the strength and flexibility of their bodies.” Bridges suggested the participation alone provides the student-athletes with mental and physical health benefits through strength and endurance conditioning.
Goguen encourages family and friends of the gymnasts to take in Saturday’s competition. “It’s always fun to watch,” added Goguen, who noted KISH will be hosting the provincial championships for the eighth consecutive year. “It’s such a beautiful facility, it can hold many spectators and the gym is very spectator-friendly,” he noted.
Spectators can expect to see up to 142 gymnasts competing in the pre-novice boys and girls categories (Grades 3 and 4) during the morning competition.
The Montague Consolidated boys and LM Montgomery Elementary girls are the 2017 defending team champions.
There are 145 athletes registered for the novice (Grades 5 and 6) boys and girls’ competition, which gets the afternoon program underway at 1 p.m. The LM Montgomery boys and West Kent Elementary girls will be looking to defend their titles.
The bantam (Grades 7 and 8) boys and girls’ intermediate (Grades 9 and 10) boys and girls and senior (Grades 11 and 12) girls’ gymnasts will start their warm-up at 3:30 p.m., with competition commencing at 3:50 p.m.
Awards will be presented around 5:15 p.m. This year marks the return of senior girls to the provincial competition.
Schedule
PEISAA provincial gymnastics ch’ships schedule:
Saturday, Feb. 10
At Kensington Intermediate-Senior High School:
9 a.m. – Pre-novice boys and girls. Awards at noon.
1 p.m. – Novice boys and girls. Awards at 3:25 p.m.
3:30 p.m. – Bantam, intermediate boys and girls and senior girls. Awards at 5:15 p.m.
