Evolution Gymnasts hit new heights

April 16, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Jeff Doner

They’ve only been around for three years, but Evolution Gymnastics Aurora and its crop of young gymnasts has been earning some sparkling competition results recently.

At the provincials in Windsor, hosted by Rose City Gymnastics Club, the crew from EGA finished in the top of the class.

“Our boys did really well,” said coach Sarah Smith. “Considering that we’re a new club and a small club, we were really happy to be named the number four, level one men’s club in Ontario, which was amongst clubs that were a lot larger and more established than we are.”

Budding star Kieran Sutch had a stellar showing, winning gold on the parallel bars, bronze on pommel, rings and floor exercise and claimed fourth all around in the level four, age 13 years and up category.

On a side note, Sutch has been named to attend the Eastern Canadian Championships in Newfoundland next month after a strong season overall.

Brandan Canning (level two, 13 years and up) earned silver on high bar and rings, bronze on parallel bars, fourth on pommel and fourth all around.

The EGA also had multiple competitors in the level one, 10-12 years category, with great results.

Jamie Koscak came tenth on vault and floor, Ryan Baudin claimed bronze on floor and placed fifth overall. Also striking gold was Kieran Heaslip on both vault and pommel horse, silver on parallel bars and all around and also placed fifth on floor and highbar.

And Phillip Carson (level one, ages eight and nine) had a strong showing, finishing fourth on vault, fifth on floor, sixth on high bar, seventh on parallel bars and eighth all around.

The results are even more impressive considering the caliber of skills at provincial competitions.
Smith said she is proud of all the EGA athletes who competed at provincials and added the season did not end there.

“We actually have boys competing this week out in Brampton and our current invitational girls will be competing in two weeks time in Orangeville, so we have a lot of competitions to go still for the season, but the provincial program is technically done.”

For a small club in just its third year, Smith said gymnastics overall seems to be gaining some steam in popularity.

“Our boy’s team is growing faster than our girl’s team, but that’s primarily because more clubs just offer girls programs, not all clubs offer boys,” said the veteran coach.

“But it seems to be growing. It’s always been relatively popular with girls, but boys are now finding it more attractive ever since Kyle Shewfelt got that gold medal at the Olympics. I think then it became a more legitimate sport in Canada.”

For more information on Evolution Gymnastics Aurora visit www.evolutiongymnastics.ca.