What we know: Tusc YMCA gymnastics qualifies 30 for national competition

The Tuscarawas YMCA gymnastics team, led by head coach Rachel Cummings, qualified 30 of its 34 team members for the YMCA National Gymnastics Championship and Invitational to be held June 21-25 in Cincinnati.
The Tuscarawas YMCA gymnastics team, led by head coach Rachel Cummings, qualified 30 of its 34 team members for the YMCA National Gymnastics Championship and Invitational to be held June 21-25 in Cincinnati.

DOVER ‒ The Tuscarawas YMCA gymnastics team, led by head coach Rachel Cummings, qualified 30 of their 34 team members for the YMCA National Gymnastics Championship and Invitational to be held June 21-25 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. More than 4,000 gymnasts are expected to compete and represent more than 75 YMCAs from 17 states. The qualifying scores were obtained during the regular season at league and invitational meets and successfully achieved by the local gymnasts multiple times during the year.

Has this happened before?

The local team has previous experience at nationals. In recent years, they took 25 girls in 2022 to Toledo, 15 in 2018 to Toledo and 13 qualifiers traveled to Florida in 2014. The team's regular season consists of league meets and invitationals in their district, which includes Ashland, Cambridge, North Canton, Riverfront, Tuscarawas and Wooster. At their district competition, the Levels 6, 4 and 3 all took third place.

How did they qualify?

Throughout the season, 16 of the Tuscarawas County gymnasts have scored a 9.0 or higher score on individual events that includes vault, bars, beam and floor exercise. Top local all-around scorers for the year so far are Samantha Courtney, Lily Endlich and Avery Worst, who each received at least 36 out of a possible 40 points. These girls are coached by a group, with the majority of coaches being past gymnasts on the Tuscarawas County YMCA team.

Who's going to nationals?

Gymnasts from Tuscarawas County YMCA who qualified for nationals are: Level 7: Samantha Courtney, Landry Little, Avery Worst; Level 6: Jaycie Baker, Lily Denney, Auria McDaniel, Mia McPeek, Aubri Miller, Ayla Norman; Level 4: Anna Bonvechio, Lorelei Cunningham, Vivian Denney, Kendall Geers, Rebekah Klaserner, Kinsley McDonald, Lucy Miller, Pressley Piccin, Layla Porter, Aria Sanner; Level 3: Elizabeth Brantley, Norelyz Duent, Lily Endlich, Penelope Endlich, Ellie Horger, Skyler Kellerman, Jaylee Lute, Presley Lute, Alyse Mello, Kinley Reichman, Arli Waller.

Who are the coaches?

Joining Cumnings, as coaches are Bri Stocker, Nancy Smith, Diane Little, Jess Baker, Samantha Courtney, Lillie Cox, Bonnie Petrullo, Haley McPeek, Mandy Porter, Heidi and Shane Sanner.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Bound for nationals: 30 Tuscarawas County YMCA gymnastics