Gymnasts compete at regional, national meets

May 14, 2008
AZCentral.com
by Stephanie Burchfield

Four Pre-Elite Desert Lights gymnasts qualified in the Hopes Division for the U.S. Classic/Challenge, a national meet which will be held May 23-25 in Houston. The gymnasts are Ahwatukee's Stefani Catour and Claire Hom, Chandler's Arianna Ruth and Gilbert's Kayla McMullan.

"I am very excited about these girls strong performance, since it is the first step in the elite program, the highest, most advanced level of gymnastics," said Lisa Spini, owner of Desert Lights Gymnastics. Region I encompasses Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Southern California and Northern California. The Region 1 Hopes Division qualifier was held at Desert Lights Gymnastics in late April. Four other Desert Lights gymnasts plus one alternate, meanwhile, qualified to compete at the Level 9 Western Championships held May 8-11 at the Hyland Performance Arena in St. Charles, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis.

Desert Lights Western qualifiers include Ahwatukee's Amanda Martinez and Danica Melosi, Chandler's Kaitlin Liermann and Gilbert's Katie McMullan. Qualifying as an alternate was Frankey Janshen of Chandler.

For information on Desert Lights Gymnastics, call 480-940-4041 or visit www.desertlightsgymnastics.net.