Redwood Coast Gymnastics Scores Big at Storybook Classic

This is a press release from Redwood Coast Gymnastics:

Pictured left to right: Laura Barkdull, Jesse Bestul, Hannah Naylor, Abigail Clair, Zoey Long, Annika Dieker, and Cara West.

The Redwood Coast Gymnastics (RCG) team brought home a flurry of personal bests and top finishes at the whimsical Storybook Classic on October 25th & 26th; an annual meet known for its fairytale theme where coaches, judges, and officials don costumes to set the stage for a magical competition in Petaluma.

Of the 13 RCG gymnasts who competed, 10 achieved personal best all-around scores at their current levels, a strong showing as the team heads into the State Championships next month.

Level 5 gymnast Momo Baxter broke the 34.00 all-around mark for the first time, highlighted by the debut of a new back handspring on the balance beam, which resulted in her highest Beam score to date at Level 5, and a strengthened uneven bars routine. Baxter continued to impress on vault and floor, adding to her growing list of strong performances this season.

In Level 4, all five RCG competitors recorded personal bests. Myiah Punch led the way with a 36.2 all-around, including a confident 9.3 on balance beam. Aubrey Dalton followed close behind with a 36.075, earning a stellar 9.325 on floor. Maya Dalton crossed the 35.00 milestone, landing two 9.2s on beam and floor. Addie Bellermann maintained consistency across all events, scoring above 8.5 on each for a total of 34.85, while newcomer Kaile’a Townsend, in just her second competition, turned in a solid 8.6 on beam to finish with 33.575.

The Level 3 team also dazzled, led by Hannah Naylor (37.050) and Jesse Bestul (36.725), who each scored above 9.0 on every event. Naylor earned second place on balance beam (9.35) and in the all-around, while Bestul took third on bars (9.225) and beam (9.2). Laura Barkdull impressed with a 9.075 on beam and 9.175 on floor, showcasing clean form and strong execution. Zoey Long continued her streak of all-around scores above 35, notching a personal best on uneven bars. Annika Dieker displayed power on vault (9.0) and floor, Abigail Clair raised her personal best all-around by nearly a point, and Cara West continued to impress with her strong vaulting streak (8.85). Despite a nearly hour-long delay before their final event, the Level 3 gymnasts kept their composure with each competitor staying on the beam and four earning medals on that apparatus: Naylor, Bestul, Barkdull, and Long.

The Storybook Classic marked RCG’s final competition before the State Championships, set for November 14-16 in Santa Rosa, CA. The team has returned to Flips for Kids Gymnastics in Eureka, where they’ll continue training with hopes of carrying their momentum into the season’s biggest meet.

Pictured left to right: Myiah Punch, Addie Bellermann, Aubrey Dalton, Maya Dalton, and Kaile’a Townsend.