Stars Improve Season’s Record

They are cute but competitive. These “darlings” are determined, disciplined, dedicated and driven to excel. They defy gravity, soar through the air with grace and “stick their landing” with zeal. They are the members of the competitive squad of BGPBC-Bahamas Star Gymnastics under the coaching instruction of Alexander Mayet and Kachara Marshall.

A segment of the competitive team, the “fabulous five”, competed at the Tampa Bay Turners Invite in Palmetto, Florida over the weekend of January 18-20, 2013. They were Kianna Dean (L7), Athalia Swann (L7), Caitlin Cash (L6), Rachea Knowles (L5) and Madisson Deveaux (L2). Most of the gymnasts improved on their personal best and season scores compared to their first showing of the season at the 2012 Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational.

Kianna Dean’s dazzling performance at 2012 Atlantis Crown was the “warm up exercise” to her dynamic routines at the TBT Invite. The level 7 fifteen year old Aquinas College student pulled off a third place All Around with a score of 35.80 against a field of nine competitors. Dean, who appears to be peaking at the right time, also medaled with a third place finish on Balance Beam and Floor Exercise with scores of 9.10 and 9.0375 respectively. With her eyes set on Olympic and collegiate opportunities, Dean is pushing for a promotion to Level 8 or 9 for next season. She describes this season’s events, thus far, as her “best meets ever”.

Dean’s Level 7 counterpart is Athalia Swann who is also in her first season of competition at Level 7. Swann mounted the podium by medaling with a second place finish on Vault. Swann has medaled at every competitive meet at which she was registered since the age of 5. Swann has been experiencing some challenges on the Uneven Bars but is known for her gutsy determination in overcoming obstacles. She is expected to improve her AA score during the remainder of the season.

Caitlin Cash and Rachea Knowles carried the Level 6 and Level 5 banners respectively. Cash medaled with a 3rd Place on Floor Exercise scoring 8.80 one day after finishing in fourth place at the Catholic Diocese Spelling Bee Competition. Knowles improved her showing on three of the four apparatus and earned an AA score of 29.175.

Madisson Deveaux, the 2012 Atlantis Crown Age 5-6 division winner, faced a head wind at the TBT Invite. Deveaux who is her first competitive season improved her AA score from 2012 Atlantis Crown to 35.695 and medaled with a fifth place on Balance Beam. A strong, talented athlete blessed with the natural physique for the sport, young Deveaux enjoyed her first taste of competition overseas tremendously.

The larger squad of twenty competitors, levels 2-7, will travel to Orlando, Florida for The Magical Classic over the weekend of February 15-17. While level 2-3 will return home immediately after “The Magical”, the levels 4 – 7 will have a few days of workout training at Ace Gymnastics during their layover in Orlando before travel to Michigan. Once in Michigan, the upper level will compete in the Wolverines Classic in Ann Arbor. With back to back competitions on the horizon, these gymnasts intend to use every opportunity to their advantage by improving their personal best scores on each apparatus and giving their club and country a stellar representation.


Caption: Kianna Dean, in file photo, swinging a “giant” in Uneven Bars at 2012 Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational. Photo courtesy of Warren Grant



Caption: Kianna Dean and Athalia Swann, surround 3 time Olympic Champion, Svetlana Borgainskaya at 2012 Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational led the team of “fabulous five” at the Tamap Bay Turners Invite. Photo courtesy of Warren Grant