Yuma Gymnastics sends teenage gymnasts to the Arizona Excel State Championships.

YUMA, Arizona (KYMA, KECY) – Excitement is brewing in the Yuma gymnastics world this weekend ahead of a very special weekend as the doors to gymnastics in the region are reopened.

After a year of gymnastics reaching competitive ranks, the world shut down from Covid-19 and the program was put in place. 2023 marks the beginning of a new chapter with the return of US Gymnastics sanctioned competitive teams.

This year, the former Gymnastics World of Yuma, the Yuma Gymnastics, brought a competitive team back to Yuma. The gym offers an alternative track to the Junior Olympic Program, the Excel Program. Within the program, gymnasts of all levels will be able to compete their own routines in each of his four Olympic events.

And in a big step towards the future of the sport, next season will see athletes compete outside their home gym in a row for the first time in 20 years.

This brings unprecedented excitement to many young athletes like Meghan Fultham.

“I find it really exhilarating,” said the 14-year-old gymnast. “I feel really honored and lucky to be part of such a team.”

The most impressive part of this program’s progress is the resilience of some gymnasts who have had to overcome the contradiction of moving just to compete.

Last season’s gymnasts, who participated in USAG-sanctioned events, competed at another gym, Aspire, in Chandler, Arizona. But now they have their own homes.

“They could come out of this gym and play a game before Covid,” said Excel manager Jensen Roseboom. has moved,” he said. “It’s been spotty and inconsistent, so I’m glad I no longer have to maintain a consistent schedule here and travel all the way to Phoenix to be able to represent Yuma.”

But what was even more impressive than the adversity we overcame last year was the excellence.

In her first year back in competition, the program had a total of 10 gymnasts competing at three different levels. During the season, each of his 10 athletes on the team could qualify for the Arizona Excel State Championship.

If you perform well at this weekend’s state tournament, you’ll qualify for the USAG Region 1 Championship.

Roseboom said: “We just want to congratulate the girls on all the progress they’ve made this year.”

A win or loss at the state tournament is a bright spot.

When they return next season, it will be the first time in 20 years that athletes will be competing outside their local gym back-to-back. This is a big step forward as we aim to expand opportunities to more families throughout Yuma County in the future.

Competing gymnasts (age):

Sakura Bravo (11)

Megan Fullsome (14)

Maggie Lowther (11)

Samantha Luna (14)

Gracie Macaluso (16)

Hadley Mullins (12)

Lily Perez (12)

Leo Potter (12)

Izzy Wool (11)

Alena Zendejas (14)