Six local Gymnasts bring home the Gold, Silver and Bronze from AAU National Competition

Front row: Coach Tyler Yost, Coach Izzy Broberg. Second row: Lexi Kronberger, Mekhi Cortes. Back row: Nic Strange, Gwen DeMaso, Jordanna Cortes, and Chloe DeMaso

Six gymnasts from the I&M Gymnastics Team in Channahon, traveled to the AAU Age Group Gymnastics Nationals earlier this summer competing for Team Central. Nationals were held June 10th to 14th at the Westgate Hotel and Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Coaches Tyler Yost and Izzy Broberg lead the team into competition. The competition opened with the Level 4 Women.

The competition opened with the Level 4 Women. Jordanna Cortes was the first from I&M to compete. She placed 6th on the beam and on the floor and ranked 9th in the All-Around competition.

The next day the Level 6 Women met on the competition floor. Gwen DeMaso represented Team Central with a solid vault. She brought home the Silver medal! Gwen also placed on the balance beam and the floor exercise bringing home fifth place medals in each. Gwen’s success in her events placed her in the All-Around competition ranking 5th in the Nation.

Chloe DeMaso (Level 7) gave a strong performance on the bars. Her impressive routine earned her the Silver medal! Chloe also placed with her floor exercise (5th place) and her vault (6th place). Chloe’s scores placed her in the All-Around competition ranking 6th.

Another Level 7, Lexi Kronberger, had a great competition. With her impressive floor routine, Lexi earned first place and brought home the Gold! She also brought home a Silver medal on the beam and a Bronze medal on the vault. Lexi ranked 3rd in the All-Around competition and brought home a Bronze medal!

On the last day of the competition, the boys took the floor. Nic Strange and Mekhi Cortes represented I & M and Team Central. Nic (Level 5) brought home 5 medals. He brought home two Silver medals; one on the rings and another on the vault. Nic also brought home the Bronze medal for his performance on the floor, and the 4th place medal on the pommel horse. His final medal was for the All-Around competition. Nic ranked 4th. Mekhi Cortes (Level 6) made quite an impression on the judges. He brought home 7 Gold Medals! Mekhi placed first on each of the six events and was ranked 1st in the nation!

The members of the I & M Gymnastics team have received much support from both individuals and businesses throughout the community. The team is grateful for the continued support and were happy that they were able to bring home 27 medals back to Channahon and Minooka.

Posted on behalf of the I&M Booster Club, photo  Sandra DeMaso