|
Clay High School sophomore Jody DeMeo, 14, recently competed in her fourth consecutive YMCA National Gymnastics Championships of her young career.
Her Lady Eagles gymnastics team was also well represented at the meet. In addition to DeMeo, sophomores Emilie Roman and Sydney McGath competed, also. This past winter, these three gymnasts were instrumental in helping Clay capture a district gymnastics championship and qualifying for the state tournament as a team for the first time in school history.
Over 1,700 gymnasts, representing 99 YMCA branches from 18 states across the country traveled to Toledo compete in the 46th annual national tournament as the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo hosted its fourth National Gymnastics Championships on June 22 through June 25 at the SeaGate Convention Centre. Previous tournaments were staged in 1992, 1996, and most recently in 2001.
 |
Clay High School sophomore Jody DeMeo.
(Press photo by Scott Grau) |
Upwards of 8,000 people were expected to have visited the Toledo metropolitan area during the duration of the event. According to Destination Toledo, Inc, the regional convention and visitors’ bureau, the economic boost for the area was estimated to be $6.5 million.
Representing the Greater Toledo YMCA Gymcats gymnastics team, DeMeo finished the meet in 17th place in the Level 8 junior division combined all-around which is a cumulative score for each athlete’s performances on the vault, beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise. She captured 3rd finishes in the vault and floor exercise.
McGath captured 13th place in the Prep Optional Silver junior division all around competition. Her best finish was 3rd in the individual uneven bars event.
Roman, competing at the same level as DeMeo, was not able to crack the top-25 in the all around scoring. Her top event in the championships was the beam which she placed 10th.
After traveling to Sheboygan, Wisconsin (2008), Phoenixville, Pennsylvania (2009), and San Diego, California last year to compete in the Y national championships, DeMeo acknowledged that it was somewhat different staying at home this year.
“It was different being the host team because I had to work, which I have never done before but it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it,” she said.
Casey Koenig, the director of the gymnastics program for the local YMCA branches, and her team had only a year to organize the tournament. Normally a host city receives approximately 18 months to two years to prepare for the event but due to a change in the bidding process, the Toledo association had to make it happen in 12 months
Partnering with the Toledo Mud Hens, the Greater Toledo YMCA kicked off the four-day event with opening ceremonies of the tournament at Fifth Third Field on June 22. All of the teams marched on the field in an Olympic-style parade of athletes prior to the start of the Mud Hens’ game against the Columbus Clippers. Peter Vidmar, the highest scoring American gymnast in Olympic history and the current Chairman of the Board of USA Gymnastics, was the keynote speaker. An attempt at setting a new Guinness Book of World Records for the longest group handstand fell short but the sight of over 1,500 boys and girls standing upside-down on their hands in the outfield was impressive. The ceremonies concluded with a street fair and fireworks after the baseball game.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Todd Tibbits, president and CEO of the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo, stated, “This has been a fabulous opportunity for our association and region to host a national event. I think that what you have seen is a commentary on the quality of the gymnastics that the YMCA operates. Not only do we run a quality program but we do it within the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith.”
The Y’s gymnastic programs are available to all children ranging from toddlers through high school and are conducted at the YMCA Sports Zone, which is an auxiliary facility of the Fort Meigs branch in Perrysburg. Additional information on the YMCA’s gymnastics program can be found at www.ymcatoledo.org.
SG-JodyDeMeo1-3
 |
Sports 
Subscribe to this comment's feed