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Duncan Dynamics ‘go big’ with return of the Orca

Club’s gymnasts excel among province-wide field

The Duncan Dynamics wanted to “go big” with the return of the Orca Invitational meet for the first time since 2019.

The gymnastics club moved the meet to the gym at Frances Kelsey Secondary School, where there was more room and better sightlines for parents and guests than at the club’s training facility in the Cowichan Community Centre.

The event attracted competitors from all over Vancouver Island and B.C. — from as far away as Fort St. John — with rave reviews from many of the participants.

Led by their oldest and most experienced gymnasts, the host Dynamics had an outstanding weekend.

“It went really well for the higher-level kids,” Dynamics head coach Karl McPherson said. “Most of them hit their skills, especially the skills they didn’t hit at the provincial championships.”

Among the highlights, Maika Jay had an excellent showing in her first meet at Level 8, and Sarah Ladot, an international student from Belgium, had a good routine, finishing fourth all-around in Level 6 (03-07). The lone Level 10 gymnast, Brooklyn Stobbe, who hadn’t competed in four years, stuck her beam routine.

“Having success in all of her events was really good for her,” McPherson said.

Dionna De Leeuw finished first all-around out of 10 gymnasts in the Xcel Gold category.

In addition to the competitive athletes, the Dynamics also had many Interclub gymnasts entered, many competing in their first meet ever.

McPherson thanked the whole community for its support, especially businesses that donated goods and services to the meet, and the parents and volunteers who made it happen.

“Without their support, it’s challenging for the club to do it,” he said.

Competitive results:

CCP 10

Brooklyn Stobbe: first on vault, first on bars, first on beam, first on floor, first all-around

CCP 8

Maika Jay: second on vault, second on bars, first on beam, second on floor, first all-around

Priya Dhami: first on vault, first on bars, second on beam, first on floor, second all-around

CCP 6 (03-07)

Sarah Ladot: fifth on vault, third on bars, first on beam, fifth on floor, fourth all-around

CCP 6 (2008)

Mattea Munro: third on vault, seventh on bars, sixth on beam, fifth on floor, fifth all-around

Daija Ritskes: fifth on vault, sixth on bars, eighth on beam, fourth on floor, eighth all-around

Aspire 1

Yasmin Foo: first on vault, first on bars, first on beam, first on floor, first all-around

Xcel Gold

Dionna De Leeuw: fourth on vault, fourth on bars, first on beam, first on floor, first all-around

Mila MacDonald-Kee: sixth on vault, second on bars, third on beam, fourth on floor, third all-around

Shaynna Karczmarek: fifth on floor, sixth on bars, fifth on beam, sixth on floor, seventh all-around

Grace Coster: ninth on vault, seventh on bars, second on beam, eighth on floor, 10th all-around

Xcel Gold (2008)

Pria Ferrier: fifth on vault, fourth on bars, sixth on beam, ninth on floor, seventh all-around

Xcel Silver (2008-2009)

Naomi Gary: fourth on vault, third on bars, first on beam, first on floor, second all-around

Xcel Silver (2010-2011)

Kali Ferrier: seventh on vault, eighth on bars, fifth on beam, sixth on floor, eighth all-around

Xcel Silver (2012-13)

Jodie Blumberg: fourth on vault, third on bars, second on beam, second on floor, second all-around

Leonie Grieve: third on vault, fifth on bars, fifth on beam, third on floor, third all-around

Kennedy Phillips: sixth on vault, fourth on bars, fourth on beam, fourth on floor, fourth all-around

Penelope Hawkes: eighth on vault, sixth on bars, seventh on beam, fifth on floor, sixth all-around

Lexi Humber: seventh on vault, eighth on bars, eighth on beam, eighth on floor, seventh all-around

Xcel Bronze

Delilah Sommers: first on vault, second on bars, second on beam, second on floor, second all-around