Two hundred gymnasts from New Mexico and Colorado participated in the first-ever Four Corners Invitational at Farmington’s McGee Park Convention Center. Twelve teams competed, ages 6 to 17, in the all-day event presented by Farmington Gymnastic Academy. Events included balance beam, floor exercises, vault and the uneven parallel bars in all levels of competition—including components of the Junior Olympic program. By Donna K. Hewett This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
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Farmington Gymnastic Academy – https://farmingtongymnasticsacademy.com
Transcript
Hard work is always hard work, especially in gymnastics. It pays off at the meet, the competition. In pursuit of a prize, 200 gymnasts from New Mexico and Colorado participated in the first-ever Four Corners Invitational at Farmington’s McGee Park. You’re watching the Local News Network brought to you by Ace Hardware of Farmington and the Big Idea maker space at San Juan College. I’m Wendy Graham Settle. About 200 teams competed in bars, beams, floor, and vault at the all-day event hosted by Farmington Gymnastics Academy founder, Frankie Reddy.
We’re just really excited to be able to host this competition for our area. It’s the first Farmington has had in over 25 years and so we’re just really excited to be able to do this for our girls and give the community, you know, an idea of what competitive gymnastics is really about.
Athletes ranging in ages from 6 to 17 participated in all levels of competition, including components of the Junior Olympic program and from the Excel program, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and diamond. Judge of the uneven parallel bars, Heather Patrick, has coached gymnastics for 20 plus years.
I love the sport of gymnastics. It’s beautiful. It builds strength and character in the gymnasts and discipline and grace.
The fledgling gymnasts seem to know intrinsically that you don’t have to get first place to win.
Competing is just really fun. It’s like you finally get to put all of the work you’ve done in the entire year to use and it’s just really fun. You know, everybody’s so excited and the energy’s crazy. It’s great.
A local parent spoke for many.
It’s a really cool opportunity for us to bring the sport to Farmington. Usually for our gym it requires a lot of out of town travel and road time so being able to do one here, letting the girls showcase their skills they’ve been working on, is a really neat and fun experience.
For a schedule of classes and prices, visit their website or give Farmington Gymnastics Academy a call. Thank you for watching this edition of The Local News Network. I’m Wendy Graham Settle.
