Local gymnasts among the best in Ohio contest

The 2008 Level 6 Gynastics team: Front, Emily McLargin and Emily Woodruff. Standing, coach Dustin Costanzo, Ashley O'Neal, Erin Gyurke, coach Nick Distel, Elizabeth Mosher, coach Alesha Martinez, Samantha Sperlik, and Erica Schlets.

Two local gymnastic clubs proved to be among the best in the state at the Ohio USA Gymnastics meet last month.

The East Toledo-based Next Level Gymnastics Level 6 team won the National Division at the state competition at Lima Senior High School April 12-13.

The Exceleration Gymnastics Center, based in South Toledo, had one individual all-around champion and had another who finished runner-up in all-around.

Kate Hall of Haskins finished first in the vault and floor to capture the all-around title in Level 6 for Exceleration. Corinna Nowicki of Holland finished second in Level 5 with a second-place showing in bars and third in vault.

Cortni Kertesz of Toledo took third in Level 4, and Stephanie Johnson of Bowling Green finished third in Level 5 for Exceleration. Kyra Schell of Sylvania was fifth in Level 6.

According to Exceleration coach Andrew DeSmidt, more than 1,000 gymnasts competed at the event.

"We are extremely proud of how well they did," he said.

There were two divisions and seven different levels at the meet.

The East Toledo-based Next Level Gymnastics team competed in the National Division, which was the largest at the state competition. The divisions are based on the number of athletes on each team.

Ashley O'Neal of Rossford won an all-around title with first-place finishes in the beam and floor.

Also taking home individual crowns for Next Level Gymnastics were Emily Woodruff of Elmore (vault), Erica Schiets of Woodville (vault and beam), Samantha Sperlik of Rossford (bars), and Elizabeth Mosher of Genoa (floor).

Erin Gyurke of Oregon finished third out of 14 overall in her level, and Emily McLargin of Genoa finished sixth out of 13 in her age level.

"We ended up competing against some of the biggest clubs in the state," coach Nick Distel said.

After being open for just six months, Next Level Gymnastics has 60 competitors. Distel said most of the other teams had over 1,000 members.

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WRESTLING: A group of young local grapplers finished fourth at a national Amateur Athletic Union tournament last month.

The team based in Delta took fourth place out of 28 teams at the AAU Elementary National Duals in Kingsport, Tenn. The tournament consists of wrestlers in fifth grade and under who compete in 19 weight classes from 40 pounds to 230.

The local team had 13 wrestlers from northwest Ohio with six from Delta, four from Toledo, and one each from Napoleon, Patrick Henry and Van Buren.

There were 14 states represented, according to coach Mike Mattin.

"Our team was somewhat unique in that we picked kids with a local flavor and most teams we wrestled picked up their wrestlers based on their placement at their state tournament," Mattin said.

The team went 6-3 during the weekend, wrestling teams from Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

"This was far and away the toughest tournament that I have ever been a part of," Mattin said. "I believe this is the highest any Ohio team has placed at the event."

Three Delta wrestlers earned All-American status: Zack Mattin (40 pounds), Drew Mattin (55), and Jacob Spiess (60).

The other area wrestlers included Cole Mattin (Delta, 45), Seth Beard (Delta, 60), Noah Mattin (Delta, 65), Kyle McGibbeny (Toledo, 70), Seth Gaghen (Toledo, 85), Jay Nino (Genoa, 95), Chance Sonnenberg (Van Buren), Jon Winterfeld (Delta, 125), Dominic Laware (Van Buren, 125), and Brandon Bennett (Patrick Henry, 148).

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GOLF: The 63rd annual Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce Member Guest Golf Outing will take place Monday, June 2 at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

The tournament is a four-man scramble with a shotgun start. Three separate flights will be golfing based on total team handicap. The event begins at 11:30 a.m.

Toledo Harley-Davidson and Ballas Buick will provide prizes for the hole-in-one competition, and there will be ongoing raffles.

Previous raffle gifts have included trips to Grand Traverse Bay, Boyne, Bucks Run, and Pohl Cat golf courses.

The cost to enter is $135, and that covers greens fees, lunch, dinner, door prizes, and golfing awards.

For more information, call the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce at 419-882-2135 or e-mail: ngarone@sylvaniachamber.org.