GYMNASTS LEAP TO MEDAL SUCCESS

Written by: Emmett Hall  

Originally posted on www.sun-sentinel.com by Emmett Hall

Twins Gymnastics was well represented by its girls' team during the recent 2013 AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Junior Olympics in Detroit.

Showcasing their talents with one highly charged performance after another, the 15 athletes from the Coral Springs facility returned home with an incredible 60 gold medals.

The local girls were competing in various age divisions and skill levels. Gymnasts were judged in five categories: uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, vault and overall performance.

Six members of Twins Gymnastics struck gold in all five disciplines. Those who swept through their challenges were Coral Springs' Andrea Trejo (age 11, Level 5), Margate's Elizabeth Street (age 10, Level 4), Sunrise's Andrea Posso (age 9, Level 3), Tamarac's Vanessa Brito (age 11, Level 3), Tamarac's Caitlin Cassels (age 9, level 2) and Sunrise's Alexys Holness (age 8, Level 2).

Posso has been competing in gymnastics for less than two years and has made amazing strides in a short time. Earlier this year, she scored a perfect 10 in the vault competition.

In Detroit, she recorded the highest score of all Level 3 girls and is already looking forward to the next challenge.

"It was pretty cool to see what I achieved, and I was excited to hear my name called for first place all-around," Posso said. "This was a big tournament, and the competition was really good."

Trejo achieved similar results and was very happy with her 9.6 mark on the floor exercise.

"That's very close to a 10, and I just love doing flips on the floor," Trejo said. "I've been in gymnastics since I was 2, and if you want to get to a high level, you better be disciplined and respect the sport. It was amazing to win and also see my teammates perform so well."

Twin sisters Carmen and Maria Suarez enjoyed success at last year's AAU Junior Olympics in Texas and backed that up with a solid effort this year in Detroit.

"To do this well two years in a row is amazing," Carmen Suarez said. "We're very proud of the girls."