Okanagan team at Nationals (submitted photo/Facebook/RG Stars)

By Vernon Matters Staff

ten locals compete

Okanagan gymnasts soar at Canadian Nationals

Jun 12, 2023 | 12:30 PM

The Vernon-based Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics (ORG) team had 10 individual athletes qualify for the Canadian Nationals for the first time in the club’s 26 year history.

The top 10 from Western Canadians make the cut to advance in Novice (ages 10-12), Junior (ages 13-15) and Senior (ages 16+). This year’s event was held at the Pan Am Centre in Toronto.

The Vernon club has 200 members, 11 of whom competed at the top national levels for their age. The nationals team was coached by Commonwealth champion and Olympian Camille Martens together with University Games and National team veteran Kelsey Anderson.

“To realize that of all the clubs in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, we took such a large proportion of the spots is a bit astonishing,” said Martens. “These girls and their families are an exceptionally fun and focused group. Seeing them rise has been such a pleasure.”

In the Novice category, Nora McCoubrey (grade 6 student at Beairsto) experienced her first national championships and rose the the occasion, finishing 14th overall.

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In the Junior category, ORG was represented by Anya Massa (grade 9 student at Vernon Christian School), Pippa Hardy (grade 7 from Coldstream), Clara Cox (grade 8 VSS), Leila Girard (grade 7 Beairsto) and Noelle Brierley (grade 9 at VSS).

Clara Cox placed 6th in clubs and Leila Girard finished 8th overall after winning a silver medal in her ribbon routine. In the qualification round, Noelle Brierley finished 7th overall (4th in clubs, 6th in hoop and ball) and qualified for the high performance finals where she accomplished the massive goal of becoming a member of the junior Canadian National Team.

In the Senior competition, ORG athletes were Mishra Cameron (VSS gr. 10), Madeline Sellars (VSS gr. 11), Camille Hardy (VSS gr. 10) and Halle Moger (VSS grad now attending film school on the coast). Long-time team leader, Halle Moger won gold in ribbon, bronze in hoop and in ball and claiming silver overall. She too advanced to the high performance finals.

“From my perspective, this was the first time since Covid that the athletes really felt more at home in the competition environment again,” Martens remarked. “Seeing their attention to detail in their preparation, the kindness and gratitude they practiced and the way they encouraged and supported each other was inspiring. This team was sensational.”

Martens is thanking their core group of supporters whose combination of dedication and skills made the accomplishments possible: the support of their teachers and parents, the expertise of team physiotherapist Karie Farrer, fitness trainer Sharmon Shaw, ballet master Chis Larsen, dance teacher Sarah Podollan together with coach Kelsey Anderson and the rest their phenomenal coaching/admin team.

“This team was able to fly! Thank you,” Martens said.