2012 Queen City Winterfest

January 28^th- 29^th, 2012

This weekend was a pretty busy one for our boys program. While our Developmental Team competed at their first meet down in Kentucky with Brandi Gettelfinger, our Level 4-7 boys headed up to Cincinnati for their second. For the Level 4 & 5 boys, this was their first time competing since December and was very likely the largest meet they'll attend all year! Though our Level 6-7 boys competed just two weeks ago out in Chicago, they made a lot of progress with their gymnastics since then and that really showed this weekend.

Both team and individual scores went up drastically all around. For every level and age-group that we had boys competing, SIGS was represented on the awards podium in some way. Our Level 6's received 3^rd place as a team, their first team trophy of the year and first as their current level and group!

Other highlights include Level 6 Weston Applegate's 1^st place finish on the Floor Exercise & Still Rings, while his brother Sam, who competes Level 5, received his first 1^st place medal because of his spectacular performance on the Parallel Bars. Level 6 Thomas Britton got 2^nd on High Bar, while Level 6 Brady Dunn got 2^nd on Pommel Horse. Level 5's Drew Parr & Justin McWilliams both got 2^nd on Vault. And for the All-Around, we were represented well by Weston Applegate's 3^rd place finish, along with Brady Dunn and Sam Applegate both finishing 4^th in their respective age-groups.

Be sure to tell our boys congratulations and good luck for their next meet. February 11^th-12^th, they're all headed up to Indianapolis to compete at the Circle of Stars Invitational. Go SIGS!

2012 Windy City Invite

January 13^th- 15^th, 2012

This weekend, our Level 6-8 boys competed up in Chicago at one of the largest meets in the country. For most, this was not only their first time competing at a new level, but also their first time competing at such a large venue. So though there were a few first-meet jitters, there were plenty more moral victories. Six of our nine guys competed giants on the High Bar for the very first time. And though they've been doing them in the gym for a while now, it's always different to get out and do them on the competition floor. Level 7 Carson Kaake not only competed both front and back giants for the first time, but also a giant to pirouette, giant to ½ turn, as well as a giant to flyway! On the podium, SIGS was represented by Level 7 Dakota Stover who finished 4^th on Floor and Level 6 Weston Applegate, who also placed 4^th on Floor, as well as 7^th on Pommel Horse, 3^rd on Rings, and 6^th Overall!

Another great thing about the meet is that it is held in conjunction with the largest and longest-running collegiate, regular-season event in the nation. In addition to the home squad (The University of Illinois-Chicago), the meet consists of five Big Ten teams: The Ohio State University, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, and the University of Illinois-Champaign. So not only did our guys get to compete on an NCAA stage, but they also got the opportunity to watch some really exciting collegiate level gymnastics. SIGS coach, Tim Saxton, got to watch his alma mater The Ohio State University win the meet, their first Windy City title since 2006. Looks like the Buckeyes are off to a great start with their new head coach Rustam Sharipov, whom some of our boys actually got a chance to work with back in September during Ohio's State Clinic. Congratulations to both The Ohio State University and our SIGS boys for a job well done in the Windy City!

2011 GTCO Cartwheels & Pinwheels

December 10^th, 2011

Our Level 4's and 5's had their first meet up in Dayton, OH this weekend. It proved to be a great experience for everybody, some of whom were competing for the very first time and the rest of whom were competing a level up from last year. Needless to say, they were all a little nervous, but they all made it out with some nice bling around their necks and huge smiles on their faces! Congrats to our Level 4 and 5 boys. Keep up the great work!