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Sports Oakville Beaver By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell 905-844-4444 I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D Broker of Record B R O K E R A G E SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009 33 Elite gymnasts come to town Home, sweet home. That's what Oakville Gymnastics Club (OGC) athletes are hoping for, at least, as their club hosts the Elite Canada Women's Artistic Gymnastics championships this weekend. OGC will be represented by 12 athletes (forming approximately one-tenth of the field), including a defending Elite Canada champion and several other legitimate national-medal hopefuls. And they're all looking forward to contesting the national meet in their own 25,000square-foot facility at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. "It's extremely exciting," said 14-year-old junior Mikaela Gerber, preparing for her third Elite Canada competition. "It's probably going to make things easier. You're more familiar with the atmosphere and you get to compete in your own gym and show everybody what you can do. We'll be the most supported out there, and that will make it that much more fun." Sabrina Gill, last year's Elite Canada novice champion, expects she'll thrive from the extra attention she'll get competing in her own gym. Gill also believes she and her teammates could enjoy a competitive advantage. "I think it's better because more people get to watch and that boosts me up a lot," the 13-year-old Pope John Paul II student said. "Our floor (surface) is a little harder than others. When other (gymnasts) come, they'll think it's harder and we'll be used to it." Gill and teammate Jordyn Pedersen enter this year's competition at top form. Both won provincial titles a month ago at the Tour Selection in Mississauga. Pedersen is in her third year of novice and hopes to continue the improvement she's shown the past two seasons. The Grade 7 student at Heritage Glen was 18th at Elite Canada two years ago, then vaulted to fourth at last year's championships. "I will just try my best and just work hard," said the 12-year-old, whose strongest event is the floor routine. Gill faces the challenge of being a firstyear junior and competing against older athletes, but she's optimistic she can contend for another overall gold. "If I get my harder skills in, I can do well," she said. Gerber is also a contender for a junior medal, having finished fourth in novice in 2007 and sixth as a junior last year. Sue Manjak, who oversees the OGC's women's artistic program along with husband Kelly, identified Silvia Colussi-Pelaez and Bianca Jordaan as two other juniors who should be in the hunt for medals this weekend. Both athletes left their former clubs a couple years ago to join Oakville in an attempt to climb the competitive ladder a little quicker. Manjak said hosting the Elite Canada meet is a testament to the development of the OGC's women's artistic program, as is the heavy representation of Oakville athletes. Kelly Manjak -- the former coach of Canadian Olympic champion Kyle Shewfelt -- had little experience coaching girls when he and Sue took over the program in 2005, but their impact in Oakville is undeniable. "We always like to say it's not just the coaching. That it's the families, the parents and their support," said Sue Manjak. "But really, the bones of it is Kelly. His unique philosophy with the kids, he puts the athletes first. "We have a really great program and that's really something (developed) by Kelly and his expertise." Former Olympian Lorne Bobkin has also helped with the women's artistic program. So have Alex Bard, a retired Mississauga coach who volunteers his time at the OGC, and Ashley Sportun, a former protege of Sue Manjak's. "They took young athletes and made them into contenders," said OGC chief operating officer Wayne Hussey. · See page 36 for brief bios of the 12 Oakville gymnasts who will compete at Elite Canada. MEDAL HOPEFULS: Oakville Gymnastics Club's Sabrina Gill (left) won the novice title at last year's Elite Canada meet, while teammate Jordyn Pedersen (far left) was fourth. Both are expected to be in contention for titles at this weekend's competition. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER Gymnastics Canada asked local club to host event Wayne Hussey and the Oakville Gymnastics Club (OGC) didn't have much time to prepare for hosting this weekend's Elite Canada Women's Artistic Gymnastics meet. In fact, the shortage of preparation time is a reason the local club -- or any other clubs in Ontario, for that matter -- didn't even put in a bid to host the annual competition that helps identify the country's future Olympic-hopeful gymnasts. Gymnastics Canada asked the OGC in September whether it would host the meet after no clubs in the province expressed interest in running the event. "We did talk about it and considered it (making a bid)," said Hussey, the OGC's chief operating officer, noting bidding to host the meet was opened in August. "But whenever we do anything, we like to do it right. To do it right, you need time, and we didn't feel the time allotment was there." Still, the OGC -- whose members will make up 10 per cent of the 120-athlete field -- was happy to help out Gymnastics Canada. "It's recognition of our hard work and commitment to the sport," Hussey said. "It showcases our facility and showcases our staff that have worked hard to place these 12 girls into the meet." Hussey said Gymnastics Canada helped out a bit more than usual with organization and funding for the Elite Canada meet, and he's not concerned about this weekend running smoothly. "We've hosted enough. With the considerations we built into the agreement with Gymnastics Canada, everything will be fine," he said. "We have experienced meet directors who are volunteers, and one of the better staffs in Canada." The meet begins today (Wednesday) with coaches' meetings. Competition starts Friday and concludes Sunday at the Oakville Gymnastics Club's 25,000square-foot facility, located at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. -- Jon Kuiperij COMPETITION SCHEDULE 10:20-10:50 11:00-16:00 16:30-17:00 17:00-18:20 18:30-20:30 20:30 09:00-10:30 10:30-11:00 11:00-12:20 12:30-14:30 14:30 15:50-16:20 16:30-20:00 20:00 20:30-22:00 11:30-12:50 13:00-15:30 15:30 FRIDAY, DEC. 11 Novice General Warmup Novice All-Around Day 1 Senior General Warmup Senior Warmup Senior All-Around Senior AA Awards SATURDAY, DEC. 12 Open Training Senior Junior General Warmup Junior Warmup Junior All-Around Junior AA Awards Novice General Warmup Novice All-Around Day 2 Novice Awards Open Training Senior SUNDAY, DEC. 13 Jr. and Sr. AF Warmup Jr. and Sr. Apparatus Finals Jr. and Sr. Awards