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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports 39 | Thursday, June 5, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Gymnasts `push each other' to provincial, eastern Canadian medals If they need someone to motivate them, Dana Somerville and Megan Au don't need to look very far. The 13-year-old gymnasts both live in Oakville, attend the same school and train together 25-plus hours a week at Mississauga's Futures Gymnastics -- all to compete against each other at the provincial and even national levels. "I guess you could say we have a friendly rivalry with each other, but we are still very good friends," said Somerville. "We always cheer for each other at meets." Even when that might mean finishing a little lower on the podium. Somerville recently won the Level 8 artistic gymnastics overall title at provincials in Windsor, finishing directly ahead of Au. Au returned the favour at the eastern Canadian championships in Oshawa, where she placed third overall and Somerville came fourth to help Ontario to the team title. Au said the competition between each other makes the Hollycrest Middle School students better. "We push each other by always trying to out-do each other," she said. Somerville won balance beam titles at both provincials and eastern Canadians, adding gold in uneven bars at easterns and a silver in the discipline at all-Ontarios. "My goal in gymnastics is to get a scholarship into the NCAA," said Somerville, who supplements her training by participating in rep basketball, dance and music. Au -- whose potential was spotted seven years ago by a gymnastics coach who saw her manoeveuring around the monkey bars at a playground -- won the floor exercise at provincials. "My goal is to better myself and to push myself as far as I can go," Au said. The gymnasts will travel to China this month, along with several of their Futures teammates, to train at the Shanghai and Beijing National Centre. -- Jon Kuiperij Buzz loses, Titans split Despite getting a five-point effort from Eddie Renaud, the Oakville Buzz fell 8-6 to the Clarington Green Gaels Friday in a showdown between Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B division leaders at Oakville's Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. Renaud had three goals and two assists to pace Oakville, which dropped to 8-4 on the season. Colton Watkinson, Ben Heidecker and Pat Shea also scored, and Keyan McQueen had three assists. Josh Falkenstern took the loss in net. The Buzz is slated to play three games in as many days this weekend. Oakville will be home to the Markham Ironheads for an 8 p.m. start tomorrow (Friday) at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, then travel east for games in Gloucester Saturday and Nepean Sunday. · · · The Oakville Titans' two-game winning streak in Ontario Lacrosse Association senior B play was snapped Sunday with a 10-6 loss to the Six Nations Rivermen in Ohsweken. Oakville carried a 5-4 lead into the third period but the Rivermen (5-2) opened the frame with five consecutive goals to take a 9-5 advantage. The teams traded goals in the final two minutes. Ken Coulson had two goals for the Titans (2-4). Garrett Kerr had a goal and two assists, Connor Latimer drew three helpers, and Sean Gillies and Mack Abbott added single tallies. Craig Wende took the loss in net. The Titans were coming off a 16-14 overtime win over the Brooklin Merchants two nights earlier at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. Friday, Latimer exploded for an eight-point evening (three goals, five assists), with Cam Monroe (two goals, five assists), Luke Laszkiewicz (three goals, three assists) and Mack Abbott (three goals, two assists) also enjoying particularly productive outings. Sean Gillies (who added three helpers), Brad Gillies, Jeff Sehl, Cody Simpson and Gage Board notched Oakville's other goals in support of winning netminder Mike Cregan. Jon Mason had 10 points (four goals, six assists) for the Merchants. Oakville will host the St. Catharines Saints this Sunday (June 8), a 7 p.m. start at Glen Abbey. Dana Somerville (left) and Megan Au recently won medals at provincial and eastern Canadian gymnastics meets. | photo by Riziero Vertolli -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Rock drops MSL season opener The Peterborough Lakers spoiled the Oakville Rock's Major Series Lacrosse season opener Monday at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, downing their hosts 9-7. Oakville rallied from an early 5-1 deficit to trim Peterborough's lead to 8-7 with 4:20 remaining in regulation, but the Lakers added an insurance marker two minutes later and held off the Rock the rest of the way. Stephan Leblanc, one of several Oakville Rock members who also play for the National Lacrosse League's Toronto Rock, had a hat trick in a losing cause. Rob Hellyer had four assists. Mike Mawdsley, Shayne Adams, Jordan MacIntosh and Damon Edwards notched Oakville's other goals, and Nick Rose took the loss in net. The Rock will play a home game at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre every Monday until July 28, including next week (June 9) when it hosts the Six Nations Arrows. All Rock home games begin at 8 p.m. fund them locally . got Local community CROWDFUNDING Get your project funded now! .com