WHITBY FREE PRESS. WEDNESDAY. MAY 21. 1986 PAGE 21 SPORTS WEEK, Young gymnast dreams of Olympies, By MIKE JOHNSTON F eeures Staff Aaron Lo doeen't look like your average gyennast but put bien on a pomnle1 horse or a set of rings and he feels right at home. Aaron isa grade two studeit at E.A. Fair- inan and he recently placed f ifth at a provin- cial gyninastlc meet held at the University cf Ottawa durlng the weekend of May 10 and il. Competition was tough at the meet and bis competitors in the six events usually had two years more ex- perence than the 'Whlt- by gymnast, said his mother Sandy. Competing In the' cadet category at the Ottawa meet, which le comnprleed of gymnaste ten years oId and younger, Aaron finished with scores of 8.8 on the floor exercise, 8.55 on the pommel horse, 8.4 on the rings, 8.85 on the vault, 8.6 on the parallel bars and 9.1 on the hlgh bar for a total of 52.3. /Coneldering th isl Aaron's flrst year of competitive gymnastice those scores can only lncrease. The gygmst, who said >bIs faourite of the. six èercises la the parialel bars because he constantly gets good marks, trains wlth the Scarborough Wlneton Gymnadtlcs Club In Scarborough. "He trains there because there are no gynie facilities at Aaron's level in Whit- by, " said hls mother. Aaron travels into Scarborough four times a week for training whlch usually totals an average of 12 hours a week and competes in the Metro East League which- comprises Durham and also houses the Oshawa Girls Gemini Gymnaste. To compete in Ot- tawa, Aaron had ta en- ter two quafifying tour- naments* one held at Stephen Leacock sehool in Scarborough in December and the other held at the University of Toronto in March. He promptly finshed second in bath coni- petitions. The- two day trip wasn't too much of a fînancial burden for Aaron's family as'It was partiaily fundecl by the Ontario Gyzunastie Federation, which ac- cording ta Sandy La le currently promoting gyznnastice in Ontario in preparation for the 1990 Olympice. Aaron's mother said she was> extrernely proud of Aaron's per- formance at the Ottawa meet this year because of the competition he faced. Except for Aaron, the top six finlehers were ail.ten years ld. The next step up for Aaron is national cern- petition but because of hie age that wifl not be for one more year. Hie mother explained that in Canada national Aaron Lo displays the medals he won'at a quallfying tournaments. His favourite event 15 the Provincial gymnastie competition held recently at parallel bars and he one day hopes to compete in the University of Ottawa and two quall.fying tour- the Olympics. naments. The eight year old gymnast placed fifth Free Press Staff Photo at the Provincial tournament and second in both gymnastic meets are only held for .gymnasts aged ten and over. But Sandy expecte Aaron to be participating ln the ten and older category, known as Argo, by the end of next year. Aaron Whle Aaron wasn't very talkative during the interview he did say turne nine at the end o'.be would one day like ta May., compete in the Olyna- pics and the pride for tie medale ho bas won was cloarly evident. With Aaron nw-n tering hie third yeal! of competitive gymnastie and hie abilities clearly improving the more ho competes Whitby may one day be as proud of Aaron La as they are of Aine Ottenbrite. Wi 71n n ers The Whtby Badminton Club ended its Donald and finallst Kathleen Loisteren, coach season recently by presenting trophies ta its Gord Alan and male over 12 finalist Matt mnembers. Seen here with their trophies are Feather and winner Rob Harris. from left ta right over 12 winner Julie Mac- Free Press Staff Photo TE Texaco Kelsey's Caseys McCauley's Pat & Mario's Waterbed Brothers Hughes Hawks Ian Barron Motori WHITBY MEN'S SLO-PITCH STANDINGS AM G.P. W L 2 2 0 2 3 O 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 2 0 2 0 10 0 Scores - Week of May 4 Pst & Mario's ....13 Texaco ........... 19 Sc McCauley's ......... 6 Casey's ........... 19 Kelsey's .......... 15 Texaca ........... 45 Waterbed ......... 15 Kelsey's .......... 14 Caseys............ il Hughes Hawks...10 Scores - Week cf.May i1 Brothers ........... 3 Hughes Hawks.... 9 Waterbed ......... il Pat & Mario's ...13 McCauley's ....10 Brothers .......... 13 w POINTS 4 4 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 Publc Notice Public swimming at May 25, 2 to 5 p.m., due available on this date the Anne Ottenbrite ta a Whitby Iroquois tram 5ta 6:30 p.m. For more infor- Pool will flot be Swim Club Meet. mation, please caîl 668- available on Sunday, Family swim will be 7765.