Becca’s Place gymnasts win record-setting number of state titles

(April 3, 2023) — Becca’s Place Gymnastics’ competitive team brought home gold at the Kentucky State Gymnastics Championships that took place over two weekends this month (March 18-19 and March 24-26). Altogether, 45 Becca’s Place gymnasts of various skill levels and age groups won state championships, including 20 all-around champion titles, 13 vault champion titles, 21 uneven bars champion titles, 19 balance beam champion titles, and 12 floor event champion titles. Eleven of the event champions were also high point winners which means they not only scored the highest in their age group and skill level but also the highest of any gymnast in the entire state at their respective skill level, regardless of age.

Additionally, all of Becca’s teams at seven competitive levels placed within the top four in the state, with four teams placing first. The Xcel Silver team scored a state record 117.35 out of a possible 120. Seventy-two gymnasts in the program also qualified for regionals where they will represent Kentucky and compete against gymnasts from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.

Head coaches, co-owners, and sisters, Jennifer Ryan and Jessika Bohannon-Ferriss said it has been the most successful year of the program’s now 20-year history. The two have owned the business since 2013, taking it over from their parents, Bo and Robin Bohannon, who founded the gym in 2003.

“It is hard to put into words how proud we are of these athletes,” said Ryan. “They work so hard all year to acquire new skills and perfect their routines, so to see them realize such success is pure joy.”

Bohannon-Ferriss also expressed her excitement about the team’s success. “It is wonderful to see their hard work pay off and to also know that these athletes can apply the lessons gymnastics teaches them like perseverance and dedication to just about everything they do in life,” she said.

A full list of the winning gymnasts, winning teams, and regional qualifiers are below:
* High-point winners

Becca’s Place State All-Around Champions
• Kaitlyn Smoak, Level 2
• Skylar Stottman, Xcel Silver
• Morgan Avery, Xcel Bronze
• Aspen Wiswell, Xcel Silver
• Alexis Hill, Xcel Bronze
• Emma Eisenman, Xcel Gold *
• Sydney Platt, Xcel Bronze
• Morgan Paden, Xcel Gold
• Aria Hernandez, Xcel Silver
• Karsen Rainer, Xcel Gold
• Ella Kennedy, Xcel Silver
• Grace Russell, Xcel Gold
• Kiara Kirch, Xcel Silver
• Campbell Thorne, Xcel Gold
• Evelyn Lathrop, Xcel Silver
• Brynna Fouts, Xcel Platinum
• Sophie Lawson, Xcel Silver
• Caroline Yates, Xcel Diamond *
• Tegan Schablik, Xcel Silver
• Peyton Miller, Level 6

Becca’s Place State Event Champions

Vault:
• Lily Cote, Level 2 *
• Olivia Cox, Xcel Silver
• Haley Gibson, Xcel Platinum
• Jaelyn Green, Xcel Silver
• Rachael Hammons, Xcel Silver
• Makayla Hoffman, Xcel Platinum
• Allie Kurtz, Level 6
• Parker Lally, Xcel Silver
• Lilly Robertson, Xcel Silver
• Skylar Stottman, Xcel Silver
• Belle Wagoner, Xcel Silver
• Aspen Wiswell, Xcel Silver
• Caroline Yates, Xcel Diamond *

Bars:
• Kinsley Anderson, Xcel Silver *
• Morgan Avery, Xcel Bronze
• Savannah Blackburn, Xcel Gold
• Mia Carl, Xcel Bronze*
• Rachael Hammons, Xcel Silver
• Ella Kennedy, Xcel Silver
• Parker Lally, Xcel Silver
• Ella Lathrop, Xcel Silver
• Evelyn Lathrop, Xcel Silver
• Fynley Meredith, Xcel Bronze
• Ava Merryman, Xcel Bronze
• Kassidy Packman – Level 7
• Sydney Platt, Xcel Bronze
• Amary Resto-Santos, Xcel Gold
• Grace Russell, Xcel Gold
• Tegan Schablik, Xcel Silver
• Skylar Stottman, Xcel Silver
• Journey Thorne, Xcel Silver *
• Naomi Washington, Xcel Silver
• Aspen Wiswell, Xcel Silver
• Caroline Yates, Xcel Diamond

Beam:
• Vivi Avey, Level 8*
• Morgan Avery, Xcel Bronze
• Lily Cote, Level 2 *
• Haiden Cammack, Level 7
• Emma Eisenman, Xcel Gold
• Eliza Bland-Elliott, Excel Silver
• Brynna Fouts, Xcel Platinum
• Makayla Hoffman, Xcel Platinum *
• Ella Kennedy, Excel Silver
• Evelyn Lathrop, Xcel Silver
• Peyton Miller, Level 6
• Kassidy Packman, Level 7
• Sydney Platt, Xcel Bronze *
• Karsen Rainer, Xcel Gold
• Lilly Robertson, Xcel Silver
• Emery Smith, Xcel Bronze
• Kaitlyn Smoak, Level 2
• Campbell Thorne, Xcel Gold
• Caroline Yates, Xcel Diamond

Floor:
• Kinsley Anderson, Xcel Silver
• Savannah Blackburn, Xcel Gold *
• Ella Kennedy, Xcel Silver
• Kiara Kirch, Xcel Silver
• Maci Livers, Xcel Bronze
• Sydney Platt, Xcel Bronze *
• Karsen Rainer, Xcel Gold *
• Tegan Schablik, Xcel Silver
• Emery Smith, Xcel Bronze
• Skylar Stottman, Xcel Silver
• Campbell Thorne, Xcel Gold
• Caroline Yates, Xcel Diamond *

State Championship Teams

Xcel Bronze
• Zoe Arnette, Morgan Avery, Alyssa Brangers, Mia Carl, Kate Graham, Lucy Hall, Audrey Hammons, Alexis Hill, Bella Honaker, Maci Livers, Fynley Meredith, Ava Merryman, Sydney Platt, Emery Smith, Madison Watts, Amber Williams

Xcel Silver
• Lucia Alverez, Kinsley Anderson, Alyie Barnes, Audrey Barrett, Courtney Bednar, Claire Benham, Emmeline Berg, Collette Bettencourt, Eliza Bland -Elliott, Kinslee Bottoms, Katelyn Chism, Isabella Cilyok, Delainey Coffman, Olivia Cox, Brooklyn Disselkamp, Kendra Dumler, Taylor Duvall, Quinn Eslinger, Mia Focthman, Lauren Forbis, Haley Fullington, Jaelyn Green, Rachael Hammons, Aria Hernandez, Eliza Hodgens, Melody Jones, Katie Jorgensen, Ella Kennedy, Kiara Kirch, Parker Lally, Ella Lathrop, Evelyn Lathrop, Sophie Lawson, Kierstin Lindsey, Jayden Nugent, Olivia Ortiz, Aubrie Pearson, Harper Pochinski, Myah Rice, Lilly Robertson, Grace Rodgers, Tegan Schablik, Maya Schreiber, Skylar Stottman, Sadie Thomas, Journey Thorne, Belle Wagoner, Naomi Washington, Zion Watson, Aspen Wiswell

Xcel Gold
• Savannah Blackburn, Lydia Carl, Emma Eisenman, Ella Grace Givan, Jovie Johnson, Peyton Karzcewski, Morgan Paden, Karsen Rainer, Amary Resto-Santos, Sophie Richardson, Grace Russell, Colleen Smalls, Campbell Thorne, Joanna Trottier

Xcel Diamond
• Emma Ballard, Emma Tarr, Caroline Yates

Regional Qualifiers

The following athletes qualified for the Region 5 Level 9/10 Regional Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana, competing against gymnasts from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan:

• Maria Sandor, Level 9

The following athletes qualified for the Region 5 Level 6/7/8 Regional Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan, competing against gymnasts from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan:

• Emmy Lou Crepps, Level 6
• Allie Kurtz, Level 6
• Peyton Miller, Level 6
• Haiden Cammack, Level 7
• Maya Jones, Level 7
• Myah Jorgensen, Level 7
• Kassidy Packman, Level 7
• Vivi Avey, Level 8

The following athletes qualified for the Region 5 Xcel Regionals in Tallmadge, Ohio, competing against gymnasts from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan:

Xcel Silver:
• Lucia Alverez, Kinsley Anderson, Audrey Barrett, Courtney Bednar, Claire Benham, Emmeline Berg, Collette Bettencourt, Eliza Bland -Elliott, Kinslee Bottoms, Katelyn Chism, Isabella Cilyok, Delainey Coffman, Olivia Cox, Kendra Dumler, Taylor Duvall, Quinn Eslinger, Mia Focthman, Haley Fullington, Jaelyn Green, Rachael Hammons, Aria Hernandez, Melody Jones, Katie Jorgensen, Ella Kennedy, Kiara Kirch, Parker Lally, Ella Lathrop, Evelyn Lathrop, Sophie Lawson, Kierstin Lindsey, Jayden Nugent, Aubrie Pearson, Myah Rice, Lilly Robertson, Tegan Schablik, Maya Schreiber, Skylar Stottman, Journey Thorne, Belle Wagoner, Naomi Washington, Aspen Wiswell

Xcel Gold:
• Savannah Blackburn, Lydia Carl, Emma Eisenman, Ella Grace Givan, Jovie Johnson, Morgan Paden, Karsen Rainer, Amary Resto-Santos, Sophie Richardson, Grace Russell, Colleen Smalls, Campbell Thorne, Joanna Trottier

Xcel Platinum:
• Brynna Fouts, Emmie Galvin, Haley Gibson, Makayla Hoffman, Cameron Metcalf, Brooklynne Perry

Xcel Diamond:
• Emma Ballard, Emma Tarr, Caroline Yates