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Fast track takes gymnasts to Westerns

Outstanding season culiminates with Ella Rogers Sophie Anderson facing older competition at Western Canada Games

Two promising gymnasts are ready for the big stage in Alberta.

An already hugely successful season concludes for Ella Rogers and Sophie Anderson at the Western Canada Games which start Saturday in Wood Buffalo.

They are the first in recent memory from Delta Gymnastics' girls program to earn their way onto Team B.C. for the Western Games and they have beaten long odds to do it.

The girls were both 11 when they secured two of six spots during Team Trials back in May - finishing ahead of competitors who were typically four or five years older.

"To be honest, we didn't expect them to qualify for this," said Jennifer Dober, Delta's Women's Competitive Program Director. "We thought it was a bit of a long shot because they would have to beat out 15-and-16-yearolds to make this team. It's pretty exciting for them.

"It's certainly going to be more difficult since the Games are not an age group competition. They will be the youngest ones on the team but that's what also makes this a pretty big deal too."

Rogers and Anderson first got their taste of multi-sport competitions two years ago when they helped Zone 4 win the team title at the B.C. Winter Games. Their careers have been in the fast lane since.

A year later, they both performed well enough at provincials to make their debuts at the Western Canadian Championships. Now in 2015, they have dominated their age group.

Rogers and Anderson finished first and second all-around respectively in the JO (Junior Olympic) 9 category at the B.C. Artistic Gymnastics Championships - leading to Delta also taking top team honours.

The girls then headed across the Rockies to Okotkos where they duplicated their results

at the Western Canadian Championships in the Provincial 5 Tyro category. Rogers added individual gold in the vault and floor events, while Anderson also earned silver on beam and floor.

"They always were kind of progressing faster and then it really accelerated after the B.C. Games," recalled Dober. "I think it motivated them and got them excited - gave them more desire to work even harder."

The surprise showing at Team Trials in Kelowna extended their competitive season when they are typically focused on developing new skills and strength training over the summer.

Rogers and Anderson have been in the gym working with Dober and Women's Program Coordinator Kristina Sharp five days a week.

"Usually this is a bit of a down time of the year for them," said Sharp. "We are working with about 50 girls (in our competitive program) right now. Ella and Sophie are just on a different plan than everyone else where they are still training."

Their schedule will slow down when they return from the Games as the focus switches to the 2015-16 season and stepping up to compete at the National Open level.

"We will be changing gears a bit and building a more difficult higher level of skills," added Dober. "They will go to National Trials early next year. Hopefully they qualify and get the experience of competing at that level. Then they could contend the following year."

Rogers and Anderson won't have to look far for advice at Westerns.

Sharp is on the Team B.C. coaching staff, while Dober will be working at the Games as a judge.

Training mate Sierra Chang is a team alternate.

The B.C. men's team features Delta's Ryan Woodhead and alternates Cole Schallig and Que Bidewell.