Delta Gymnastics recently hosted two important and well-attended high school meets — their seventh annual high school invitational and high school zone championships.
The invitational remains strong with 115 student athletes attending. The event, sponsored in part by Kwantlen Polytechnic University, attracted participants from schools throughout the Lower Mainland, as well as Vancouver Island and the BC Interior.
The high school zone championships saw South Delta Secondary dominate the event enabling them to take the coveted banner home to their school.
"The high school gymnastics program is unique in that it provides athletes ranging from beginners to competitive level the opportunity to compete for their schools," explained Tessa Jansen, Delta Gymnastics high school program coordinator. “Typically, there are very few high school gymnastics competitions, so athletes appreciate the opportunity to perform their routines in a competitive environment.”
Delta Gymnastics’ high school program has benefitted from increased promotion through the local high schools. Delta Gymnastics is happy to have had several international students from Italy, Germany and Spain training in the program while they are here studying.
Because of that, Delta's high school Invitational has seen incredible growth in the last seven years.
“We used to have about 50 athletes in our earlier years, so we are very pleased to see the interest and participation growing,” added Jansen. “The high school program has athletes with a range of abilities where participants are divided into classes by level rather than age.”
All athletes attending these meets gain valuable competitive experience as they train to qualify for the BC Secondary Schools Gymnastics Championships that will take place in Victoria — March 5-6.
That event will provide an excellent opportunity for the athletes to travel as a team and spend time together. The ability for athletes to potentially be recognized at the provincial championships as well at their school has clearly added to the program’s significant expansion.
Delta Gymnastics Society offers programs from infants to seniors at their Ladner facility year-round.
For information on events, programs and activities visit www.deltagymnastics.com.
