File photo – Some of the Redwood Coast gymnasts at last year’s state tournament.

The Redwood Coast Gymnastics team enjoyed a record-setting weekend at the recent Novato Classic on Feb. 7 and 8.

The local club traveled with 14 young gymnasts to the early-season event and returned with multiple individual medals and team records. 

All of the RCG gymnasts who traveled also reached the qualifying score for the State Championships at their respective levels.

Myiah Punch led the way in the Xcel Gold older division, capturing gold medals on uneven bars with a score of 9.275 and floor exercise (9.425) on her way to a bronze medal in the all-around with a score of 35.85. 

All three of Punch’s scores set new team records for RCG.

In the younger division, Addie Bellermann also set a new team record on uneven bars while placing fourth, as well as adding a fourth-place finish on vault (8.85) and securing sixth in the all-around (35.45). 

In the middle division, Aubrey Dalton earned the bronze medal on vault (9.05) and finished in sixth place in the all-around competition with a score of 35.725.

RCG continued its momentum in the Xcel Silver competition. 

In the junior division, Abigail Clair reached new heights for RCG on floor exercise and earned a gold medal with a score of 9.40. 

Clair also set a team record on balance beam (9.075) and all-around (36.175). 

In the senior division, Laura Barkdull earned a silver medal on floor with a 9.25.

Floor exercise proved to be a particular strength for the RCG Xcel crew, with every Gold and Silver gymnast scoring above a 9.0. 

Additional Gold competitors posting strong floor scores included Hannah Naylor (9.225), Maya Dalton (9.175), Aubrey Dalton (9.125), Kaile’a Townsend (9.125) and Jesse Bestul (9.0). 

In Silver, Zoey Long scored 9.2, and Cara West added a 9.025.

Competing for the first time as a Level 6, Momo Baxter impressed in all four of her events. 

Baxter earned silver on vault with a 9.45, performed a dynamic floor routine (9.325), and landed her back handspring on beam for the first time. 

She finished fourth all-around with a strong 36.225.

Team leader Andrea Herrera also competed at a new level, making her Level 7 debut. 

Herrera turned in a powerful performance in vault (9.125) and successfully introduced giant swings on the uneven bars. 

She also nailed her new tumbling pass on balance beam, and continues to serve as a strong role model for her younger teammates according to her coaches.

Next up, the RCG gymnasts will travel for the Spirit of the Flame competition, which takes place in Concord from Feb, 27 through March 1.