Gymnasts ring in new year at high school invitational
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Monday, January 20, 2025 | 10:43 AM
Hundreds of high school gymnasts and USAG competitors participated in the three-day Happy New Year Invitational on Jan. 3-5 at Kiski Area.
It was planned and organized by coach Renee Ruggeri, owner of Ultimate Gymnastics in Delmont, with participants traveling chiefly from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
“This was not the first ‘Happy New Year’ for USAG, but it was the first time we have had a high school event day,” Ruggeri said. “I decided to add this early in the year to give high school girls an opportunity to have a big meet in a great environment and win some medals and awards.
“Most high school meets are two or three teams and are only for scoring qualifications to WPIALs. This gives the girls a big day to look forward to and be rewarded with recognition and awards.”
Ruggeri coaches the Hempfield and Burrell gymnastics squads along with many independent competitors.
“I represent two teams and several individuals,” she said, “and there are many other coaches that do the same thing.”
Sophomore Ava Hickman, junior Isabell Orzeck and freshman Laila Borgo are Hempfield gymnasts. Two other team members — freshmen Ellie Dildine and Paige Hill — are coached by Amy White at the Greensburg YMCA.
Senior Rylie Porter, junior Kendel Fenner and sophomore Karcy Fennell represent the Burrell squad.
Other girls coached independently by Ruggeri at Ultimate include Mt. Pleasant junior Olivia Kovach, St. Joseph sophomore Isabella Thomas, Freeport sophomore Paige Montgomery and junior Andie Ehalt, Valley freshman Ava Shumaker, Kiski Area freshman Ellie Arnold and Norwin sophomore Kaylee Kelly.
“All of these girls competed for their high school on Friday and USAG on Saturday,” Ruggeri said. “Olivia Kovach was first all-around at both events in her divisions. She competes the highest level: advanced in high school and as a Level 10 in USAG. She was last year’s WPIAL runner-up in the all-around and first on beam.
“Isabella Thomas placed high on both days as well, winning first on Saturday as a Level 8 gymnast. Her teammate, Ava Hickman, took second.”
Kovach and Madeline Wingerter of Oakland Catholic tied for first all-around with 36.55 points on the first day of the Happy New Year high school competition.
Wingerter won the bars and placed second on the vault and floor exercise. Kovach was the runner-up on the bars.
At 5-foot-1, Kovach might be small in stature, but she stands tall when it comes to her gymnastics talent.
“Olivia is strong and a very dedicated gymnast. She never gives up,” Ruggeri said. “She’s a wonderful girl to work with. She’s small, strong and determined, which makes for a great gymnast.”
Other all-around medalists at the invitational included Thomas Jefferson’s Cam Noderer (third place), Baldwin’s Sophia Rossa (fourth), TJ’s Riley Barna (fifth), Thomas (sixth), Hickman (seventh) and Ehalt (eighth).
South Side’s Alayna Kelly reeled in the top spot on the floor with a 9.4. Central Valley’s Bria Zelesnik finished first on the beam with a 9.3.
In the team competition, Millers stood out with firsts in three events and a second-place showing on the bars.
The final team standings were: Millers (115.3 points), Brandy Marie’s (113.05), Prime Athletics (112.75), MV Gymnastics (11.55), Tate’s (110.05), Falcon (109.65), Ultimate (109.05).
Ultimate had a host of gymnasts who took first place in the all-around scoring: Cora Hammel (Level 2), Noelle Stewart (Level 2), Laikyn Corna (Level 3), Olivia Perez (Level 3), Addie Cheyne (Level 5), Thomas (Level 8), Kovach (Level 10), Marley Andrejeski (Xcel Platinum), Bella Nuzzo (Xcel Platinum) and Abby Levine (Xcel Diamond). Hammel racked up an all-around score of 37.4.
Ultimate teams finished first in Level 2, 3, 5 and Xcel Diamond and second in Level 4, 6, 8. Xcel Platinum corralled third place.
Hempfield placed seventh overall in the high school team division.
Ruggeri, who went from a hall-of-fame gymnastics career to a hall-of-fame coaching career, had a small-but-dedicated group of people that helped set up the invitational and make it a success.
“Nikki Ferris has been my right-hand person for both the USAG and high school meets,” Ruggeri said. “Others have been Jessica Kovach and Tanya Hood, but the entire organization stepped up. It’s a long event and takes many to pull it off. I have a great group of parents at Ultimate that helped put this together over the last few months.
“I’m glad to have the opportunity to provide such an event for these kids and families. The gymnasts create memories and friends for years to come when given the chance to meet and compete with athletes from all over Pennsylvania and other states.”
More than 40 school districts were represented in the invitational’s high school division and included 15 seniors and 25 juniors.
“I hope to make this an annual event that high school girls and coaches look forward to,” Ruggeri said. “I was overwhelmed at first because I expected about 50 or 60 to attend, and we had over 130 (in the high school competition).”
USAG participants competed in the Level 8-9-10 Diamond and Sapphire divisions, the organization’s highest levels of competition.
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