STATES / 8-10 - Holland, MI
3-27-11:  The first gateway into the "post-season" for the high-level Optional Gymnasts took place in Holland, MI with the 2011 State Championships.  This dual-purpose competition serves to both recognize the best in the state, as well as the preparedness towards Regionals and Nationals.  The Lady Flames received both recognitions by qualifying 6 of 7 competitors into the Regional competition.  We also received gold medal performances by Rita Koenigbauer (L8 Vault/Floor) and Holly Manter (L9 Bars).

Other notable performances:
L8 Rita Koenigbauer - 2nd All Around, 3rd Bars
L8 Mackenzie Shell - 3rd Beam
L9 Holly Manter - 3rd All Around, 3rd Beam

Gold Rush Invitational / SQM - Flint, MI
3-12-11:  The Lady Flames prospectors hit the Flint area looking for the shiny stuff.  What sparked the "Flint" often sparkled, most was valuable, but some was fools gold.  The Level 7 team hit the motherload with a vein located directly beneath their feet - they didn't even realize they were standing over it.  They tapped into that potential and jumped 3-points to bring home the gold!  The Level 6 Team also brought home another sizeable nugget with their consistent swirl-panning approach (1st in their session / 3rd overall).  The Level 8/9's each found individual flecks worth enough to amount to a positive feeling heading into their State Championships.  The Level 5's bringing their soup spoons to the digging party, did a nice job, but came up empty in the end as they didn't reach as deep as the other teams.