A group of five 10 to 14 year old girls along with their coach from Nanaimo have qualified for the BC Winter Games in Fort St. John Feb. 21-23. (Dan Marshall/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

Winter Games Bound

Athletes from Nanaimo Gymnastics School to compete at BC Winter Games

Feb 6, 2020 | 7:06 PM

NANAIMO – The Nanaimo Gymnastics School will send five local athletes to compete at the BC Winter Games later this month in Fort St. John.

Tatum DeShutter, Hazel Quarress, Mikayla White, Ryann Sandland and Ella Husband will represent Nanaimo along with coach Louise Demers.

They are part of a Vancouver Island team made up of 10 to 14 year olds.

DeShutter and Quarress are considered a Level 7 and White and Sandland are Level 8.

Husband was added to the team later as a wildcard entry.

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Another competitor, Mila Stjepanovic, qualified for Winter Games but had to withdraw due to injury.

At the Island trials in Nanaimo on Jan. 5, two performances stood out.

DeShutter finished first on vault and floor, second on beam and third on bars for Level 7. White was first on vault and beam and third on bars and floor for Level 8.

Levels are based on the skill and proficiency of the athletes.

This will be the first BC Games experience for the local group although Mikayla White has competed before in the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships.

Coach Demers said DeShutter and White represent the best chance for individual medals but anything can happen once the athletes take to the floor.

“There’s the team competition and the apparatus finals,” Demers said. “Last BC Winter Games we did get a team finish. We’re hoping for that again this year because we have a pretty strong team on the island.”

The last games were in Kamloops in 2018 and the Vancouver Island contingent won third place in the team competition.

Everyone going to the BC Games will be eligible for the provincials in April and Level 8 competitors can earn a spot at the Western Canadian championships.

There isn’t a national championship until the athletes reach Level 9 or above

The commitment is significant for competitive gymnastics.

Demers said managing school, training and family is a delicate balance.

“The athletes that are Level 6’s and 7’s will train four days a week, four to five hours each time,” Demers said. “Level 8 and above train five days a week for a total of 21 hours.”

Both and Demers and another coach, Tracy Welbourn, work with them on a regular basis although Welbourn won’t be going to the Winter Games.

The competition for the BC Winter Games starts on Friday Feb. 21 with the opening ceremonies slated for the day before at the North Peace Arena in Fort St. John.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77