Lillie Minor of Naydenov Gymnastics in Vancouver has qualified for the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships.
Minor won the floor exercise and placed third in the all-around competition at the USA Gymnastics Region 2 Championships, which took place over the weekend in Tacoma. Her winning score on floor exercise was 9.60. She also placed second on the vault and third on the uneven parallel bars.
This is the third time Minor has qualified for the Junior Olympic nationals, which take place May 8-10 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Three girls from Naydenov qualified for the level 9 Western Nationals. Brooke Donabedian placed first on the uneven parallel bars, floor exercise and in the all-around competition. Shaela Ausmus medaled on the balance beam and floor exercise. Alma Mintier-Vegh medaled on the uneven parallel bars.
Level 8 regional champions from Naydenov were Alexis Bottomley on vault, floor exercise and all-around, Ellie Weaver for balance beam. Other Level 8 medalists for Naydenov were Jessalyn Chen (bars), Stephanie Gray (vault, bars, beam, floor, and all-around), Miranda Lea (vault and floor), Sarah Ellis (floor), and Mackenzie Ridgway (vault and floor).
This was the last meet for Bottomley and Lea, who will both graduate from high school in June. Lea, who also competed for Skyview High School, plans to compete with the Acro & Tumbling team at Hawaii Pacific University.
The Region 2 meet was attended by top gymnasts from Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Local goalkeeper honored
Zach Morris of Camas was honored on Thursday as the April U.S. Youth Soccer Player of the Month presented by Olive Garden.
Each month, U.S. Youth Soccer recognizes one male and one female player based on accomplishments on and off the field.
A goalkeeper, Morris participated in the Oregon State U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program in 2012 and 2013. He played for the Region IV team at the 2014 U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Winter Interregional.
This year, he was invited to play for the Washington State Elite Player Development program and competed in the 2015 U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Region IV Championships representing the state. A high school sophomore, Morris has a 4.0 GPA at Washington Virtual Academy and regularly volunteers at the Oregon Food Bank.
Morris was honored last Thursday with a celebratory dinner at the Vancouver Olive Garden with his family and friends.
Tennis center hosts clinic, fundraiser
Vancouver Tennis Center is hosting a clinic and barbecue on Saturday to help raise money to restore the outdoor courts at the 40-year-old facility.
The “Seniors for Juniors” event is open for anyone 18 and older and features tennis drills and games on nine indoor courts from 2:15 to 5 p.m. Anyone 80 and older can participate for free. A barbecue social will follow at the home of John and Michele Rudi.
Cost for the clinic and the barbecue is $100. For only the barbecue social — catered by Busters Barbecue of Gresham — the price is $75 per person or $100 per couple.
Register at VTC, 5300 E. 18th St. near Fort Vancouver High School. For more information, call 360-487-8123.
Grand opening Sunday for new tennis facility
Evergreen Tennis is hosting a grand opening kickoff event from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday to introduce itself to the community.
The four-court indoor facility is located at 5225 N.W. 38th Ave., in Camas.
The grand opening will feature free activities including kids games, serve speed tracking and tennis clinics.
The club’s courts are open to the public for a drop-in fee. The club also offers different membership levels for those interested in club activities such as recreational play nights, lessons and clinics.
For more information visit www.evergreentennis.net or call 360-557-7230.
COMMUNITY SPORTS NEWS is published each Tuesday. Submit results be sending email to paul.danzer@columbian.com or by calling 360-735-4521.
