Prince Edward Island School Athletic Association

 
Three Oaks Sr. High School will be the site for the 2012 PEI School Athletic Association Provincial Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, February 18th.  A very significant milestone for the P.E.I. School Athletic Association as the Organization recognizes 50 Years of School Sport.  A total of 380 young athletes from 20 different schools, representing all areas of the Province, are registered to compete in eight different age categories for the PEI School Milk Foundation Awards.
 
The PEISAA Provincial Championships coincide with National Gymnastic Week where over 700 Canadian clubs try to increase the awareness of this great sport , and to celebrate the positive benefits of gymnastics in all it=s forms: trampoline, tumbling, sport acrobatic, and general, rhythmic, and artistic gymnastics. It is dedicated to bringing together thousands of Canadian of all ages and levels who participate in gymnastics, and to encourage all other Canadians to try the sport.
 
 
The morning schedule will be very busy with a total of 160 Pre-Novice boys and girls (Under 10 years) registered.  This competition will begin at 9:00 a.m. with presentation of awards at 12:00.  Defending pre-novice team champions are boys from Montague Consolidated School and the girls are from West Kent Elementary School.
 
The afternoon schedule will see 150 Novice boys and girls (Under 12) beginning at 1:00 p.m. with presentation of awards at 3:25 p.m.  Defending novice team champions are boys from Spring Park Elementary and girls from West Kent Elementary.
The Bantam Boys & Girls will see 40 students (Under 14) and the Midget Boys & Girls (Under 16) scheduled to start at 3:50 with awards at 5:15 pm.
 
We are very excited to be hosting our Provincial event at Three Oaks Sr. High School this year. It is a beautiful facility. It can hold many spectators and is a very spectator friendly gymnasium”  said Gymnastics Commissioner, Paul Goguen. “For the past five years, we have been attracting close to 400 spectators during the day.  Summerside seems to be a central location with schools traveling from as far as Montague and Tignish. Parents don't seem to mind the drive.
 
 
All across PEI schools teachers have been working with students from grade 2-9 since the start of December. Four Unit Championships were held with over 800 students taking part. All four zones will be sending their top 3 teams and top 20 all around gymnasts in each of the age categories.  Each Gymnast will perform two vaults and a floor exercise. Event awards and all around awards will be awarded. Schools will also be competing for team awards. This is where each school will add the top five vaults and floor exercise scores together.
 
The PEI School Athletic Association School Sport Coordinator; Rick MacKinnon is very pleased with the continuing growth in the sport of gymnasts in our schools.  “Gymnastics is a sport for everybody. Participation provides both mental and physical health benefits through strength and endurance conditioning, social engagement, and goal setting. It also provides the foundation for participation and success in all other athletic activities. We are very lucky to have such great programs in our schools across Prince Edward Island.
 
Spectators are welcome to come and watch these fine student-athletes in action.
 
The 2012 Gymnastics Championship Results are available at:  http://www.peisaa.pe.ca/sport/gymnastics/standings