Local gymnasts perform with champions
LAFAYETTE — Four local gymnasts were given the opportunity to perform in the opening number for the Kellogg’s Tour of Champions.
Giant Gymnastics coach Linda Lebo organized a group outing to the show, which was open to families in both Giant locations in Hackettstown and Lafayette. Giant Gymnastics had 57 people from their two locations attend. Because of the large number of tickets sold, the Kellogg’s tour invited four of the gymnasts to partake in the event.
Madison Beaumont of Oxford, Kelly Cardell of Great Meadows, and Olivia Sabol of Phillipsburg are all members of the Hackettstown Garden Gators team, and were chosen for the honor. Morgyn Witt, a Newton resident, is a member of the Lafayette Gators team and was chosen to represent their Lafayette Gators team.
Sabol, 9, has been on the team competing for two years, and has been taking gymnastics since she was 3. Kelly, 10, started gymnastics at age 4. She started Junior Gators at age 5 and Level 4 USAG at 6 years old. Beaumont has been in gymnastics since 2004, and has competed since 2004. She is currently a gold level in USAIGC.
Witt, 9 now, started gymnastics in the parent/toddler class when the gym was still Schutz gymnastics, and has been taking classes at Schutz and now Giant. She has been on the Lafayette Garden Gators USAIGC competitive team since they opened this second location a year and a half ago.
The girls all arrived four hours early to practice the number on the gym floor, get fitted for the leotards they were to wear and be ready to go at show time. They performed with gymnasts from around the state to “Let it Grow” by Ester Dean, and during the number, the USA Gymnasts — including the Fierce Five’s Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, Alexandra Raisman and McKayla Maroney — joined them.
“Morgyn was glued to the edge of her seat all night, amazed at the sight of all the routines and dances the gymnasts performed. And for days after, she was on a cloud about performing there on the floor, as the USA team walked right by her, or seeing them warm up on the bars while they were rehearsing. It’s an experience she, and I, will never forget,” said grateful mom, Margaret Witt.
For more information on Giant Gymnastics, both locations in Hackettstown and Lafayette, visit www.giantgymnastics.com or call 908-850-3746 or 973-579-9400.