NEW HAVEN – Five Newtown girls helped lead the Gymnastics Revolution Level 5 team to a third-place finish at the USA Gymnastics state championships last weekend at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Putting up strong performances were Colby Chilson, 9, a fourth grader at Head O’ Meadow; Alison Kron, 9, a fourth grader at Sandy Hook Elementary; Kate Martinelli, 10, a fifth grader at Reed Intermediate; Erin Pendergist, 10, a fifth grader at Reed Intermediate; and Kathy Weiner, 12, a seventh grader at the Newtown Middle School.

Pendergist scored a 34.6 and placed fourth all-around in the state. She had outstanding scores in all four events, with her balance beam score of 9.1 being the highest; Kron, an experienced Level 5 gymnast, scored a 33.0 in the all-around with scores of 8.75 on the balance beam and 8.725 on floor setting the pace for her; Weiner, another experienced Level 5 gymnast who is new to the Gymnastics Revolution, scored a 31.85 all-around with high scores of 8.55 in the floor exercises and  8.2 on the vault; Martinilli scored a very solid 30.45 with an excellent score of 8.7 on the balance beam; and Chilson, who  qualified for the state championships in her very first USAG meet several weeks ago, scored a 30.93 all-around with a high score of 8.4 on the balance beam.   

All of these Level 5 gymnasts train nine to 12 hours per week at Gymnastics Revolution in Bethel. They are coached by owner Brian Bakalar, Ruth Ann Calzone, and Dawn Arigo.

Meanwhile, two Level 4 athletes from Gymnastics Revolution competed in the state championships as well – Mary Morrison, 8, a third grader at Sandy Hook Elementary; and Noelle Benson, 8, a third grader at Hawley School. Both girls are competing for their very first time this fall and they performed well at the state championships.

Morrison scored a 32.2 all-around, which included an 8.55 in the vault and in the floor exercises. Benson scored a solid 31.75 all-around, which included an 8.55 on beam.