CULLMAN — The Cullman Elite gymnastics team competed in two tournaments in January.

The Magic City Invitational was held Jan. 27-29 and included teams from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

The range of levels at this major meet were between two and 10. The Xcel teams are in the middle of the range and optional teams are from levels seven to 10. Excellence at Level 10 can lead to a college scholarship.

In Birmingham, Courtney Bryson, Cullman’s sole Level 8 gymnast, placed second overall with second-place finishes on the vault, beam and floor. Brilee Wasilewski, Level 7, finished fourth on the bars and the beam.

The gold team brought home the gold at the Xcel team level. Jaycey Bowling led the way by finishing first overall in her age group. She scored first on the vault, second on the floor, third on the bars and fourth on the beam.

Maddie Nix was third overall with first place on the beam, second on the bars and fourth on the vault.

Emily Little and Sadie Eddy tied for second overall at the next age level. Little was first on the vault, second on the bars and floor, and fourth on the beam. Eddy took second on the beam, third on the vault and fourth on the bars and floor.

Bentley Watson was fourth on the floor in her age group.

The silver team’s Kyla Kilpatrick was first overall after placing first on the vault and floor, as well as third on the beam.

Autumn Calvert, second on the beam and fourth on the vault and floor, was third overall.

Other silver competitors were Zoe Owens (third on vault, fourth on bars) and Emma Ray (fourth on bars and beams).

In the next age group, Ashley Grace Uphold placed fourth overall with a first-place performance on the beam. Kyndell Hays was first on the bars and fourth on the vault. Maddie Woods was third the floor and fourth on the beam, while Leila Cherry finished third on the bars. The team wound up third in the competition.

Sarah Flores led the bronze team by finishing second overall with a first-place mark on the vault, second on the bars and third on the beam and floor.

Sophie Harrison was third overall after taking third on the bars. Caroline Sandlin finished right behind in fourth after taking first on the floor and fourth on the bars.

Laney Pettus was second on the beam and fourth on the vault, Reagan Watson was third on the floor, Anna Faulk was fourth on the vault and floor and Jillian Spann was fourth on the floor.

The team placed fourth in the competition.

“All of the coaches were so proud of how the gymnasts performed in their first big meet of the season,” coach Grace Gorham said. “We hope to build on this and increase our rankings as the season continues.”



Cullman Invitational

The Cullman Xcel teams dominated the nine-squad meet, placing first at the gold, silver and bronze levels.

Bryson, the lone Level 8 contestant, awed the appreciative crowd as she displayed the skills necessary to perform at that high level.

Wasilewski bested her sole competitor, winning first overall and three of the four events.

Little led the gold team with a first-place overall result in the younger age group. She was first on the vault and bars, and second on the beam and floor. Nix was third overall with a tie for first on the floor, second on the bars and third on the vault and beam. Bowling, who was the one who tied her teammate on the floor, was second on the vault.

Eddy led the older age group by taking first overall after finish second on the vault, bars and floor. She was third on the beam. Bentley Watson placed first on the vault and floor.

The silver team’s Woods was first overall in the old age group with first places on the bar and beam, second on the floor and fourth on the vault.  Uphold finished second overall, placing first on the vault and floor, and second on the bars and beam. Hays was third overall, second on the vault and bars, third on the floor and fourth on the beam. Barnett placed fourth overall after grabbing second on the floor, third on the vault and beam, and fourth on the bars. Cherry rounded out the age group with third on the bars and floor.

In the younger age group, Calvert was first overall with a first-place spot on the beam, second on the vault and bars and third on the floor. Kennedy Kruger was close behind in second overall, snagging first on the bars, second on the floor, third on the beam and fourth on the vault. Kayla Kilpatrick rounded out the third spot overall, tying for first with her twin, Kyla, on the floor, and finishing second on the bars and beam. Ray was fourth overall after taking second on the beam and third on the other three events. In addition to her tie for the top spot, Kyla Kilpatrick was first on vault and fourth on the bars and beam. Owens was third on the floor and fourth on the vault.

The first-place overall winners in both age groups led the bronze team, both having identical scores.

In the older group, Faulk placed first in the bars and beam, and second on the vault and floor.

Harrison, Laci New and Watson were second, third and fourth overall, respectively. Harrison took first on the vault, second on the bars, third on the floor and fourth on the beam. New was first on the floor and third on the other three events. Reagan Watson finished second on the beam and floor, third on the vault and fourth on the bars.

Pettus led the younger age group. In addition to her first overall, she placed first on the vault and bars, second on the beam and fourth on the floor. Sandlin was second overall, first on the beam and floor, and third on the bars. Acacia Sweatmon was third overall after taking second on the floor and third on the vault and bars. Flores was fourth overall with third place on the beam and floor and fourth on the bars.

Jorryn Barnette finished second on the vault and bars. Spann placed second on the floor with fourth-place marks on the vault and beam.

“This was a great first meet for our team,” Gorham said of the Jan. 10 competition. “We were so happy to host this meet because it allowed our gymnasts the opportunity to start third season in a familiar setting.”