Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
STEVE LEEKali Dunning has a bright future in the sports after placing sixth on the uneven bars at nationals.
PORT RICHEY - Four years ago, Kierstin Sabo became the first Level 9 competitor from Suncoast Gymnastics Academy to qualify for the nationals.
Kali Dunning has done one better.
Dunning, 13, became the first at that level from the Port Richey-based academy to medal at nationals. She was sixth on uneven bars with a 9.35 on April 25 at Virginia Beach, Va.
Sabo, who never broke into the top 10 at nationals, injured her lower back and quit the sport in 2002.
"She worked her way up the ladder," Suncoast owner and head coach Arnold Gwinn said of Dunning, who has trained at the academy since age 7. "Kali is an unbelievable competitor, and she handled the pressure of being at a national meet very well."
Dunning, an eighth-grader at Seven Springs Middle School, has a bright future in the sport, Gwinn said.
"She's almost guaranteed a scholarship in gymnastics if she keeps up the pace," Gwinn said.
River Ridge senior Heather Zolton, who will attend North Carolina State on a gymnastics scholarship, placed 13th in the all-around at the Level 10 USAG Nationals on Sunday in Kissimmee. She entered as an alternate.
Zolton will be the sixth college gymnast from Suncoast. The others are Jamie Burnette (Arkansas), Angie Stritt (Towson State, Md.), Jessica Bagwell (Southeast Missouri), Michelle Moore (Pittsburgh) and Heather Griffin (Ithica State, N.Y.).
Madelyn Coursen, Suncoast's lone competitor at the Level 8 Regional Championships held April 16-18 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center, placed 11th in the all-around. The 12-year-old moves to Level 9 next season.
Suncoast gymnasts competed in four levels - 3, 4, 5 and modified optional - in the Amateur Athletic Union State meet April 16-18 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center. The Level 5 team won a state title, and modified optionals placed third.
Level 5 individual winners were Marisa Licastri, Breanna Wilcox, Jessica Depue, Jamie Loiacano, Brianna Altman and Kaylee Winship.
Leading the modified optional team were first-place finishers Shalenna Enix, Ashley Spears, Victoria Minor and Morgan Rasmussen.
Suncoast's other winners were: Level 3 - Savannah Hammel, Cari Gonzales, Sarah Miller, Kayla Pressel, Kelsey Bock, Danielle Durrett and Meghan Gulley; Level 4 - Gabi Altman, Briana Oliver, Brittany Damasco, Dominique Miranda, Michele Vanderhoof and Joanna Bociu.