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Youth sports
Rhythmic gymnasts celebrate big wins
By Times Staff Writer
Published June 24, 2005
The Tampa Bay Rhythmics, a girls rhythmic gymnastics team, are celebrating a major win and preparing for the Junior Olympics.
All nine girls, ages 8 through 12, who won levels 5 and 6 at a national competition in May, come from southern Hillsborough County.
Naomi Retter, 12, placed first in two individual events, rope and clubs, and second all around at the 2005 Rhythmic Classics in Lowell, Mass.
Teammate Catherine Bliss placed second in the floor exercise, second in rope and third place all around. The event attracted rhythmic gymnasts from around the country.
"After the first day, we knew we were going to do well," Rhythmics coach Tyana Marlowe said.
Six girls on the squad - Bliss, Laura Bucci, Rachel Little, Katya Marlowe, Francesca Mason and Alexis Paul - had already qualified at a regional tournament to compete in the next Junior Olympics, sponsored by the U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Coaches Association.
Rhythmic gymnastics is a combination of dance and gymnastics; it divides competitors into 10 levels assigned by degree of difficulty. Levels 5 and 6 competed in Massachusetts.
The Tampa Bay Rhythmics practice out of Golden City Gymnastics, 930 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Brandon.
[Last modified June 23, 2005, 01:00:05]
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