By Tara Murray
For the gymnasts at Pit Gymnastics, opportunities to compete at the National Club Championships have been few and far between.
It had been 10 years since the Mill Park-based club qualified for the premier women’s gymnastic competition in Australia.
But that changes this week as 10 of the club’s level four and five gymnasts compete at state, national and international level in Geelong.
Pit’s women’s gymnastics co-ordinator, Natasha Smith, said the 10 girls had put in a lot of hard work over the past 12 months.
“There has been more focus on the progression and quality of the younger levels,” she said.
“This means that when our gymnasts get to the national clubs level they’re at a high level.
“Our coaches have worked very hard with the national-level gymnasts over the last 12 months, fine-tuning strength, flexibility, technique and skill quality.
“It’s very exciting and inspiring. The girls have worked so hard for this opportunity and are looking forward to performing in front of so many people.”
She said the girls were consistent on all four types of apparatus, but the vault and floor were the strengths.
Smith said the improvement wasn’t just at the top level of the club which has 700 members.
The level 4 team is Emily Awad, Jennifer Cocks, Latisha Cunsolo, Alliyah Gudu and Simone Vrljic.
Vrljic, of South Morang, and Cocks, of Wandong, started at Pit Gymnastics only 18 months ago, while Cunsolo has overcome a broken arm earlier this year to make the team.
Madison Cacoyiannis, Lauren Chan, Jenna Hwang, Paryce Llewellyn and Chloe Smyth make up the level 5 team.
