The SDSSAA is sending an army to the 2006 OFSAA gymnastics
championships, led by Level 6 gymnasts Sophie Bertrand (gold at
NOSSA) and Korrie Tyres (silver at NOSSA).
There are no less than 55 athletes from 10 local schools
headed to St. Catherines for the event, which starts on Monday,
May 1. (See Page 20 for a complete list of local competitors.)
Bertrand, who topped all northern competition at NOSSA a few
weeks ago, is keeping her goals honest.
"I am hoping to get Top 8," said the Grade 11 E.S.C.
Champlain student. "To do that, I just have to not fall during
my routines and do my best."
Bertrand is primed for the best in the province.
"I feel ready and have all my routines down well," said
Bertrand. "It's a matter of putting it all together at the
right time. My best event is my floor event. That's what I did
the best at NOSSA. I feel no pressure really being NOSSA
champion at OFSAA."
Bertrand has been going to OFSAA since Grade 9, progressing
at higher levels. Gymnastics means plenty to her.
"It's a big part of my life," said the 16-year-old. "It
always has been and it always will be. I even coach
gymnastics."
Champlain doesn't have a high number of students compared to
some of the big schools in Greater Sudbury, but that didn't
stop them from qualifying 12 girls for OFSAA, which makes
Bertrand proud.
"Our school won four out of the six levels," said Bertrand.
"That's great considering our size. All of us have done well
and we really stood out at NOSSA. I think we will do well at
OFSAA, too."
College Notre-Dame has the most athletes going with 18
gymnasts participating.
Lo-Ellen Park's Tyres has been breaking a sweat at the
Sudbury Laurels Gymnastics Club preparing for OFSAA. Just this
year, she finally managed to master the Tsukahara vault, one of
the more difficult vaults in the sport. It took her three years
to perfect it.
"It felt good to finally land that vault," said the
14-year-old. "With this vault, if you land it during
competition, you can win because it gets a lot of high points."
Tyres enjoys the thrill of competing.
"I look forward to competition because I get a big
adrenaline rush from it," said the Grade 9 student.
Tyres is a well-rounded athlete who isn't afraid to help
others.
"Korrie is a very talented and strong athlete," said Christine St. Amour, Tyres coach. "She's a great competitor and is always here training, even when she's sick. Korrie is great with younger kids. They love to be around her and she always helps them with training. Korrie is capable of placing on bars, beam and floor at OFSAA."
