Two young athletes from Bay Roberts will be competing at the 2012 Atlantic Gymnastics Championships being held at the NL Sports Centre PowerPlex in St. John's, April 20-21.
Hayley Crosbie, 12, and Kayla Webber 9, will both be competing, albeit in two different levels - Hayley is a Level III gymnast while Kayla is a Level II gymnast.
They were selected on the strength of the scores both posted at the provincial championships March 23-24 in St. John's.
Competing in the Level III novice division, Crosbie posted a score of 47.850, good for third spot.
Kayla put up a similar score of 47.384 in the Level II argo division to finish in third spot as well.
For Hayley, it will be her second time competing at the Atlantics.
"I feel more confident than I was last time," she said.
Kayla, on the other hand, will be experiencing the same level of competition for the first time.
"I'm excited to go," said Kayla.
One thing Kayla is looking forward to is "meeting new people" and interacting with them during the competition.
Both young women are extraordinary athletes. In order for them to qualify for the Atlantics, each had to place in the top six in their respective levels.
Hayley finished in the top four. This positioning meant she qualified to represent the province at the Eastern Championships being held in Quebec, May 10-13.
Hayley, who is the daughter of former-CeeBee Stars star Chris Crosbie, has only been competing for three years.
"I'm more nervous about the Easterns," she said.
Hayley said her coach warned her about the level of competition that she is going to be facing in Quebec.
"I will see more complex gymnastics than I would at the Atlantics," she said.
Denita Crosbie, Hayley's mother, said both Kayla and Hayley are "amazing gymnasts."
"Chris and I are really proud of Hayley and what she's done," said Denita.
Heading into the Atlantics, neither athlete is going to be revamping their routine prior to the competition.
"We're going to be going with the same routine," said Kayla.
Tammy Webber is Kayla's mother.
She said she is "proud" to see her daughter competing at the Atlantic level.
"She is so excited for the event," said Tammy.
Neither mother nor daughter is nervous heading into the event, save for when Kayla participates in the vault.
"I'm always afraid she is going to hit her back ... because she is so tiny," said Tammy.
What makes the feat that more special for Hayley and Kayla is the fact that both girls are best friends outside of gymnastics.
"They are inseparable," said Denita. "Tammy is like Hayley's second mother."
Overcoming adversity
Both Hayley and Kayla are behind the eight ball when it comes to training. They are the only two competitive gymnasts competing out of Conception Bay North.
Each travel three times a week to St John's, meaning long nights driving over the highway, doing homework in the backseat the dome light of the vehicle being the only source of light when in darkness.
It also means less practice time than their St. John's counterparts.
"If these girls had the practice time the St. John's girls had they would be even more outstanding," said Denita.
Bishop's Fitness Centre in Bay Roberts donates time to the girls' cause.
"All they say is when do you want it," said Tammy.
With both Hayley and Kayla competing at some of the highest levels of competition, both parents acknowledge the adversity they face and how it makes them feel to see their daughters push through and overcome it.
"It is extremely rewarding to see them put behind the eight ball with training and kick ass," said Tammy.
Kayla put in a valiant effort during the competition finishing fifth in the Level 2 Argo division with 46.537 total points. She scored 11.567 in the vault, 11.650 on the bars, 11.970 on the beam and 11.350 on the floor.
Hayley, competing in Level 3 Novice, finished in seventh place after registering an all around score of 46.368. Her best score came on the floor where she registered an 11.934. Hayley also scored a 10.934 in the vault, 11.900 on the bars and 11.600 on the beam.
