Door County YMCA Strivers Gymnast Earn “Three-Peat”
Door County YMCA Strivers Gymnast Earn “Three-Peat”
DOOR COUNTY, WI — The Door County YMCA Excel Silver Gymnastic Team earned their first three-peat by winning three consecutive YMCA Gymnastics State Titles. The Striver Team won Gold in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 season. The Excel Silver Team sported 14 new team members this season, ages nine-13. All 14 members were experiencing their first season of competition for the YMCA Team. The Team captured the three-peat this past weekend in West Bend, WI, after edging out nine teams with a total of 112.375 points. The Kettle Moraine YMCA hosted the 2025 State tournament.
Along with the three-peat, the Silver team returned home with eight individual State titles. Emma Higginbotham (12 and up) led the team with three individual gold medals. Emma won gold in the all-around with a 37.45, the beam with a 9.1, and she vaulted to victory with a 9.375. Teammate Jessa Varney (10 and under) won two individual titles. Jessa won gold in the all-around with a 37.20 and gold on vault with a 9.3. Annabel Smullen (10 and under) won gold on the floor, scoring 9.6. Piper Delarwelle (10 and younger) won gold on the bars scoring 9.675. Jackson won gold on the floor with a 9.6.
The Excel Gold Team returned home with a 3rd place team title out of 12 teams competing and four individual State titles. Lauren Gaida (14 and up) returned to Door County with two individual titles, one in the all-around scoring 36.275 and she secured gold on the floor with a 9.65. Evelynn Kelsey (12 &13) won gold on the floor with a 9.725, and sister Ellie Kelsey (10 and under) won gold on the beam with a 9.0.
The Striver Excel Silver, Gold, Platinum and Level 8 squads brought home two team titles, 12 individual State titles, eight silver medals, and nine bronze medals. Medals are awarded down 10 places, 30% of participation. The team brought home a total of 61 individual medals. 98% of those were top six medals.
Gymnasts medaling for Silver were Louisa Grenfell 5th beam, Piper Delarwelle 1st bars, Genevieve Gigstead 2nd floor and bars, 5th all around. Jessa Varney 1st all around and vault, 3rd floor, beam, and bars. Jackson Varney 1st floor, 3rd bars, 5th all around, 6th vault. Annabel Smullen 1st floor, 2nd all-around, vault and beam. Taiya Couperus 5th on vault. Peyton Watermolen 3rd vault, 4th all around,5th bars, 6th floor, 10th beam. Maisie Kelnhofer 7th beam and bars, 8th floor, 9th all around. Adela Cordua- Stenzel 7th bars, 8th floor. Milana Reifsnyder 5th floor, 7th all around, 7th vault. Cosette Orrick 3rd all-around, floor and bars. Emma Higginbotham 1st all around, beam, and vault, 3rd floor, 6th bars.
Excel Gold medalists were Ellie Kelsey, 1st beam. Evelynn Kelsey1st floor, 2nd beam, 4th vault, 7th all around. Greta Virgin, 6th beam. Keira Clark, 3rd floor, 6th beam. Lauren Gaida, 1st floor and bars, 2nd all-around and vault.
Level 8 medalists were: Estelle Duerst 4th beam, 5th bars, 8th all around. Amira Anschutz 5th floor.
Platinum gymnast Shaylyn Asher medaled 4th beam, 6th on bars.
The Striver Team will make their way to the 2025 YMCA Gymnastic Nationals this June 23-29. The National Competition will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the Brown County Resch Center. Olympian Jordan Chiles will be the keynote speaker.
Photos:
Level 8s and Platinum
left to right
Estelle Duerst, Amira Anschutz, Portia Hah, Platinum gymnast Shaylyn Asher
Golds
left to right
Greta Virgin, Evelynn Kelsey, Lauren Gaida, Keira Clark, Ellie Kelsey
Silvers
left to right
Taiya Couperus, Milana Reifsnyder, Adela Cordua-Stenzel, Maisie Kelnhofer, Genevieve Gigstead, Jessa Varney, Emma Higginbotham, Louisa Grenfell, Peyton Watermelon, Annabel Smullen, Hailey Clark, Piper Delarwelle, Jackson Varney, Cosette Orrick