A trio of Prince George women wowed the judges and the Victoria crowd this past weekend during the 2020 BC High School Gymnastics Championships.
Though none of them walked out of provincials with a medal around their necks, Alia Wilson, Dallyn Long and Hanna Piddocke earned something arguably far more valuable, and that is the chance to further their education and athletic abilities.
The Grade 12 students were three of 14 recipients of scholarships worth a total of $20,000 that can either be used for post-secondary school or training for the next step in their gymnastics careers.
The bursaries were sponsored by former high school gymnast now stunt-man agency owner Will Erichson, who’s worked on movies like Deadpool, Suicide Squad and War for the Planet of the Apes.
“[Erichson] wanted to give back to the program and encourage athletes to follow their dream,” Prince George Gymnastics Coach Carol Garcia explained to PrinceGeorgeMatters.
Wilson, who will graduate Duchess Park this June, was bestowed nearly $1,500 from the three-day provincials competitions.
After placing fourth in level-five girls, she earned a $1,200 bursary that can be used for academics or training and the Louise Clarke Award, a $250 scholarship for school.
Long was rewarded a $300 scholarship for training or school; she finished 12th in Victoria while representing D.P. Todd Secondary in the level-four girls’ division.
Piddocke earned a $150 bursary for training or school after ending up in 10th place for College Heights Secondary, also in level-four girls.
The three teens were part of the 26 Prince George gymnasts that trekked to Vancouver Island for the championships.
Gage Hull (College Heights) and Kaylee Oberg (D.P. Todd) were the only athletes to make the podium individually, winning gold in level-two boys and silver in level-five girls respectively.
Hull, however, also took gold with Quentin Silver in claiming the team title for the College Heights Cougars.
Meanwhile, Prince George Gymnastics had 13 of its younger athletes competing in Terrace for the Peaks Invitational.
The club returned home with three all-around golds courtesy of Sophia Schwab, Annie Olsen and Mackenzey Schmidt.
Schwab swept her opponents to take first on vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
Olsen nearly accomplished the same, but settled for third on the balance beam.
The two Junior Olympic Six (J.O. 6) gymnasts also prevailed in the team category and won a first-place banner as a result.
Altogether, Prince George Gymnastics took home 45 individual medals from Terrace.
It’s next competition starts Friday (March 13) for the Kamloops Invitational.
