Prince Albert Aerials will send five gymnasts plus two from the North to the Sask. Winter Games. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Gymnastic goals

P.A. club to send 5 gymnasts to Sask. Games

Nov 22, 2022 | 12:18 PM

When the Saskatchewan Winter Games goes ahead in February, they will include five gymnasts from the Prince Albert Aerials Club.

Head coach Preston Sogge said this year the club has some expanded talent to contribute.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had anyone from gymnastics attend representing the North District so that’s pretty exciting,” she said.

Naomi Johns, 14, was one of the two female athletes making the five-hour round trip between La Ronge and Prince Albert for practice.

As far as heading to the Winter Games, Johns has a plan.

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“Lots of mental preparation more than the physical preparation,” she said. “I tend to get really nervous during a competition but this one I’m trying to have more fun than trying to compete.”

Johns wasn’t the only one making the frequent trips between La Ronge and Prince Albert, Mackenzie Boyer, also 14, was doing the same.

Both girls and their families have now moved to Prince Albert, partly for school and also partly for gymnastics.

“My little sister also started training here too after I started,” Boyer said.

She said it kind of feels like flying at times and that is the attraction.

Like Johns, she also plans to prepare mentally, get in top training form and rest when needed.

Only two teams competed in the Lakeland District this year and it ended with the Prince Albert team taking five of five spots when vying against Nipawin Revolution.

Gymnasts will take a reduced work schedule for now, but after the Christmas holidays, Sogge said the training will ramp up.

Some of the members will also compete at a meet in Las Vegas in January.

Dylan Bannerman-Murphy, 13, said she competes for fun and to get new skills.

“I was happy, really excited to be a part of the Winter Games. I just try to work really hard in practice,” she said.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com