The Sandhills Academy of Gymnastics Power Tumbling and Trampoline team (SAG T&T) opened their 2011 competition season Jan. 14-15.

Eighteen members of the T&T team traveled to the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion to compete in the inaugural Greensboro Cup, hosted by Ultimate Air. T&T gymnasts compete in three events: tumbling, trampoline and double-mini trampoline.

This style of gymnastics has become more popular since the introduction of trampoline as an Olympic event. SAG’s T&T team is at its highest level ever, evidenced by their performance at the Greensboro Cup. Out of 18 athletes competing in tumbling, 12 reached the medal podium.

Gold medalists included Zac Berryman (Level 3), Richard Biddle (Level 3), Reese Gill (Level 3), Marlena Moore (Level 3), Victoria Ayars (Level 4), Shalana Kennedy (Level 4), Dustin Bullard (Level 5) and Brooke Sayers (Level 5).

Joining their teammates in tumbling success were silver medalists Tori Cook (Level 8) and Kaylee Herman (Level 6), as well as bronze medalists Cheyenne Kennedy (Level 5) and Galen Laurence (Level 6).

A phenomenal 14 of the 18 athletes competing on trampoline medaled on the event. Reese Gill (Level 3), Richard Biddle (Level 5), Marlena Moore (Level 5), Zac Berryman (Level 6), Kaylee Herman (Level 6) and Tori Cook (Level 7) achieved gold-medal status. Teammates Dustin Bullard (Level 5), Cheyenne Kennedy (Level 5), Olivia Brock (Level 6) and Paige Bullard (Level 7) were all silver medalists. The SAG bronze medal trampolinists included Victoria Ayars (Level 5), Jordan Morrison (Level 6), Niki Hess (Level 7) and Galen Laurence (Level 7).

Of the 17 athletes competing on double-mini trampoline (one athlete withdrew due to injury), 11 received medals. In this event the gold medalists were Reese Gill (Level 3), Victoria Ayars (Level 5), Dustin Bullard (Level 5), Cheyenne Kennedy (Level 5) and Zac Berryman (Level 7). Silver medalists included Niki Hess (Level 7), Galen Laurence (Level 7) and Paige Bullard (Level 8). Richard Biddle (Level 6), Olivia Brock (Level 7) and Brooke Sayers (Level 7) all received bronze medals on this apparatus.

The SAG T&T team trains at Sandhills Academy of Gymnastics on Ampersand Road in Aberdeen. They are taught by head coach Alyssa Schwartz and gym owner Jennifer Ayars.

The team will continue its competitive season Feb. 11-13 at the Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, a competition which will feature athletes from SAG’s T&T, girls’ artistic and boys’ artistic programs.

Alyssa Schwartz is the head coach of the Sandhills Academy of Gymnastics Power Tumbling and Trampoline team.