JESUP — The level four members of the Leaps and Bounds Gymnastics team won first- and second-place team trophies at recent meets in Rincon and Vidalia.

"The girls and the coaches have worked hard in the gym and to win these trophies reinforces for them that their hard work is definitely paying off," said booster club treasurer Jacqueline Coleman, whose daughter Tria Coleman is a second-year team member. "We, all of us parents, are so proud of our girls and the coaches. Now we just have to find a spot of honor for those trophies in the gym."

The level four team competed in two age divisions at the D.E.E.N.O.S. meet Feb. 7 in Rincon. Coleman, of Hinesville, placed second in all events, including all-around standings. Allysia Dunkins, also of Hinesville, won first place in all events, including all-around. Bailey Harrison of Ludowici tied for second with Coleman on vault and placed third on the remaining events, including all-around.

In their age division, McKenzie Bennett, Samantha Mendez, Abby Potts and Christina Thomas, all of Jesup, swept the top four spots on the medal stand. Bennett placed second on floor, bars and all-around. She placed third on beam and vault. Mendez won first on bars, beam, floor and all-around with a second-place finish on vault. Potts placed first on vault and fourth on beam, floor and all-around. Thomas placed second on floor (tied with Bennett) and beam and third on bars, vault and all-around.

Individual standings for the Vidalia meet included a few personal bests for the gymnasts. The team was represented by five of their level four members as well as prep-op and level seven gymnasts. Level four gymnast Allysia Dunkins placed first on vault and floor in her age division and second on beam, bars and all-around.

In their age division, Bennett, Mendez, Potts and Thomas again placed in the top four spots. Bennett came in first on vault and bars, second on floor and all-around, and fourth on beam. Mendez placed first on floor and second on all other events and all-around. Potts placed third on vault and floor, fourth on bars and fifth all-around. Thomas placed third on beam and fourth on vault, floor and all-around.

Gymnast Tiarra Rogers of Hinesville represented Leaps and Bounds in the prep-op gold level, placing second on all events and all-around. Level seven gymnast Jaci Tompkins of Ludowici placed first on bars, beam and all-around, and second on vault and floor.

The entire team, representing levels two, three, four, prep-op gold and seven traveled to Athens on March 12-14 for the annual National Gymnastics Challenge at the University of Georgia. The Courier will publish results when they are available.