Local Gymnasts Start Strong

The boys’ USA Gymnastics team at Tim Daggett Gold Medal Gymnastics in Agawam, MA are off to a strong competitive season. The Level 9 team , ages 12-13, placed first at their season opener in Middleton, and again at their host meet, the Tim Daggett National Invitational (TDNI), January 13-14. Level 9, Danny Di Benedetto, from Vernon, placed second on parallel bars (8.30), while teammate Sam Hayashida, from Suffield, placed fourth on floor exercise (8.20). Level 7, Devin Clarke of East Hartford, placed first on floor exercise (8.6) and third all-around with a 48.0 in the 12+ age group at the Middleton meet. He again placed first on floor (9.0) and first on vault with an impressive 9.650, and third all-around (47.95) at the TDNI. Level 6, JD Allsup of Somers, placed first on floor (9.2) in the 10-11 age group in Middleton, and took first again at the TDNI with an outstanding 9.6! Allsup placed second all-around at the TDNI with a high 53.1. His brother, Trevor Allsup, placed fifth on rings with a 9.0 in the Level 5 (7-9 age group). The Levels 7-9 athletes competed in the Brian Babcock Invitational at Parkette’s in Allentown, PA this past weekend. Daggett’s USAG girls’ team is also off to a strong start, with Enfield’s Shelly D’Aleo taking third on floor (8.7) in the Level 8, 15+ division at a recent meet in Waltham, MA.