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Competing as a team in the level 2 division of the recent provincial high school championships, Cowichan Secondary School gymnasts Nikole Simons and Amanda Dale won gold. Another CSS duo – Danielle Henderson and Wendy McAfee – garnered bronze medals competing in level 3. Two is the minimum number to qualify for the team competition.

The team awards were the first since longtime coach Barb de Groot retired and the gymnastic program started up again in the district four years ago led by coach Rhonda Dale.

“Winning a team award with a small team is hard to do, and I am so proud of our girls for the work they have done to prepare themselves for Provincials - hard work which led two of our teams to success,” Rhonda said.

And CSS principal Charlie Coleman echoes Rhonda’s sentiments.

“This group of students has had some amazing success. I have watched many of them progress over the years, as many of them started with this back in middle school,” said principal Coleman, who was administrator at Quamichan before moving to CSS last September. “The students and their parents should be very proud.”

Rhonda and staff sponsor Geoff Drew put in countless hours with the team, he said. Rhonda also noted the volunteer work of Lonni Gamble and Fran Schneidmiller.

District gymnasts also did well individually among athletes from 50 schools. CSS athletes came up with 10 top-ten results at the meet. With all levels combined, the school’s boys and girls took seventh place. Mt. Prevost’s combined finish was tenth.

“Our young gymnasts work very hard in their short season to accomplish their goals in gymnastics,” said coach Rhonda. “We have 25 athletes from five different schools in the district – George Bonner, Frances Kelsey, Cowichan, Quamichan and Mt. Prevost.”

“The district had a strong team with Barb, and then when she retired, the team disbanded for a year,” Rhonda explained. “The next year we started with mostly new kids.”

The district group has grown to include more levels and more members. This year girls have been competing in levels 1 to 4 with boys competing in levels 1 to 3. In both boys and girls events there are 5 levels.

The group trains from November to February twice a week – one day at Quamichan and one day at local club Duncan Dynamics at the old pool site in the Cowichan Centre.

“Training at the club allows the team more access to equipment, including the sprung floor, and has helped improve all the athletes’ skills,” Rhonda said.