A first major competitive meet is in store for a pair of Mountain Shadows gymnasts.
Charice Ling and Emily Duncan punched their ticket to the 2024 Alberta Winter Games, the first major competition for their classification in the sport, after earning their way through trials in Wetaskiwin over the Dec. 16-17 weekend.
“I’m really grateful for this experience,” said Ling. “This is my first really big thing because I’m representing my club, my zone, it’s a lot of pride to take with you.
“Competing against the best of the best, the top four make it so it’s going to be champions against champions.”
Ling and Duncan will represent Zone 2 Big Country with the top four from levels 6 and 7 at trials getting the nod. In total, seven athletes from the Okotoks club tried out.
“You have to be top four overall, all four events together to give them their overall score,” said Mountain Shadows head coach and owner Jim McLuskey. “Winter Games is kind of a funny age group, you’re basically all together from ages 11 to 17 and the girls are mainly used to competing in a specific where you’re against other 12-, 13-year-olds.”
Ling, a 13-year-old Level 7 athlete, qualified in first place in all of her events.
“It was a nice, fun experience and I just liked supporting my teammates and having fun up there,” Ling said. “I just had more of a winner’s mindset, I like to keep a positive mindset and like to think of everything I can do and just perform the best I can.”
The 11-year-old Duncan said the beam and floor events were tops among her performances at trials and attributed her success to staying positive and in the moment.
“It was really fun and nerve-racking at the same time just having my first competition actually kind of counting,” said Duncan, who was competing for the first time at Level 6. “I was more focused on my mindset because I feel like the better mindset you have, the more you won’t beat yourself up about whatever happens.”
Duncan, a seven-year member of Mountain Shadows, said she’s excited to make memories in Grande Prairie.
“It’s being there and feeling the pride that you’ll have when you’re there, trying to put out your best effort and making new friends,” she said.
The 2024 Alberta Winter Games lift off on Feb. 16-19 in Grande Prairie.
For more information, go to 2024awg.com.
