Shae-Lyn Fontaine is making the grade with high marks as a competitive gymnast.
A medal-winning performance at the Lakeland 2010 Alberta Winter Games was followed by another provincial berth for the P3 tyro contender with the Dynamyx Gymnastics Club of St. Albert.
"My routines were better this year," Fontaine said. "I got my skills more perfected and I stuck most of my stuff."
At the northern zone provincial qualifier last month in St. Albert, she placed second all-around on the strength of a first-place showing on vault.
"I did my best in my events," said the Grade 6 Wild Rose Student. "I was kind of surprised with my mark [47.134] because most of the other girls there are really good."
Fontaine also finished third on bars and fifth on beam and floor.
"I thought I would do a little bit better on beam but it was still pretty good," she said. "It's tough because you have to stay on and I'm not so flexible."
At provincials Saturday at Servus Credit Union Place the 12-year-old will compete against 23 gymnasts in her category.
"Some of them are better than me and some are just as good," she said. "My goal is to stay on the beam and place all-around."
Fontaine is making her third appearance at provincials.
"I know what it will be like. You will see a lot of skills by the gymnasts."
Also representing the host Dynamyx club at provincials are Grace Zurawell in P2 argo, Mckenna Stevenson, Grace Sroka and Katie Carson in P2 novice, Carly McConaghie and Bailey Tate in P2 open, Jordan Fenton in P3 tyro, Danielle Fenton in P3 novice, Kasiana Croskery-Sasorith in P3 open and Madison Fontaine in P5 open.
"I'm excited. It's going to be a lot more fun this year because I'm going to be with all my friends. Last time I went by myself," Fontaine said.
At the winter games she was the top level 3 gymnast on vault and shared the all-around team title with her zone 5 teammates.
"To get two medals was really a surprise. I didn't know that I was going to get a team award in all-around so that was pretty nice."
On vault her winning mark was 12.550.
"I find it a little harder to twist sometimes but I stuck it."
Provincial weekend
The levels of provincial competition range from P2 to P5, as well as national and pre-Olympic. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9:05 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Performance Arena.
Day tickets are $10 adult, $5 student/senior and $25 family of four. Meet passes are $20 per adult and $40 for a family of four. Alberta Gymnastic Federation members receive $1 off tickets. Admission for children five years and under is free.
The opening ceremonies are Friday at 5:15 p.m. The event schedule is online at http://www.abgym.ab.ca/programs_pages/wag_registrations/2010ProvincialsSchedule.pdf
