Grace Thunderettes bring home medals

The Grace Thunderettes of Valley Stream took home several medals at the Junior Olympics recently. The Olympics were held in Virginia Beach from July 29 to Aug. 7. Baton twirling events ran from Aug. 3-6.

Following an 8 a.m. parade of athletes on Aug. 3, the competition began. Group events were held on Aug. 3 and 4, with solo events following the next two days. There were medal ceremonies each evening.

The Thunderettes junior girls group won a gold medal in the Beginner Small Dance Twirl division. Twirlers are Brittany Demma, 8, Jessica Schultz, 8, Julianna Tarrant, 10, and Elizabeth Colgan, 9.

Demma won a gold medal in the solo Beginner Military Strut event, and took fourth place in both Beginner Basic Strut and Novice One Baton Solo.

The senior girls teams won a silver medal in the Beginner Small Dance Twirl ages 16 - 20. Participants were Elizabeth Wasek, 17, Stefania Cuomo, 14, Alessandra Ansbach, 17, Chelsearae Geradino, 19, and Kristinn Lindman, 17.

Wasek took fourth place in Advanced Military Strut, fifth place in Advanced Basic Strut and Intermediate One Baton, and sixth place in Freestyle Solo. Geradino was awarded a gold medal in Beginner Basic Strut and Cuomo took fifth place in Beginner Solo.

Alessandra Ansbach placed in six solo events. She won the gold in Beginner Military Strut, silver in Beginner Basic Strut, took fourth place in Beginner One Baton Solo, fifth in Multiple Baton Solo and Beginner Two Baton Solo and 10th in Freestyle Solo.

In September, the team will begin registering members for the upcoming season and preparing for the 2011 Junior Olympics which will be held in New Orleans. The meets and practices at Grace United Methodist Church.