Boys deliver at Victorian championships
A TRIO of Jewish teens who’ve trained together for a decade achieved outstanding results at the Victorian Artistic Gymnastics Championships held on the June long weekend – rising above their own expectations.
A TRIO of Jewish teens who’ve trained together for a decade achieved outstanding results at the Victorian Artistic Gymnastics Championships held on the June long weekend – rising above their own expectations.
Wesley Lions Gymnastics members Asher Ginsberg, Oliver Bergman and Jay Rosenzweig finished the tournament with several first, second and third placings between them in different apparatus in the men’s level 8 open division.
Ginsberg – who finished third overall, first in rings and floor and second in vault – told The AJN that it always feels special when the club members perform well together.
“We’re good mates, we train together 12 hours per week and we’d love to keep progressing together in the sport, and reach level 9 and then senior level 10,” Ginsberg, 19, said.
Bergman, a year 12 Mount Scopus College student, came fourth overall, first in parallel bars, second in pommel, equal second in floor and third in rings.
Rosenzweig, 18, was second in rings and high bar and third in pommel before hurting his knee on the vault, which prevented him from competing in floor. He still finished sixth overall.
Ginsberg said he and Rosenzweig – both first year university students – were away on a gap year for much of 2016, “so we didn’t expect to do too well at the start of this season”.
“But we found we were progressing better than we’d thought, and we qualified for the nationals in May [Rosenzweig finished 17th and Ginsberg 28th], which Oliver missed so he could focus on his studies.
“But I think these results [at the Victorian Championships] exceeded our expectations.
“The floor is my best apparatus, so to also come first in rings was a nice surprise.
“Our coach [Paul Wiwatowski] is amazing, always positive, and he really works a lot on our mental preparation.”
Other Jewish gymnasts who competed at the Victorian Championships included Maccabiah-bound athlete Andie Montag, who finished 16th overall in the level 7, 14 and under category and Yuval Zeev, who finished 27th in level 5 open competition.
SHANE DESIATNIK
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