Sports
- Last Updated on Thursday, 02 March 2017 01:26
The annual Ryan Burkholder Memorial Polar Bear Meet was held on January 27, 28 and 29, 2017 at Falcon Gymnastics & Fitness in Belle Vernon.
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| Abby Downer of Charleroi on Beam. |
This USA Gymnastics-sanctioned competition hosted 400 competitors from 19 teams traveling from throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. Gymnasts competed in levels 2 through 10 and Xcel and ranged in age from 5 years old to 19.
The meet is held annually in honor of Ryan Burkholder, a former Perryopolis resident who was gymnast, coach and US Army veteran who was tragically killed in 2009. Each year, a senior from Falcon Gymnastics is awarded a scholarship in Ryan's memory. This year, Talladega Dewitt from Monessen, who has competed for over 10 years, received the scholarship.
Additionally, trophies honoring great former Mon Valley gymnastics judges - Martha Kunka, Betty Malinchak and Joanne Giannini – are awarded to the gymnast with the highest all-around in each session.
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