By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
The area will have plenty of athletic events this weekend with swimming and gymnastics meets, and the annual Big Blue wrestling tournament to the Christiansburg High School, bringing an estimated 4,000 participants and fans to the New River Valley.
The 2019 Big Blue participants include: Christiansburg, Grayson County, William Monroe, Blacksburg, Collegiate, Radford, Greenbrier East, Rockbridge, Auburn, Eastern View, Washington (WVa.), Patrick Henry, Staunton River, William Byrd, Carroll County, Courtland, Salem, Abingdon, William Fleming and Powhatan.
The Blue Demons are the defending champions, having won four straight team titles, and had six individual champions last year en route to their 17th straight state title.
The second annual Rockstar Invitational gymnastic meet will bring a large contingent of participants, family, coaches and fans January 19-21 to the Christiansburg Recreation Center.
The event is memory of Cassidy Foster, a 12-year-old Level 7 gymnast who passed away in 2007 after battling osteosarcoma. Special awards are given in memory of Cassidy including a memorial award given to the gymnast with the highest event score at each level of each session. “Sassy Kassy” awards are also given to gymnasts who win ongoing karoke contests.
The fun begins with march-in and continues through award ceremonies and finishes in the VIP Room! The girls enter the competition arena like rock stars.
Gymnasts are given back stage passes to a VIP area where they can play games, primp at the primping station, get some healthy snacks, have their picture taken, or just chill. A scholarship to Flip Fest Gymnastics Camp in honor of Kassidy will also be presented.
Medals will be given to the top 50% + 1 on each event in each age division. Trophies are given to the top three in the all-around. Plaques are given to the gymnasts with the highest event score for each session at each level, regardless of age.
Schedule:
Saturday, January 19
8 a.m., Session 1 – Gold A- Aerial East (2), Flipstarz, Gymnastics, Inc. (2), Head over Heels, Mountain Empire, Peak Gymnastics, Revolution, River City, Southern Elite.
10:55 a.m., Session 2 – Gold B- Dynamics, Positively, Prestige, Roanoke (2), Unity, VA Techniques (2)
2:20 p.m., Session 3 – Level 6- Aerial East, Dynamic, Elite, Mountain Empire, Flipstarz, Peak, Pure, Shenandoah, Southern Elite, Unity, VA Techniques (2).
6:15 p.m., Session 4 – Level 8, 9, 10- Flipstarz (2), Pure, Mountain Empire, Revolution (2), Shenandoah, Unity, VIGS (2), VA Techniques (2).
Sunday, January 20
8 a.m., Session 5 – Level 5, 7- Aerial East (2), Dynamics, Elite, Flipstarz, Mountain Empire, Pure, Roanoke, Revolution, Shenandoah, Southern Elite, Unity, VA Techniques (2)
11:55 a.m., Session 6 – Level 3, Bronze- Aerial East (Bronze), Dynamics (L3), Elite (L3, Bronze), Gymnastics, Inc. (Bronze), Hart (Bronze), Head over Heels (Bronze), Maverick (L3, Bronze), Peak (Bronze), Positively (Bronze), Pure (L3), River City (L3), Roanoke (Bronze), Shenandoah (L3), Unity (L3)
2:35 p.m., Session 7 – Level 3- Aerial East (2), Gymstrada (2), Roanoke (2), VIGS, VA Techniques (2).
5:30 p.m., Session 8 -Level 4- Aerial East, Dynamic, Elite, Gymstrada (2), Maverick, Pure (2), Revolution, River City, Roanoke, Shenandoah, Southern Elite, Unity, VA Techniques (2).
Monday, January 21 8 a.m., Session 9 – Platinum, Diamond- Aerial East, Blue Ridge, Capital (2), Elite, Gymnastics, Inc., Hart, Head over Heels, Mountain Empire, Peak, Revolution, River City, Roanoke, Southern Elite, VA Techniques.
Noon, Session 10 – Bronze- Dynamics, Flipstarz, Prestige (4), River City, Southern Elite, Unity, VA Techniques.
2:30 p.m., Session 11 – Silver A- Aerial East, Flipstarz, Gymnastics, Inc., Mountain Empire, Revolution (2), River City (2), Southern Elite, Unity
5:15 p.m., Session 12 – Silver B: Blue Ridge (2), Dynamic, Elite, Hart, Head over Heels, Peak, Positively, Prestige, Roanoke, VA Techniques.
There is general admission for each day of the gymnastics meet with weekend passes available. Ages 5 and under are free. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. each day. Others are: 6 to 12- $5 per day, $10 per weekend; 13 and up- $10 per day, $15 per wknd; 60 and up-$5 per day, $10 per weekend.
The Christiansburg Recreation Center will be completely closed during the gymnastics event.
