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Forbes Flyers Are Champions — Again!
The seventh annual United States National Jump Rope Championship was held June 20-23 at Disney World's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida; over 750 competitors from all over the United States participated. Twenty-two members of the Forbes Flyers Jump Rope Team from Torrington qualified to compete in this event; this was the team's sixth year in this national competition.
Top honors went to four Forbes Flyers who attend Torrington High School: jumpers Sarah Wesolowski, Carly Thompson, Jennifer Giampaolo and Krystal Allen won the Grand National Championship title for the Double Dutch Pairs Speed Event, bringing home trophies that towered at least 30" in height. Three members of this team took home the title last year in Double Dutch Speed Relay. These same jumpers also placed first in this same event, bringing home gold medals in the 18 and over age division.
The next level of recognition was a second-place finish on the final Grand National Championship day in the Double Dutch Speed Relay Event, by Sarah Wesolowski, Krystal Allen, and Carly Thompson. This team with the help of Jennifer Giampaolo also brought home silver medals in the Double Dutch Pairs Speed event in the 18 and over age division.
For the first time the team brought home a fifth place finish in a very difficult event called Team Show. The team's goal this year was to make it to the top five (out of 16 teams competing in this event), and they did it!
Several other members of the Forbes Flyers placed in the top ten, receiving medals or ribbons in their respective age divisions. Their accomplishments are as follows:
In the Double Dutch Speed Relay: Allison Jerram, Anais Nieves and Lauren Marchand won 3rd place in the 12-14 age division. Carly Thompson, Marlee Colligan and Hali Colligan won 5th place in the 15-17 age division. Cameron Audia, Katie Hassig and Vicki Renzullo won 8th place; and Kristen Domonell, Serena Warner and Heidi Warner won 9th place in the 15-17 age division.
In the Double Dutch Pairs Speed: Allison Jerram, Anais Nieves, Lauren Marchand and Nicole Morrison won 7th place in the 12-14 age division. Kristen Domonell, Heidi Warner, Serena Warner and Marlee Colligan won 5th place; and Katie Hassig, Cameron Audia, Hali Colligan and Vicki Renzullo won 10th place in the 15-17 age division.
In the Double Dutch Single Freestyle: Allison Jerram, Anais Nieves and Lauren Marchand won 6th place in the 12-14 age division. Katie Hassig, Cameron Audia and Vicki Renzullo won 7th place in the 15-17 age division.
A category added last year ranks the teams who participated in the tournament based on the total number of medals won. Out of 67 teams, the Forbes Flyers placed 19th. We were very happy with our placement, considering we had just 22 participants out of the total of 750.
Other Forbes Flyers participants not previously mentioned were Danielle Cables, Danielle Greenwood, Nicole Morse, Stephanie Scoville, Priscilla Forrest, and Margaret Pelchat.
The tournament will air on ESPN on Monday, September 9 at a time to be announced; stay tuned and watch the Flyers "Take Off." Just one week before the Nationals, several team members participated in the World Invitational Double Dutch Tournament held in Sumter, South Carolina. For more info about the Forbes Flyers, contact Janice Harrington, team coach and physical education teacher at Forbes School.
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