Jets Gymnastics duo deliver ‘powerful’ Victorian championships performances

Sagoleo and Jeffers, both 13-year-olds from the Goulburn Valley, placed fourth and fifth in their respective categories against “around 80” competitors from across the state.

While the pair have been to state level before, the pinnacle of level seven gymnastics competition for Jets Gymnastics, it’s the best outing the two have had at such high competition quality.

Sagoleo shone in a floor routine described as “powerful” by Jets Gymnastics coach and centre manager Giles Pritchard, while Jeffers scored highly due to hitting technical skills at a top standard.

“Her routine was a very elegant and powerful routine,” Pritchard said.

“She got a lot of powerful tumbles in her routine and she was very clean in her skills with her split leaps and tumble lines and things like that.

“Rachael did a great job, she was able to handstand on her bars routine and had a really tight routine and, what we call, great gymnastic amplitude in her dismounts.”

But these results weren’t a fluke - it was the culminated product of hours upon hours of dedication.

The five state gymnasts put in tens of hours per week honing their craft.

And at age 13, the cream of the crop Sagoleo and Jeffers both train for 16 hours a week with their coach Glenn Evans, on top of their first year of high school.

“To be competing at that level and to dedicate that much time outside of schooling takes a level of dedication and eagerness to compete,” Pritchard said.

“It’s a lot of hours and hard work.

“As coaches we like to say we have an impact but it’s down to the kids and their attitude and discipline - that’s where the difference is made.

“So to have some of our girls go to state, let alone place on the podium, was an outstanding achievement.

“We are immensely proud of all of our level seven squad girls, and what they have managed to do this season.”