Easley Gymnasts Competing at State Meet

Easley gymnasts will be among the hundreds competing for a state title this weekend at Furman's Timmons Arena.

Foothills Gymnastics and Cheer Center, Inc. will be hosting the 2013 SC State Xcel Gymnastics Meet March 15-17, according to Foothills Gymnastics and Cheer Center Owner Kim Patterson.

“We have 42 gyms from across South Carolina and 800 gymnasts competing,” she said. “It's pretty big.

We have people coming in from the coast, all the way to the Upstate.”

The meet kicks off at 3pm and runs through the weekend, starting at 8am on both Saturday and Sunday. The meet will conclude with an awards ceremony at 8:45pm Sunday.

“The girls will compete in vault, uneven bars, balance bars and floor exercise areas,” Patterson said. “Just like you see in the Olympics.”

Gymnasts will be competing for the state title in the age group, from age 5 up to age 17-18.

“We're excited because we have our first senior that's graduating from high school competing,” Patterson said. “There's only five high school seniors out of the 800 competing.”

Kelsey Limbaugh is an honors student at Easley High School and will be attending Clemson University.

“She's been with Foothills since she was in preschool, twelve or thirteen years,” Patterson said.

Admission to the meet with $30 for a family of five.

“It's $30 for a family of two adults and three children,” Patterson said. “That gets you in for the entire weekend. Once you pay, you get a wristband and you get to come back.”

Individuals will pay $15 for the weekend. Senior citizens will pay $10 for the weekend. Children $5 and under are free.

Vendors will be selling gym apparel during the meet.

“Timmons is a really nice arena,” Patterson said. “They have a really nice concessions stand if you want to get something to eat at the meet.”

Patterson is excited her gym is hosting the event.

“This is the first time this meet's been held in the Greenville area in years,” she said. “This is a big deal for the Greenville area.”