Shrewbsury – Local gymnast Lianne Josbacher from the Gymnastics Learning Center in Shrewsbury recently won 1st place in the All-Around for the 15- to 16-year age bracket at Level 10 in the 2012 Massachusetts Junior Olympic Gymnastics Championships, held at Auburn High School.
Josbacher achieved the highest All-Around score among all Level 10 gymnasts at this year's state meet. She also tied for 1st place in the Floor Exercises, and placed 2nd on Vault and 3rd on Beam and Uneven Bars. Her consistency in all four events rewarded her with the championship.
She achieved personal best scores on Beam (9.525), Floor (9.70) and All-Around (38.0). This is her fourth year at level 10, the highest level in the Junior Olympic Gymnastics program of USA Gymnastics. Her goal is to qualify for the Elite program of USAG.
The next competition will be in Andover at the regional championships, which will include top-level gymnasts from the six New England states, as well as New York. Last year, Josbacher won the top spot in her age bracket and then led the Region 6 team to the JO Nationals competition in Long Beach, Ca.
She trains with coaches Robert and Nikki McElroy at the Gymnastics Learning Center on Lake Street in Shrewsbury, where she has been developing her gymnastics skills for 15 years.
