It is gymnasts time! This is the third annual NoDak Northern Lights Invitational Gymnastics event at the Roughrider Center, Watford City March 5-7.
Word spread like wildfire as this invitational has become a popular “destination” meet for some gyms.
This year there will be 530 athletes competing at this year’s event from: Watford City, Williston, Dickinson, Minot, Bismarck, Carrington, Beulah, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Ray/Tioga, plus two gyms from Fargo, ND; Sidney, Billings, Miles City, and Circle, MT; Gillette, WY; Sturgis, SD.
What makes this year’s event special in the venue at the Rough Rider Center is due to Covid-19 most competitions have been held in the hosts’ actual gymnastics’ gym with only one or two spectators allowed to watch, which meant not all members of a competitor’s family were able to watch them participate. The Center has safe spaced seating available for 850 spectators, meaning gymnast’s entire family can view the competitions.
NoDak has an incredible awards ceremony, handing out more awards including: t-shirts for scores of 9.5 and above; sweatshirts to the All Around champion at every level; “stick it” awards for stuck routines; a totally unique AA for every gymnast.-First year is a hoodie, second year is a pair of Crocs. This year a “surprise “ that will light up their lives. In addition, there will be “Celebration Booths” for the top five teams at each level receiving a celebratory pizza-sized cookie to share and team photos will be taken. There will be a gymnast “mini-mall” for them to shop. Also amenities such as hair braiding, professional massage therapist and photographers to take individual photos of every gymnast during the competition.
There will be two different categories of gymnastics athletes competing at this year’s event. Junior Olympic, consisting of athletes training 1-10, levels one being the easiest while ten being the most difficult. Xcel levels are bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond. The difference between the two is the Junior Olympic levels train more hours per week, Xcel levels train fewer hours per week.
Competition times & days March 5, 6,7.
Fri. Session 1: 1:30 p.m., Level 8/9/10 Xcel Platinum/Xcel Diamond
Sat. Session 2: 6 p.m., Xcel Gold.
Sat. Session 3: 8:30 a.m., Level 3
Sat. Session 4: 1 p.m., Level 4
Sat. Session 5: 5:45 p.m., Level 4 & 5
Sun. Session 6: 8:45 a.m., Xcel Bronze
Sun. Session 7: 11:45 a.m., Xcel Silver
Sun. Session 8: 3:45 p.m., Level 6 & 7
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