Monarch's athletes take home the gold

WINNERS- Above, Level 5 and 6 teams from Monarch's Gym take home a total of 20 medals in the L.A. Lights competition, the largest rhythmic gymnastics invitational in the world. Below, a victorious Lukas Epperson is all smiles after winning four purple ribbons and two yellow ribbons at the Men's Gymnastics Association meet recently. All the young athletes train at Monarch's National Gymnastics Training Center in Agoura Hills and Newbury Park.

Gymnasts from Monarch's Gym in Agoura Hills and Newbury Park fared well in recent competitions in the Southland.

The Monarchs Gym boys' gymnastics team participated in its first competition last month at the Men's Gymnastics Assocation meet in Chino, Calif.

Lukas Epperson, 6, of Agoura Hills won four purple "outstanding performance" ribbons and two yellow "excellent performance" ribbons. He trains at the gym in Newbury Park along with John Ferraro, 7, of Newbury Park, who also won four purple and two yellow ribbons in the competition.

Dawson Medlock, 7, of Moorpark earned three purple and two yellow ribbons, while his teammate Chase Tachau, 7, of Woodland Hills received one purple and four yellow ribbons. Dawson and Chase train at the gym in Agoura Hills.

Other gymnasts competing at the meet were Matteo Jackson, 7, and Josiah Leman, 8, from the Newbury Park facility. Tyler Barron, 7, and Christopher Yanchev, 10, train at the Agoura Hills gym.

Gymnasts from Monarch's in Agoura Hills also did well last month at LA Lights, a rhythmic gymnastics invitational in Culver City.

Level 5 and 6 teams won a total of 20 medals in places 1 through 6 in individual events. Kayla Carter and Lily Kobabe from Oak Park took first place in the all-around for level 5 juniors and level 6 juniors, respectively.

Other team members were Brigita Budginas, Claire Daly, Noelle Darden, Jacqueline Buckley, Gina Retting and Corinne Kentor.

Monarch's National Gymnastics Training Center is at 5331 Derry Ave., Ste. H-C, Agoura Hills and 3599 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park.

For information, call Agoura Hills at (818) 889-3634 or Newbury Park at (805) 375-4663.