Maui Gymnasts Win Gold Medals at State Meet

Valley Isle Gymnastics’ Daniel Kapua holds the static-lever position on rings as his coach Rusty Gage looks on. Photo by Valley Isle Gymnastics.

By Rodney S. Yap

A pair of teenage boys from Valley Isle Gymnastics men’s competitive team earned multiple gold medals at the Hawaii State Championships gymnastics meet Sunday, March 17, on Oahu.

The annual competition, open to all Hawaii gymnasts, features the best gymnasts the 50th state has to offer.

Valley Isle Gymnastics’ Daniel Kapua, 13, earned gold medals on the rings, vault, and high bar for Level 4. He also won a bronze medal on floor exercise.

Teammate Jonathan You, 14, is currently the only registered Level 8 male gymnast in the state. Being the sole competitor at this skill level, You won uncontested gold medals on all apparatuses — rings, vault, high bar and floor exercise.

You used the state competition to prepare for the upcoming USA Gymnastics Regional Championships, where his last regional performance netted Hawaii its only compulsory medal.

This year’s regional competition is slated for April 4-7 in Reno, NV. You will compete with athletes from California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Valley Isle Gymnast Thomas Logan does a split handstand on the floor exercise at the state championships. Photo by Valley isle Gymnastics.

Also competing for Valley Isle Gymnastics at the State Championships were:

* Thomas Logan, 6, placed 2nd on floor, 2nd on rings, 2nd on vault, and 3rd on high bar in Junior Level 4.

* Austin Cablay, 15, placed 3rd on floor, 4th on rings, 6th on vault, and 5th on high bar in Level 5.

* Adam Bartlett, 15, placed 5th on floor, 3rd on rings, 5th on vault, and 3rd on high bar in Level 5.

Cablay and Bartlett will also be representing Hawaii at the Regional Championships.