Stark-Vegas Gymnastics Meet

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Hundreds of young girls gather in Starkville this weekend to compete in the annual Stark-Vegas gymnastics meet.

The 3 day competition attracts athletes from across the state and parts of Tennessee and Louisiana.

600-girls ages 5 to 15 are compete in four events the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercises.

Starkville’s Academy of Competitive and Performing Arts along with several local sponsors are hosting the meet.

Parent and volunteer Heather Schmitt says she hopes today’s event begins to put the focus back on the athletes’ hard work and takes it away from the current publicity gymnastics has received lately.

“Gymnastics, lately has not gotten a good vibe with everything that USA gymnastics has been going through. Our girls work really really hard they are some of the working girls in sports gymnastics is a hard sport. You should see some of the things they do just in conditioning and for them to come out and perform like they do and to have some people come out and see them compete and really work, had to see the fruit of their labor, is really important. It’s really important to us,” said Schmitt.

The competition concludes on Sunday.