Best to challenge the young gymnasts right out of the gate, pitting them against opponents from top-end clubs from Eastern Ontario.

That seemed to be the mantra of the Sudbury Laurels (GymZone) as the team travelled to Ottawa last month for their first provincial qualifier of the season, their youngsters matched against those of the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre, Nepean Corona School of Gymnastics, Rideau Gymnastics as well as the host Les Sitelles Gymnastics Club, all prominent names in the sport in the nation's capital.

Despite the competition, the locals returned home with an absolute boatload of medals, led by the likes of Gracie Currie (Level 7 - ages 11/12 - gold in all four events and all-around aggregate - currently ranked first of 57 in this division in the province), Lilia Martic (Level 3 - age 9 - gold on bars, beam, floor and AA), Addison Quennville (Level 5 - ages 11/12 - gold on vault, bars and AA) and Avery Roy (Level 9 - age 13+ - bronze on vault and bars in her very first Level 9 meet).

Earning silver medals were all-around aggregate second place finishers Maelle Gauthier (Level 3 - age 11), Claire Dotta (Level 3 - age 11), Valerie Laverdiere (Level 4 - age 12) and Cadence MacDonald (Level 5 - ages 11/12), with Dotta picking up gold on beam, Laverdiere doing likewise on vault and floor and MacDonald following suit on the floor.

Placing their in AA were Mila Zelionka (Level 3 - age 9; silver on vault), Teagan Talbot (Level 3 - age 11), Madison Lynds (Level 4 - age 12; gold on beam) and Klara Martic (Level 6 - age 12; gold on floor).

Rounding out the 18-gymnast contingent were Paige Hope (Level 3 - age 10; bronze on beam), Bria Recoskie (Level 6 - age 12; gold on vault), Camilla Burns (Level 7 - age 15+; personal best score at level 7), Isabelle Tabele (Level 3 - age 9) and Emma Morin (Level 3 - age 9) and Dagny Lilly (Level 3 - age 10), the latter two making their first ever appearance in a competitive event.