Best in the State — Lakewood gymnasts dominated the competition to bring home a record eight state titles in the USAG championships. Gymnasts contributing to the big day included (from left) Kelly Childress, state champion in bars; and Bridget Bradberry, state champion in beam.

State Champions — Lakewood gymnasts dominated the competition to bring home a record eight state titles in the USAG championships. Gymnasts contributing to the big day included (from left) Mercee Eubank, state champion in bars and all around; Madison Graves, state champion in floor, beam and all-around; and Anna Kate Arnold, state champion in floor.

A recent visit by Olympian Shannon Miller, the most decorated American gymnast in history, has set a winning tone for competitors at Lakewood Gymnastics in Martin. The local gymnasts, still basking in the glow of Miller's golden visit, brought home the most USAG state championships in the history of Lakewood. Lakewood gymnasts captured a total of eight state championships. In the Level 4 session, Kelly Childress, age 8, was the bars champion with a score of 9.4. Another Lakewood eight year old, Bridget Bradberry, was the beam champion with a score of 9.1. In the Level 4 division for nine year olds, a score of 9.5 was good enough to make Anna Kate Arnold the champion in the floor exercise. Lakewood had two state champions in the optional session. Mercee Eubank, age 12, was a two-time state champion including earning a win in the most difficult category — All-Around. Eubank captured first on the bars with a score of 8.95 and earned the All-Around championship with a total of 36.975. In the 10 year old age group, Madison Graves dominated the competition to earn three state championships. Graves won in the floor with a 9.25, won on the beam with a 9.7 and took the tough All-Around title with a score of 36.9. The Lakewood gymnasts are trained by head coach Ed Phillips, Jennifer Sowell, Anne Alford, Abbie Turbeville, Caitlin Simpson and Bethany Fuller. The gymnasts will complete their season by competing in the AAU State Championships this weekend.