Posted: Thursday, July 9, 2009 1:20 pm

National Champ — Madison Graves, age 12, was named national champion after earningboth gold and bronze medals at the 2009 AAU National Gymnastics Championship held June 24-28 in Savannah, Ga. Graves, a Level 7 gymnast who trains at Lakewood Gymnastics in Martin, competed against 10 other gymnasts from three other states in her age bracket. She won first place in the all-around, balance beam and uneven bars, placed third in the floor and fifth in the vault. Graves, daughter of Kenny and Marian Graves of McKenzie, was accompanied to the competition by coaches Caitlin Simpson and Jennifer Sorrell.