Kortlyn Hill and Danica Abanto congratulate each other during the Rose City Classic Meet Saturday at UT Tyler's Herrington Patriot Center. Photo by Jake A. Waddingham

East Texas Gymnastics continues to be a force in the regional landscape, and just to prove it once more, the Level 9 and 10 gymnasts displayed their prowess Saturday night on the toughest apparatus.

One by one, the seven TEG Level 9 and 10 competitors took their turn on the balanced beam. Each one completed their highly technical routines without a single fall.

Sidney Dukes went last and saved the best for the anchor spot, posting a 9.6 score on her routine to win the event in her age division of Level 10 Jr. B.

It was extra special for Dukes, who was performing in her first full competition after a two-year recovery from injuries.

“To finally have a season to just compete; not win, but just compete (injury free) and be proud that I finally did an all-around,” said Dukes, 16, who attends Robert E. Lee High School. “I am pretty proud of myself. I had a few falls and stumbles, but nothing I can’t fix.”

Dukes went on to also win floor exercise with a 9.75. Her teammates, Angela Rogers and Savanna Maradiaga finished 1-2 in the all around for Level 10 Jr. B with Dukes third.

Theirs were three of many top finishes Texas East racked up on the second night of competition at the Seventh Annual Rose City Gymnastics Classic at UT Tyler’s Herrington Patriot Center.

All told, the seven competing Level 9 and 10 gymnasts from Texas East racked up 10 either first or second place finishes on the night. That success culminated in Texas East finishing as the overall first-place team for Level 10, the highest competing division. TEG could’ve also won Level 9, but needed at least three gymnasts to qualify and only had two Danica Abanto and Kortlyn Hill.

Abanto won her age division for beam (9.3) and uneven bars (9.7) with Hill finishing second in floor (9.425) and third in vault for age group. Maradiaga won the uneven bars (9.5) with Rogers first in the vault (9.7).

TEG’s Sarah Shaffer finished as overall champion for Level 10 Jr. A — beating eight other gymnastics — thanks to a second-place finish in vault (9.6), first place in uneven bars (9.625), first in balanced beam (9.5) and overcame a sixth in floor exercise (9.25) because of a late fall.

“It definitely gives us more adrenaline and gets us pumped up to be competing in front of all of our teammates from our gym because they usually can’t come to Houston or Dallas,” said Shaffer, 16, who attends East Texas Christian Academy.

“Everybody from school is always like, ‘Oh, I bet I can do what you can do, a cartwheel.’ They don’t understand the work and effort we put in to be at this level and this meet (allows them to see that).”

Emily Rickman, who recently signed a gymnastics scholarship to Utah State, has competed in all seven Rose City Gymnastics Classic while ascending up through the levels. In her final-ever event, she posted a 9.525 in the floor exercise, which gave her second place in the event.

“I just love this meet. I love the energy,” Rickman said. “I look forward to it every year because I get to invite people from school, people from church, my neighbors and just everybody; and they all get to watch what I’ve spent two-thirds of my life doing.”

Notes: The seven TEG Level 9 and 10 gymnasts who competed were: Sarah Shaffer (10 Jr. A), Sidney Dukes (10 Jr. B), Savanna Maradiaga (10 Jr. B), Emily Rickman (10 Sr.), Angela Rogers (10 Jr. B), Danica Abanto (9 Jr. B) and Kortlyn Hill (9 Sr.) … The competition continues Sunday with the Level 7s at 8:40 a.m. and Level 8s at 12:55 p.m.