The Alabama Optional/Xcel State Gymnastics Championship took over the Foley Event Center March 25-27 as over 800 gymnasts competed for a spot at regional competition. Four Baldwin County gymnasts clinched a spot at the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Regional Competition May 6-8 in Foley.

Eastern Shore Gymnastics Academy in Daphne had three of their 19 gymnasts qualify for regionals. Rosie Roberds, age 8 of Fairhope and Rylee Cumpston, age 10 of Spanish Fort, both qualified for the Xcel Platinum regionals. Luci LeCroy, age 11 of Fairhope qualified for the Xcel Gold regionals. The Xcel Bronze team won third place team overall at the state championship. Additionally, Roberds is the Xcel Platinum vault champion in her age group and LeCroy is the Xcel Gold beam champion in her age group.

Saoirse McDaniel, a gymnast with Flip City Academy in Foley, is Xcel Gold beam champion in her age group and qualified for Xcel Gold regionals. McDaniels is 14 and lives in Daphne. She has been training at Flip City since she was 6 under coaches Carlie Childs and Buck and Lisa Mears.

The top gymnasts from eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee will compete at the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Regional Competition May 6-8 at the Foley Event Center.