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The Red Oaks Lightning Bolts Shine in Jump Rope Invitational
The Red Oaks School
21 Cutler Street
Morristown, New Jersey 07860
Contact Information: Cora Meader Thomases, Dir. Communications
973-539-7853
cthomases@redoaksschool.org
The Red Oaks School Lightning Bolts Shine in Mid-Atlantic Jump Rope Invitational
Morristown, February 25, 2009 -- Members of The Red Oaks School Lightning Bolts, an American Heart Association (AHA) Demonstration Jump Rope Team based in Morristown, New Jersey, participated in their first ever AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) competition at the Mid-Atlantic Jump Rope Invitational in Cooksville, Maryland on Saturday, February 7, 2009. The many hours of practice, preparation and raw dedication by this young group of jumpers paid off as every member of the team took home ribbons from the event!
The competition brought together advanced, intermediate and novice jumpers who competed within their experience class, in three separate age groups and three different jump rope events: Speed (number of times a jumper circulates the rope in one minute), Power (number of times the jumper completes “double unders” – two rotations of the rope with one jump – in one minute), and Freestyle (a creative single rope routine put to music). Members of the Lightning Bolts team competed in all three of these events within the Novice category.
As first time competitors, the team performed exceptionally well. Top performances by each participating team member within their age categories were:
| Team Member | Place | Event | | Annie Behre (6th grader of Basking Ridge) | 2nd | Freestyle | | Marley Carroll (4th grader of Chester) | 4th | Power | | Anna Hope Emerson (5th grader of Morristown) | 1st | Power | | Lori Fong (5th grader of Whippany) | 5th, 6th | Speed, Power | | Genevieve Lewis (4th grader of Morristown) | 5th | Speed | | Casey Maslan (5th grader of Morristown) | 4th | Freestyle | | Erin Mooney (5th grader of New Providence) | 3rd, 4th | Speed, Power | | Raphael Pelczman (4th grader of Morristown) | 3rd, 3rd | Speed, Power |
Additionally, 1st grader Anabel Carroll of Chester, the newest member of the Lightning Bolts with just 3 months of experience, enthusiastically competed in the Speed event and earned a green ribbon for her participation!
“I didn’t think we would win anything because it was our first time competing,” said 4th grader Marley Carroll of Chester. “The other teams were very experienced and had been practicing longer. But we concentrated and we tried our best. It was fun.”
“This was a once in a lifetime chance, really,” said 4th grader Raphael Pelczman of Morristown. “And I was glad to see how many boys were doing jump rope.”
Although Coach Susan Waldrop was thrilled with her team’s performance, she was even more impressed with the way they applied themselves to the task and so willingly embraced the new experience of “competition.”
“Our young group of 1st–5th graders has so much enthusiasm for the sport,” said Ms. Waldrop. “They have been jumping and performing for a while now, but the idea of competing is new to them. They pursued this event with a sense of adventure, dedication and perseverance that would impress anyone. I’m so very proud of them!”The Lightning Bolts is the brainchild of Red Oaks physical education teacher Susan Waldrop who founded the team 7 years ago. The team earned its American Heart Association credentials as an official Demonstration Jump Rope Team in 2004. The team practices throughout the school year and performs at area schools in northern New Jersey, often in conjunction with AHA’s Jump Rope for Heart fundraising initiative.
About The Red Oaks School
The Red Oaks School, founded in 1965, is a fully accredited independent day school serving a diverse population of students ages 3 to 12: “The mission of the Red Oaks School is to lay the foundation for students to be engaged global citizens, equipped with 21st century skills. Our dynamic curriculum is based on core Montessori principles, enhanced by current educational research. The Red Oaks School provides a culturally diverse environment in which students develop a love of learning, a strong social conscience, and a spirit of discovery as they pursue their full academic and personal potential.” The school is among a select group of schools nationwide to earn triple accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the American Montessori Society, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The Red Oaks School admits students regardless of sex, race, and religious beliefs. |
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