By Lindsey Mestdagh ’13 | Staff Writer

The Grosse Pointe United gymnastics team will travel to Plymouth High School this Saturday for the State Championship beginning at noon, coach Courtney Schafer said.

Teams have to place in the top eight of an event or top six in the all-around at the regional championship meet in order to qualify for the State Championship, Schafer said.

Aubryn Samaroo ‘13 qualified from South and seniors Emma Abessinio, Madison Bush, Emily Griffith and junior Caitlin Gaitley all qualified from North. Abessinio and Samaroo will return for their second year to state competition, Schafer said.

“The team has done surprisingly well this year after losing a few all-around seniors last year,” said Captain Samaroo. “Some of the underclassmen have stepped up to fill their spots as have some of the returning girls on the team by adding more events to their training.”

The team peaked at just the right time at the end of the season for the regional meet, Samaroo said.

Abessinio won four titles at this year’s regional championships, including the all-around championship, Schafer said. If she hits all her routines at the state championship, she should be contending for a couple of state titles, Schafer said.

“Samaroo has qualified on both beam and floor, where she really stands out,” said Schafer. “She has one of the most exciting floor performances in the whole state and should be in the mix for all-state honors on that event especially.”

Abessinio is competing in the all-around competition, Griffith is on beam, and Bush, Gaitly, and Samaroo are on the beam and floor, Samaroo said.

“For the last few weeks, the team has focused on polishing our routines in practice and working hard to get in the right mindset to compete at big competitions, especially on the beam,” said Samaroo.

The team’s biggest competition is Canton, Samaroo said. They are one of the best teams in the state.

“Our team has trained well all year to prepare for meets just like this,” said Samaroo. “I think we’re ready.”

The competition is different every year, but the top 10 place and make all-state, Samaroo said.

“I think they all will have a good meet; they are doing their best gymnastics of the season and they are ready for the competition,” said Schafer.“It is hard to predict the result of any gymnastics meet, because the results at this level are measured out in hundreds of a tenth, but I think that some of the girls have a great shot at earning all-state awards by placing in the top 10 on an event at States.”

The pressure to hit your routine at the regional meet is huge and they’ve all already achieved a major accomplishment by qualifying, Schafer said.

“The girls are definitely prepared to have a great competition, but I hope they have fun too,” said Schafer.