Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Two Jonesboro gymnasts recently took their skills to the national stage, competing against some of the nation’s top young athletes at the AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, IA.

Heartland Gymnastics athletes Nora Best and Esse Banse both finished among the top competitors in the Xcel Silver division, combining for multiple top five event finishes and strong all-around performances.

The AAU Junior Olympics brought together young gymnasts from across the country, giving 9- and 10-year-old Best and Banse an opportunity to represent Jonesboro at one of the biggest competitions of their season.

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The two gymnasts were part of a larger group of ten athletes from Heartland Gymnastics locations in
Jonesboro and Cape Girardeau, MO, who competed at the AAU Junior Olympics.

For the two athletes and their coaches, competing at the Junior Olympics marked the culmination of months of training, preparation, perseverance and dedication.

Best finished 8th in the Xcel Silver all-around with a 37.800, posting three top-five event finishes. She earned a 9.650 on floor exercise to finish 4th, a 9.550 on bars for 5th and a 9.350 on beam for 5th. She also earned a 9.250 on vault.

Banse finished 6th in the all-around with a 37.525, highlighted by a 9.500 on balance beam to take 4th place. She also earned a 9.425 on bars, 9.400 on floor and 9.200 on vault.

Together, the two Jonesboro athletes recorded seven top-five event finishes, demonstrating the consistency and competitive preparation required to perform at the national level.

“Getting to compete at the Junior Olympics is an accomplishment these athletes should be extremely proud of,” said Heartland Gymnastics owner Kassi Knight-Younger. “Nora and Esse have worked incredibly hard to earn this opportunity, and watching them step onto a national competition floor and represent Jonesboro and Heartland with confidence and determination was something we’re incredibly proud of. These are the experiences that help young athletes realize just how far their hard work can take them.”

For Best and Banse, the Junior Olympics provided more than an opportunity to compete for medals. It gave them the chance to experience the atmosphere of a national competition, compete alongside athletes from across the country and measure their progress against some of the strongest gymnasts in their division.

“Competing at this level is about so much more than the final score,” said Coach Aubrie Ellinger. “Nora and Esse worked for months to get themselves ready for this opportunity. They handled the pressure, supported each other and competed with confidence. We’re incredibly proud of how they represented Jonesboro and Heartland.”

The national competition capped a successful season for the Jonesboro athletes and gave them an opportunity to bring the hard work they had put in throughout the year to a national stage.

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