For her recent birthday, Alex Jacobucci, of Brookfield, received quite a useful gift. She just recently earned three gold medals at Level 5 as one of four Riverside Brookfield age group gymnasts who competed at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics, Aug. 4-7, in Des Moines, Iowa.
“My aunt gave me a new medal display hanger so I plan to hang (the medals) in my bedroom. When I look at them, I am still shocked that these achievements are mine,” Jacobucci said. “This was my biggest achievement (in gymnastics). It surprised me to make it to Junior Olympics but it shocked me even more that I did as well as I did.”
Harper Coffelt of North Riverside, who won one title, Clara Giardini of Riverside and Bea Coyle of Brookfield also competed. Matilda Yanz of Riverside and Evelina Black of LaGrange Park also qualified via nationals, June 18-21 in Knoxville, Tennessee but did not compete.
As it turned out, Jacobucci, Coffelt and Giardini were among just four gymnasts in the same Level 5 division.
“I liked being there with my teammates because it is exciting to see them do well,” Jacobucci said. “However it makes doing my best harder because I wish everyone could take home first place. It’s also intimidating because you know how good your teammates are before the meet even starts.”
Jacobucci won all-around (36.70), uneven parallel bars (9.65) and vault (9.3) and Coffelt won floor exercise (9.25). Taking second were Jacobucci on floor (9.05), Coffelt in all-around (36.425) and vault (9.275) and Giardini on uneven bars (9.5) and balance beam (8.825) with a 35.975 all-around total. Competing among nine in Xcel Gold, Coyle was sixth in all-around (37.70) and vault (9.1) and did not reach finals.
Jacobucci received All-America honors with the highest prelim all-around score among all Level 5s (36.525). In her uneven bars finals, Jacobucci achieved a season-high score after a 9.4 in prelims.
“I was surprised to receive all of the awards but especially proud to be the bars champion because all of the other competitors had strong routines,” Jacobucci said. “I was also proud of my beam routines both days (8.475 and 8.7) because I did not fall doing my full turn, which has challenged me in the past.”
At the 2024 JOs in Greensboro, North Carolina, Giardini was third on Level 4 uneven bars and Yanz also qualified at Level 4. Jacobucci and Coffelt both just missed qualifying.
These JOs were held indoors but, unlike most gymnastics meets, with artificial turf.
“Being in a giant soccer facility made it more memorable,” Jacobucci said. “I enjoyed hanging out with my teammates, swimming at each other’s pools and making spirit clips in the lobby. We then secretly clipped other competitors’ backpacks at the meet.”
