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Ottumwa Today
By the People, for the People
Team Flip Gymnasts Shine at Iowa Xcel State Competition
Ottumwa-based gymnastics team earns multiple medals across different levels
Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:20pm
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The geometric, fragmented style of this illustration captures the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the Iowa Xcel State gymnastics meet.Ottumwa TodayTeam Flip Gymnastics, based in Ottumwa, Iowa, had a strong showing at the recent Iowa Xcel State gymnastics competition, with several gymnasts earning medals in various events and age groups. The team is coached by Natalie Stevens, Melissa Baxter, Olivia Brown, Clara Caudill, Carigan McCloskey, and Hayden Sedore.
Why it matters
The success of Team Flip Gymnastics at the state competition highlights the strength of the program and the dedication of the coaches and athletes. Gymnastics is a popular sport in Iowa, and the team's performance showcases the talent and hard work of young athletes from the Ottumwa area.
The details
At the bronze level, Allie Harris, Harper Probst, and Leah Nicholson each finished first in floor exercise. Harris also placed second in bars, fifth in vault, and sixth in all-around. Probst was third in bars, fourth in all-around, and sixth in vault. Nicholson was second in all-around, third in beam, and fourth in bars. Other bronze-level gymnasts who placed included Zelda Eastep, Hannah Harris, and Evelyn Logan. In the silver level, Ally VanZee had first-place finishes in beam, floor, and all-around, while also placing second in bars and fourth in vault. Harper Clubb won floor, and Ava 'Dubs' Wenke, Wrigley Moode, Emmy Ebert, Ruby Floden, and Teagan Orwig also placed well. At the gold level, Aria Probst had the top all-around score, and Olivia 'Liv' Wenke, Carly Nicholson, Arrieta 'Ed' Thompson, and Haylee Evans contributed strong performances. Alora Baxter, McKenna VanZee, Shameka Scott, Hayden Sedore, Lilly Marth, and McKinley Horn also competed well at the diamond and platinum levels.
- The Iowa Xcel State competition took place earlier this spring.
- Team Flip will compete throughout the weekend at the Region 4 Xcel Championships in Sioux City.
The players
Team Flip Gymnastics
An Ottumwa-based gymnastics team that competed at the Iowa Xcel State competition.
Natalie Stevens
The head coach of Team Flip Gymnastics.
Melissa Baxter
An assistant coach of Team Flip Gymnastics.
Olivia Brown
An assistant coach of Team Flip Gymnastics.
Clara Caudill
An assistant coach of Team Flip Gymnastics.
Carigan McCloskey
An assistant coach of Team Flip Gymnastics.
Hayden Sedore
An assistant coach of Team Flip Gymnastics.
What’s next
Team Flip will compete throughout the weekend at the Region 4 Xcel Championships in Sioux City.
The takeaway
The success of Team Flip Gymnastics at the Iowa Xcel State competition showcases the strength of the Ottumwa-based program and the dedication of its coaches and young athletes. The team's performance highlights the vibrant gymnastics community in Iowa and the hard work that goes into achieving such impressive results.
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