forward next week when they represent the Island at the United States Gymnastics Championships in Orlando, Florida.

Head coach Walid Mustafa and his team of Maria Darby, Rowan Hallett, Sarah Cox, Alexandra Froncioni, Jameelah Saltus, Latoya Brunson, Jackie Mayor, Kristen Shrubb, Laura Murphy, Leila Wadson, Christina White and Sasha Christensen leave tomorrow for their third appearance at the championships.

Two years ago, only two Bermuda team members qualified. Last year it was seven.

And this year, the 25-hour weeks of training paid off when the 12 girls qualified to face off against some 2,000 of America's best.

A 13th member of the team, Nakia Manders, was partitioned in but her knee injury has not healed sufficiently for her to make the trip.

Wadson, at 16 the oldest member of the team, Murphy, White and Christensen competed last year but have moved up to the Intermediate Optional division -- three levels off Olympic calibre.

The others are among 750 girls competing in Developmental Optionals, or Level 8, which is one step below Intermediate. Darby, 10, is the youngest member of the team.

The meet begins on Monday and continues through next Saturday.

Bermuda, receiving special permission from the USGC, are the only overseas team competing. While other overseas clubs will take part, they will not be scored.

"The girls have earned a lot of respect from their competitors because they have come so far so fast,'' said Mustafa.

Balancing academics and sports, the girls practice up to six days per week, he said.