The Bermuda gymnastics team returned to the Island yesterday after a successful outing at the Manhattan Classic Gymnastics Meet in New York where they had two top three team finishes and the Bronze and Silver teams won the “Spirit of the Sport” award for showing the best sportsmanship, team spirit and passion for the sport.This was Bermuda’s third trip to this prestigious competition, which hosts hundreds of gymnasts who compete simultaneously in four gyms at Manhattan’s Pier 94. The Bermuda team consisted of 23 girls ranging in age from six to 15.At Saturday’s USAIGC Bronze level session, the Bermuda team finished second out of four teams with a 102.52 score, just 0.95 out of first place. In the youngest age division, Chantae Wilson (aged nine, of Warwick Academy) had a standout performance, earning first place all-around (35.55) as well as on vault (9.0), beam (9.0) and floor (9.35). Jezhari Talbot (eight, Paget Primary) was not far behind her in third with a 33.15 all-around, and Yvé Smith (8) finished in fourth (32.125). Logan Watson-Brown (9) won the bar title in this age group (8.325), putting Bermuda on top of the podium in each event and the all-around. T’aja Williams (8) of East End Primary had her highest finish on beam, fourth with an 8.1, while Emily Gentile earned fifth place on floor with an 8.65, Brianna Ray fifth on bars with a 7.85, and Sanaa Burgess earned a bronze medal on the floor exercise with an 8.75.In the next age division, Bronze 2, Attiyah Morris (10) of Saltus was Bermuda’s highest all-around finisher with a 31.875 for ninth place. Holly Wakely of Somerset Primary was just behind her in 11th place (31.050), while MSA student Sasha Crumley’s top finish came on bars with an 8.0 for the bronze medal, and Daria Symonds of Bermuda High finished 10th on floor with an 8.4.Also on Saturday, youngest competitor Amy Gentile (6) represented Bermuda in Saturday’s Copper level meet, earning ninth place on both bars and floor with an 8.4 on each and 11th in the all-around.On Sunday, Bermuda continued their strong showing with the Silver level team finishing third out of 8 teams with a 106.15, once again less than a point out of first place. Bermuda’s top score came from 12-year-old Whitney student Tomei Talbot, who won the gold on bars (9.175), beam (8.95) and the all-around (35.45). Also in Talbot’s age group was Ava Marshall, who had her highest score on floor with an 8.675 (eighth), and Kinae Dowling whose top performance came on vaulting (8.2 for 14th).In the younger age division, 11-year-old Gianna Webbe’s third place on bars (8.925) helped her to Bermuda’s top all-around score with a 34.95 score for fourth. Not far behind was Anah Lightbourne (seventh, 34.45) who earned 4th place on floor with a 9.05. Kanzi Emery tied with Webbe for the bronze medal on bars and also earned 3rd place on vaulting with a 8.85. Trinity Wilson’s top score came on beam (7th, 8.575), while Maya Malpas finished eighth on floor with an 8.525. Rounding out the group was Diamond Dill, who placed eighth on vaulting with an 8.7.Finally, Bermuda had one gymnast enter the Platinum division, the second highest level in USAIGC, where 15-year-old Tabytha Hofheins had her strongest showings on vaulting (8.6) and floor (8.55) and finished with a 32.00 all-around.In addition to the medals and trophies that the individuals earned, the Bronze and the Silver squads were awarded the Manhattan Classic “Spirit of the Sport” Award for their sessions. The judges vote on this award for the team showing the best sportsmanship, team spirit, and passion for the sport.The gymnasts will now begin preparing for June’s USAIGC International Championship in Palm Springs, California.The Bermuda senior squad of Tabytha Hofheins, Gabby Vincent, Sydney Mason, Zantae Dill, Danielle Wall, Clara James, Sadia Wilson, Samantha Soares and Anna Francoeur is heading to the IGI Chicago Style Invitational this weekend to compete in what is deemed the largest gymnastics competition in the world. It will be the last off-island competition for the team before May’s Bermuda National Championship where the 2013 Island Games team will be named.