Vernon gymnastics coach leads team to N.Y. championship

VERNON — Coach John Smales, a resident of Vernon, led his Silver XCEL girls gymnastics team to place first in the New York State gymnastics championships on March 17 at SUNY Brockport.
The team, based out of Kennett School of Gymnastics in Goshen, competed against 33 teams from all over New York state. Fourth-grade team member Caterina Pleva, who is also a Vernon resident and attends school at Cedar Mountain Primary School, received a bronze medal for uneven bars. Sixth grader Chloe Schadegg, a resident of Sussex who attends the Sussex County Charter School of Technology received the gold medal for uneven bars and a bronze medal in the all around.