Hosting can be a tough job, whether it’s a dinner party or an athletic event.

GymSouth wrapped up its three-day Mardi Gras Classic on Sunday with its Level 7, 8, 9 and Xcel Platinum gymnasts competing in the 11th session of the meet. It was the third session the host gym competed in.

Cherry Robbins, owner of GymSouth said hosting a gymnastics meet of this size was a “good hectic” and enjoyed putting it together.

“I’m not complaing at all. Our sessions last night were super full,” Robbins said. “This morning was a really nice, easygoing session. Our girls did great. We had some really good scores from other gymnasts too.”

Sunday’s early morning session another good performance from GymSouth. Robbins said most of her girls placed highly in their events.

It was an Xcel Silver level Sunday morning, where the gymnasts displayed skills from round-off back handsprings in their floor routine, handstands on the balance beam and a variety of dismounts from the beam.

“The Xcel program is a great program that keeps kids in the sport because they can choose from different skills to put in their routines that they’re the best at,” Robbins said.

In the final session of the meet, Pinnacle Gymnastics out of Arkansas and Courthouse Gymnastics from Flowood took first place in Level 7 and Xcel Platnium respectively. Pinnacle scored a 103.100 and Courthouse scored a 100.250.

GymSouth’s Erin Lawson tied for first place with Annaclaire Berry from Pinnacle Gymnastics with a score of 33.500 in the Level 7 group A individual all-around events. Chaney Parman took home a fifth place award in the same age group.

Robbins wants her girls to have fun instead of worrying about placing.

“I want them to feel like they’re accomplishing something. I want them to see some kind of progress with their scores from one meet to the next,” Robbins said. “That’s what I really look for is that they’re having fun and making progress.”

Aside from not traveling hours to compete, the most beneficial part of hosting the Mardi Gras Classic for gymnasts is the family support they receive.

With family cheering on their performance, gymnasts work harder to make everyone in their corner proud.

“A lot of family members get to come because they’re in town,” Robbins said. “They’re looking to show all their family and friends all the things they’ve practiced all year long.”