THE Bermuda gymnastics team has returned from USA victorious and is in buoyant mood as it zeros in on the Island Games this summer.

A huge delegation of 28 children and coaches saw Bermuda's five international novices bring home medals while nine veteran gymnasts also did well at the recent meet in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The senior team won the team event, overcoming more than a dozen of America's finest.

The youngest Bermuda team member, seven-year-old Morgan Cleave, won second on vault, fourth on floor, and first on bars which was good enough for the highest total score giving her the first place trophy for the all around.

Coach Michelle Strenk said of the team: "It was a tremendous start to the competition season."

She said the youngest gymnasts debuted their new routines expertly.

Seven-year-old Tabytha Hofheins returned with five medals ? third on vault, second on floor, second on bars, fourth on beam and third in the all around.

Eight-year-old Rosie Finnigan claimed three top medals ? fourth all around, second on bars and first on vault.

Nine-year-old Taylor Cleave placed fifth on bars and ten-year-old Rebecca Forgesson placed 12th all around.

Two level sevens joined the team. Daisha Easton placed third on floor. Morgan Beckles (in a younger age group) also placed third on floor. Unfortunately with only two members Bermuda could not qualify in the team event.

However the level eights took the third place team trophy. Individually they placed as follows: Ryanne Bardgett, 11, placed fourth on vault, beam, and floor.

Hannah King, 13, placed third on vault, bars, and in the all around. Riann Ming, 11, placed third on floor, second on bars and second in the all around.

Finishing off the team were the recently upgraded level tens. Competing at their first level ten meet, they brought back to Bermuda a two-foot first place team trophy.

Strenk said: "With new routines stacked with difficulty these performances drew applause from the crowd."

Kaisey Griffith, 12, placed second on beam and first on vault.

Casey Lopes, 16, placed second on bars and third on vault, floor and in the all around and Caitlyn Mello, 12, placed third on bars, second on floor and in the all around and first on beam. Kristin Heyliger, 14, took third on beam, second on vault and first on bars, floor, and in the all around.

Now the team has its eyes on the scheduled competition will be in May in Burlington, Canada in the warm up to the Small Island and Commonwealth Games.

Coach Tina Billington said: "It was the most successful trip we have had in a while and one of the biggest groups we have taken for a while."

The Bermuda gymnastics team is no stranger to success in the States having won the US team championship last year.

This year the team is not entering but is concentrating on the Island Games in July after coming second last time around.

She too drew strength from the performance in Raleigh.

"The first competition is what we build on."

She believes Bermuda can pick up first in Shetland.

"They are pulling out all the new tricks and putting the new routines together. The more competitions we can do the better chance we have."

Despite going mob handed to Raleigh, the party behaved perfectly and earned compliments everywhere they went said Billington.

"We would go to restaurants and everyone would say how well behaved they were."