Local athletes compete at national level

RJ Bascom, Carolina Hatch, and Marcel Grundman (left to right)

FRONT ROYAL – Seven local homeschool athletes traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina to participate in the 53rd annual AAU Junior Olympic Games. They joined a field of more than 15,000 athletes, ages eight through eighteen, for an eleven-day event, from July 24-August 3, 2019.

The student athletes qualified for track and field events in the Amateur Athletic Union District competition in Manassas on June 9, and then the Regional Competition in Hampton, VA from June 27 – 30, before advancing to the national level competition.

RJ Bascom II, 17, son of James and Sarah Bascom of Front Royal, competed in the decathlon and the steeplechase.

Jacob Giza, 14, son of Chris and Renee Giza of Stephens City, competed in the high jump.

Marcel Grundman, 17, son of Steven and Gwen Grundman of Front Royal, competed in the decathlon.

Carolina Hatch, 17, daughter of Garrett and Rachael Hatch of Front Royal, earned a bronze medal in the race walk competition and also competed in discus.

Haddon Hicks, 13, son of Bob and Bonnie Hicks of Front Royal, competed in discus, shot put, and high jump.

Ariel Jacob, 14, daughter of Neal and Kathy Jacob of Front Royal, competed in the pentathlon.

Camberley Leary, 13, daughter of Chris and Tasha Leary of Front Royal, competed in the pentathlon.

These student athletes are all members of Flames Homeschool Sports & More, a local organization that offers team sports, theater, social activities and more to homeschool students in Warren County and the surrounding area. More information about the Flames is available at http://flameshomeschoolsports.website.siplay.com/.

Information about the AAU Junior Olympics is available at https://aautrackandfield.org/.

Jacob Giza

Haddon Hicks (right, with his mother, Bonnie Hicks)

Ariel Jacob, left, and Camberly Leary, right