The Kaleidoscope gymnastics team is on fire, with everyone making the qualifying meet for the state championship, and many of the girls already qualified for states.

The Kaleidoscope team boasts a roster of hardworking and competitive level 5 and 6 gymnasts. Gymnasts rank in levels 1 through 10, based on skill, after which a gymnast may qualify for "Elite" status. Elite gymnasts are the ones you see doing death-defying feats on television when the Olympics roll around every four years.

Female gymnasts can begin participating in USA Gymnastics sanctioned events at level 4.

To qualify for states, a girl needs to get a 32.0 in the all-around competition. This would be the equivalent of getting an 8.0 (out of a possible score of 10) on each event.

Level 5 gymnasts Mia Hemphill and Kate Erickson, both of Marion, qualified for states on their first tries last weekend.

Eight-year-old Mia placed second on the floor exercise and fourth in the all-around competition.

“I wasn’t so nervous because I knew I could do it,” she said of qualifying for states.  She said she doesn’t really get nervous, she just does the same thing she does in practice.

Ten-year-old Kate Erickson will be heading to states, and hopes to get a 9.0 on at least one event.  “I’ve had a 9.0 at every competition except sectionals,” she said.

Out of the level 6 girls, three have qualified for states so far. Fifteen-year-old Hannah Abrantis says that, as a level 5 gymnast last year, she placed first on the floor exercise at states. She’s hoping to medal as a level 6 as well.

“I’m hoping to place on at least one event,” said Hannah. "It’s hard because there are a lot of girls there.”

Alyson Stellato, a level 6 gymnast from Mattapoisett, also qualified for the state competition.

Eleven-year-old Laurenne Wilkinson of Marion qualified for sectionals, the qualifying meet for states, and has another chance at making it to states as a level 6.

“I’m kind of nervous because it’s my last chance,” she said. She competed at states last year as a level 5, and placed fifth on floor.

Maxine Kellum, 13, placed fifth in the all-around as a level 5 at states last year. This year, she says, she expects the competition to be tougher but she’s still confident.

“Level 6 girls tend to be older," she said. "It’s harder this year.”