A familiar face was back competing in the Polarettes purple leotard this weekend at Yukon Gymnastics Championships.

Reena Coyne competed in her first meet in almost a year after she retired from competitive gymnastics in August.

Coyne, 16, remained a coach with the Polarettes and said her return to competition started as a joke.

“I just ended up really missing it and I was playing around in the gym one day and I was like, ‘Why not?’” she said.

“The Yukon Champs is really fun and laid back, so I just thought I’d do it for the fun.”

Polarettes head coach Kimberly Jones said Coyne’s return to competition was a running joke around the gym.

Coyne trained during drop-in hours and between classes on her own.

She finished first overall in Level 8, the highest level competed at the Yukon Championships this year.

“I think she surprised herself,” said Jones. “I’m still trying to convince her to come back next season.”

Coyne’s favourite apparatus is floor. The ability to showcase power and creativity is where she really shines. She earned a 9.70 for her high-powered routine.

“I’m just impressed with how everything went, because I wasn’t expecting to be able to do half the things I did,” said Coyne. “I think a huge part is muscle memory. I thought it’d be a lot harder than it was. I guess I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Coyne is a role model in the gym for the younger athletes, many of whom competed for the first time over the weekend.

More than 30 gymnasts competed as the Polarettes were joined by their sister club from Juneau.

Olivia Vangel won the all-around title in Level 2, group A at her competition debut.

Kasey-Lynne Cozens also competed in the same category completing her bar routine for the first time in competition.

She fell at the meet in Juneau.

“Kasey-Lynne has been working so hard to get that bar routine,” said Jones. “She was really nervous to compete that routine.”

In group B of Level 2, Camille Belanger finished first overall. Belanger had her own struggles in the gym as she speaks French, while Jones speaks English.

“To come out first, it was exciting for us because it shows you can speak the language of gymnastics,” said Jones. “We can express ourselves through movement, so that was pretty cool.”

Also in Level 2, Mackenzie Tonner battled back from a concussion that had her sidelined for nearly a year to win the group C all-around title.

In Level 3, Kate Koepke performed her round-off backhandspring on floor for the first time in competition unassisted on her way to winning the all-around title. She had competed the skill in Juneau, but with an assist.

Koepke had the “biggest smile,” after completing her routine, said Jones. “She was way more excited about completing that skill than winning first overall.”

Kalina Morrison will likely move up to Level 5 from Level 4 next season. When Jones first started coaching at the gym about six months ago, she said Morrison was a messy gymnast – bent legs, not overly concerned about her form.

“In the last month or so it really clicked for her,” said Jones. “She came out of the competition with all 9s. The improvement has just been insane.”

Morrison also won Yukon Gymnastics’ award for most improved competitive athlete.

In the more advanced levels of competition, Maude Molgat won the overall title in Level 6.

In a season where she has had one or two mistakes at her meets, she had a great day, said Jones. “She finally had the meet she was looking for this season ... . On Saturday she finally hit four (events) for four. She was super pumped about that.”

Ava Jampolsky won the award for hardest working competitive gymnast after she worked hard all season to have her gym hours increased. Jones kept saying no all season, but saw her drive.

“She finally got her hours increased and is working towards the next level,” said Jones, “which is really well deserved. She really loves this sport.”

Also winning an award at the post-meet barbecue was Hailey Sherman, who locked down athlete of the year after going from Level 6 to Level 8 in just four months. She was second overall after Coyne.

“This meet is really nice because it’s our year-end wrap-up,” said Jones. “It was nice to see them relax a little bit from the season.”

The gymnasts will have a bit of recovery time this month before starting fresh in July as they work towards new skills and finalizing their routines for competition start in December.