General News
4 July, 2025
New club brings home state titles
ONE of Warrnambool’s newest sports clubs has brought home a swag of aerobics medals from the Victorian State Championships.
DNA HipHop Fitness and Aerobics is celebrating after recently bringing home several medals, including gold, from the state championships held in Melbourne.
Club founder and head coach, Ashlee Bellman said she was extremely proud of all the athletes who performed at the state championships.
“Every athlete has worked so hard in the lead up to the championships; they’ve pushed themselves in the hope to secure a spot on team Victoria, to represent the state at Nationals in August, and so many of them have made that happen,” Bellman said.
Seventeen athletes represented the club over the two-day competition, with many competing in more than one category.
This included solos, duos, trios and teams, totalling 19 routines performed.
Of those 19 routines, 12 were awarded medals and therefore qualified for nationals.
A round of wildcard offers will also be made in the coming weeks and Ms Bellman is hopeful that they may secure more positions for nationals, for those who finished close behind the top three placings.
These amazing results included three gold medals for the newly crowned state champions with a solo performance from Zeta Kane (15), a mini team’s performance for Pippa McLean (9), Ida O’Donohue (8), Arlie Thomson (10) and Ella Atkins (9), and an adult team’s performance by Brianna Kilpatrick, Courtney Bellman, Charli Toone, Maddison Drake and Alana Bellman.
“There were many happy tears from coaches, athletes and families as we celebrated the outstanding achievements of our small, regional club,” Bellman said.
“For two of our minis in their team’s performance, Ella and Arlie, this was their very first state competition and they absolutely loved the challenge of stepping up to the plate”.
Silver medals were won by solo adult performer Alana Bellman, duo performers Joni White (11) and Ava Southwell (12), trio performers, Sophie Grist (16), Zeta Kane (15) and Airley Kelson (14) and adult duo Maddison Drake and Charli Toone.
Bronze medals were won by soloists Mia Southwell (9), Ava Southwell, Joni White, Ivy Burgess (10) and Maddison Drake.
“This year we have two teams with their sights set firmly on qualifying for the world championships in Prague,” Bellman said.
“This means they’ll need to continue to work hard to gain the sought-after opportunity of representing Australia.
“But first they need to make it through nationals and be selected as team Australia.”
The club, which was formed at the start of this year, doesn’t shy away from a challenge when it comes to performing on a big stage.
After years of belonging to a franchise club, Bellman decided to go out on her own to provide her athletes with more individualised support and she believes this is now paying off.
“I can’t even begin to explain how proud I am of what we’ve achieved in our first six months as DNA.
“My coaches Charli Toone, Maddison Drake and Rhiannon Kirby have all been athletes themselves so what they provide to our younger competitors is invaluable experience.
“They give so much time and energy to each and every one; it’s an intense atmosphere on comp days and they push their athletes to be their best. That’s before they’ve even hit the stage themselves as athletes.”
Qualified athletes will compete at the FISAF Australia national championships on the Gold Coast in late August.
This school holidays the club is offering a fun day for anyone interested in giving the sport a go.
This will be held on Wednesday, July 16 from 2-4pm at the Temperance Hall in Warrnambool.
