Faces In The Gym - December 2012

Lauren Fusco, 10 years old from Wrentham, Mass., is a Level 6 from Gymnastics Academy of Boston/Plainville. She is coached by Holly Crotty and Jess Chabot. As a Level 4, she tied as floor exercise champion, and as a Level 5, she placed in the all-around and was third on floor with a 9.675. She has started out the season very well this year taking first on floor, vault, and beam at the Judges Cup and her second meet she took first in all events and in the all around with a score of 36.825.
Haley Espinoza, 9 years old from Merced, Calif., Level 7 gymnast at Tumble Time Gymnastics. She is coached by Liz Falk. She took first place in the all-around at the Jack-o-Lantern Invitational and went on to take sixth all-around at the Nor-Cal State Gymnastics meet.
Kayla Heiner, 14 years old from York, Penn., is a Level 10 gymnast at Skyline Gymnastics. She is coached by Gabby Ganescu. She has more than 200 medals and trophies including Level 9 state champion on beam, Level 8 state champion on bars, Level 7 qualified for national team - (at Judges invite - most outstanding on beam, floor, bars, and floor) - state champ on beam and all-around state champ, and Level 6 state champ on bars.
Bella Mejia, 8 years old from Winchester, Calif., just finished Level 5 where she was the bars state champion. She is also in the Tops program. This summer she qualified for Tops National Testing at the Karolyi Ranch in Texas. She made the Tops A Team and is a Tops National Team Member.
Ava Joy Mix is proud to be a "Mississippi Rebounder." She is 6 years old from Hattiesburg, Miss., and competing for the first time as a Level 1 gymnast. Ava loves practicing at her gym, Jump'In Gymnastics and Tumbling. Her favorite event is bars and she really likes to show off her dramatic side on the floor! Ava's biggest fan is her Mom who watches every practice!
Hayley Laurenson, 8 years old from Jacksonville, Fla., is a Level 3 at Gymnastics Unlimited. She began as a child in ballet then moved to tumbling and loves it. She learned her back handspring in less than a month.
Alayna Jane Veguilla, 6 years old from Denham Springs, La., is a Level 3 from Elite Gymnastics. She is coached by Sabrina Franceschelli. Alayna started taking gymnastics at 18 months old and quickly realized she truly loved the sport. She joined the team at 3 years old and started competing Level 1. She is now beginning her fourth season in Level 3. At her last competition she was the youngest girl in Level 3 and earned the highest all-around score out of ALL age groups in that level!
McKayla Ray and Amber Pedersen, 9 and 8 years old, respectively, from Warrensburg, Mo., are Level 5 gymnastcs at Spirit Express. They are coached by Danelle Bussel. McKayla and Amber started out as a Level 4, now one season later their competing as a Level 5. They both enjoy working on new stunts on the high bar. The girls are grateful for their dedicated coach and their gym. Their dream is one day making it to the Olympics.
Claire Green, 9 years old from Middleville, Mich., is a Level 6 Prep Optional Gold from Gymnastics in Motion. She is coached by Corrin Betts and Danielle Rosenberg. She took first place in the all-around, in the 9-10 age division, at the Winter Co-Ed Classic at Branch Gymnastics in Kalamazoo, Mich. Claire had a serious injury this past summer so this accomplishment is even more sweet.
Brielle Bondeson, 13 years old from Windham, Maine, is a Level 5 at Maine Academy of Gymnastics. She is coached by Casey Cooper. The 2011-2012 season was Brielle's first season of competitive gymnastics. She earned 32 medals, trophies and ribbons combined. She also took first place in all-around in her division at the Maine State Meet.
This is the Gymnastics Incorporated Level 4 team at their first meet of the season. They posed for this photo in -26 degree weather in Alaska.
Ac Wilson, 14 years old from Minneapolis, Minn., currently is a Level 8 at Northwest Gymnastics and is coached by Samir Draoui. He took eighth at Level 4 State and second at Level 6 State. He is a professional actor at a children's theater in the Twins Cities and knows three types of dance including Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ballet.
Jean-Luc Faison, 7 years old from Orion Township, Mich., trains at Flip Spot Gymnastics & Cheer. At the 2012 Men's State Meet at the Lake Orion High School in Michigan, Jean-Luc took third place on still rings with a 15.3 score. Jean-Luc trains with Coaches John Faison, Nic Aldo, & Martin Wright.
Anna Turner, 8 years old from Seattle, Wash., placed first in her age group at gold state for Level 4 in Washington this year. Her gym was Metropolitan Gymnastics, her coach Nina Fogle. Her family moved from Seattle to Berlin, Germany, in October. Anna took the huge step of going from a U.S. gym to a German gym (SC Berlin, she's on the "Landesleistungs Team"). She is still learning German, was at the gym only 5 weeks, and she competed in their "Herbst Cup".
Emily Sanchez, 12 years old from Gilroy, Calif., is a Level 4 and training Level 5 at USA Sports. She is coached by Jennifer Yip, Chris West, and Lucy Mantilla. In January 2011, Emily lost all feeling in her legs and hips and was forced to be in a wheelchair. She was no longer able to participate in any of her gymnastics classes or normal activities. She had to change schools, make new friends, and try to adjust to life in a wheelchair. But then, she became eligible for a hospital program at Stanford. The doctors worked with her constantly for 3 months, and Emily learned to walk again after being reduced to a wheelchair for a year and a half. She was so excited to get back in the gym, but she still needed to gain the strength back in her legs. But she did not let this discourage her. She set goals for herself and was planning to work as hard as she could to accomplish them. Her first goal was, of course, was to get back in the gym. Her second goal was to be invited on the competitive team for the gym. After working for about a month and a half, she was invited onto the team! She did very well in her competitions and placed in the top 5-6 spots nearly every time. One of which was a first place medal on bars. She later went on to compete in the California States Competition where she placed fourth on bars, and seventh in the all-around.
Sisters Alavia (12) and Kayna Anderson (10) and cousin Camryn Irvin (10) make gymnastics a family affair. Each earned the 2012 Level 5 WV state champion title in her respective age group and their team won the team champion title also. The girls train at Gymniks Gymnastics and are coached by Liz Nulter, Nikki Thompson and Connie Barnes. All three girls are currently competing Level 7.
Hannah Clark & Emma Chaix, 6 years old from Aliso Viejo, Calif., are Level 4 gymnasts at Azarian U.S. Gymnastics Training Center Gymnasts. At the Level 4 State Championships, won the all-around, bars, and floor, and placed second on vault and third on beam. Emma Chaix placed second in the all-around, first on vault, second on beam, third on floor and third on bars. Both girls are coached by Vanessa Gonzalez.
Emily Strickland, 9 years old from Pasadena, Texas, placed 10th on floor and beam at her Level 4 state competition in Houston this year. She has only been in gymnastics for one year. She goes to Dynamic Gymnastics and is coached by Bobbie Markland.
Marlena Awitan, 9 years old from Newark, Del., is a Level 7 at First State Gymnastics and is coached by Slava Glazounov. Marlena was challenged by her front handspring front layout but got it just in time for her first Level 7 meet, where she took third on floor and in the all-around.
Britney McBroom, 11 years old from Columbia, Mo., is a Level 7 gymnast at Flipz USA Gymnastics. She recently came in second on floor and third on bars at the 2012 Show Me State Games. She is coached by Zina Fudge.
Haley Espinoza, 9 years old from Merced, Calif., is a Level 7 gymnast at Tumble Time Gymnastics. She took 1st place in the all-around at the Jack-o-Lantern invitational and went on to take 6th in the all-around at the Nor-Cal state Gymnastics meet. She is Coached by Liz Falk.
Taylor Hapgood, 7 years old from West Chester, Ohio, trains at Perfection Gymnastics School and is coached by Enrique Trabanino and Luke Wasson. She won the all-around in all seven of her meets including the Level 4 Ohio State Meet. Her highlight was scoring a 9.8 on the bars and having the 13th highest all-around score among all gymnasts/all levels at the IGI Chicago Style meet.
Kaylee Peralta, 7 years old from Albuquerque, N. Mex., is competing Level 5 this season. She was the 2012 New Mexico all-around State Champion for her 6 year old division. Her best events are floor and bars. She is inspired by all the great Team USA gymnasts and her fellow gymnasts at G-Force Gymnastics.
Victoria Miller, 7 years old from Gahanna, Ohio, is a Level 3 gymnast at Buckeye Gymnastics in Westerville, OH. Her coach is Michelle McNabb. Vicky has only participated in one meet, but her biggest accomplishment so far is mastering her mill circle.
Daniel Shanahan Jr., 14 years old, is a Level 9 gymnast at Danik Gymnastics from Meridian, Idaho. He started gymnastics at age 4. His favorite event is floor and his highest score on floor was a 15.8 at Regionals last year. At the 2012 Regional Competition, he placed 2nd in the all-around.
Mikalah Shouse, 5 years old, is a Level 4 gymnast at Flip Factory Gymnastics in Hayden, Idaho. Mikalah started competing last year at age 4. She has excelled in her skill sets and is a strong Level 4 gymnast for her team, although the youngest by far! She is excited for her competition season to start this month. She is trained by Tammy McLean.
Anthony Stefanelli, 17 years old from Long Island, N.Y., is a Level 10 gymnast at Gym-Nest. He is coached by Wei Zhu. He has been a gymnast since he was 5 years old and dreams of going to the Olympics. He placed 8th in the vault at the 2012 J.O. Nationals and has just signed his letter of intent to attend and compete for the University of Michigan.
Erica Fontaine, 14 years old from Gaithersburg, Md., is a Level 10 gymnast coached by Kelli Hill at Hills Gymnastics. Erica had skipped Level 8 and competed Level 9 placing third in the all-around at J.O. Eastern Nationals with a score of 37.150. She is excited for the 2012-2013 competition year, her first as a Level 10.
Ava Silivas-Harper, 7 years old from Atlanta, Ga., is a Level 5 gymnast at Jump Start Gym. She is the Level 4 State Champion on floor with a score of 9.45. She is coached by Courtney Smith and Ema Jones, as well as her mom, Daniela Silivas, who won six medals in gymnastics for Romania at the 1988 Olympic Games.

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