© John Cheng
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 17, 2011 – Reigning U.S. all-around champion and 2010 World all-around bronze-medalist Jonathan Horton of Houston is among the 126 male gymnasts expected to compete in the 2011 Winter Cup Challenge, Feb. 3-5, at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Sports Center. All seven members of the 2010 World Championships Team and four Olympians, as well as 29 members of the junior and senior national team are in the field.
In addition to Horton, the impressive field also includes the rest of the 2010 World Championships Team: 2010 World horizontal bar finalist and reigning Winter Cup champion Chris Brooks of Houston/University of Oklahoma; 2010 NCAA champion Chris Cameron of Winter Haven, Fla./University of Michigan; two-time World floor exercise finalist and 2010 Winter Cup vault and floor champion Steven Legendre of Flower Mound, Texas/University of Oklahoma; World all-around and high bar finalist and 2010 Winter Cup parallel bars champion Danell Leyva of Miami/Universal Gymnastics; 2010 Toyota Cup bronze-medalist Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./University of Illinois; and 2010 U.S. and Winter Cup still rings champion Brandon Wynn of Voorhees, N.J./Ohio State University.
Three members of the 2008 Olympic team bronze-medal squad are also scheduled to compete: Joey Hagerty of Albuquerque, N.M./U.S. Olympic Training Center, and member of the senior national team; Alexander Artemev of Denver, Colo./5280 Gymnastics; and Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif./Pennsylvania State University.
The other seven members of the current senior national team who are slated to compete are: Alex Buscaglia of Oak Brook, Ill./Stanford University; 2009 World team member Jake Dalton of Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma; Bryan Del Castillo of Berkeley, Calif./University of California, Berkeley; 2009 World team member Wes Haagensen of Colorado Springs, Colo./USOTC; RJ Heflin of Harrisburg, Pa./Houston Gymnastics Academy; Glen Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif./University of California, Berkeley; and 2010 NCAA pommel horse champion Alex Naddour of Gilbert, Ariz./University of Oklahoma.
There are 63 collegiate gymnasts from 13 universities competing in this year’s event, nine of whom are current senior national team members. In addition, Tan and Brooks are assistant coaches for men’s collegiate gymnastic teams. Stanford and Michigan lead the entries with eight gymnasts each, followed by Ohio State (7), Illinois (7), UC Berkeley (5), Minnesota (4), Nebraska (4), Oklahoma (4), Penn State (4), Illinois-Chicago (3), Iowa (3), Springfield College (3), and the U.S. Air Force Academy (3).
Fourteen gymnasts from the junior national team are also expected to participate: Dylan Akers of Kingwood, Texas/Cypress Academy; Wyatt Aycock of Orlando, Fla./University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Stacey Ervin of Taylor, Mich./Mills Gymnastics; Jesse Glenn of Northridge, Calif./SCATS HB; Kevin Ko of El Cerrito, Calif./Golden Bear Gymnastics; Adrian De Los Angeles of Long Beach, Calif./SCATS; CJ Maestas of Corrales, N.M./USOTC; Jake Martin of Oviedo, Fla./Orlando Metro.; Sean Melton of Orlando/Orlando Metro; Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./University of Michigan; Cale Robinson of Harriman, Tenn./Stanford University; Jacoby Rubin of Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove Gymnastics; Jordan Valdez of Louisville, Colo./University of Illinois; and Tim Wang of Riverside, Calif./South Coast Gymnastics.
Performances at the 2011 Winter Cup Challenge will help determine the 15 men who will comprise the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team through the 2011 Visa Championships in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 17-20. The seven members of the 2010 World Championships Team retain their spots on the national team. The remaining eight spots will be determined based on the following criteria: the top-ranked all-around athlete who is not already on the senior national team; four based on the National Team Points System; two athletes selected by the Men’s Program Committee; and one selected by the national team coordinator.
The Winter Cup competition schedule is: preliminary rounds, Feb. 3 – 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.; and final round, Feb. 5, at 7:15 p.m. Tickets will be on sale on competition day.
The top 42 gymnasts, according to the Men’s Program Committee’s points ranking system, will advance to the final competition, along with the top three gymnasts on each apparatus. The all-around and individual event champions will be determined via a combined two-day score. For information on the points ranking system used for advancement to the final round, as well as the one for determining the national team, go to www.usagym.org/wintercupinfo.
Athlete roster for 2011 Winter Cup Challenge (as of 1/31/11)
(Alphabetical by state, then last name)
Arizona
Riley Barclay, Chandler, Ariz., Sun Devil Gymnastic Club
Alex Gaudaur, Chandler, Ariz., Sun Devil Gymnastic Club
Stewart MacDonald, Glendale, Ariz., Aspire Kids Sports Center
Alexander Naddour, Gilbert, Ariz., University of Oklahoma
California
Donothan Bailey, Lake Forest, Calif., University of California – Berkeley
Adrian De Los Angeles, Long Beach, Calif., SCATS Gymnastics
Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., University of California – Berkeley
Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., Stanford University
Tyler Evans, San Jose, Calif., Springfield College
Jesse Glenn, Northridge, Calif., SCATS Gymnastics
Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., University of California – Berkeley
Ned Kamimura, Diamond Bar, Calif., University of Illinois- Chicago
Kevin Ko, El Cerrito, Calif., Golden Bear Gymnastics Academy
Steven Lacombe, Mission Viejo, Calif., University of California – Berkeley
Samuel Mikulak, Corona Del Mar, Calif., University of Michigan
Nash Mills, Coto de Caza, Calif., U.S. Air Force Academy
Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., Champions Academy
James Okamoto, Yorba Linda, Calif., U.S. Air Force Academy
Kanji Oyama, Huntington Beach, Calif., SCATS Gymnastics
Alex Powarzynski, Murrieta, Calif., SCATS Gymnastics
Alec Robin, Calabasas, Calif., Victory Gymnastics Academy
Chris Turner, Fremont, Calif., Stanford University
Timothy Wang, Riverside, Calif., South Coast Gymnastics
Colorado
Alexander Artemev, Morrison, Colo., 5280 Gymnastics
Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., Team Hilton HHonors/U.S. Olympic Training Center
Matt Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo., Elite Gymnastics
Michael Jiang, Littleton, Colo., University of Iowa
Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., University of Illinois
Connecticut
Ian Makowske, Redding, Conn., University of Michigan
Nicholas Noone, Danbury, Conn., Stanford University
Florida
Wyatt Aycock, Orlando, Fla., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., University of Michigan
Harris Coleman, Gainesville, Fla., University of Minnesota
Nikolai Korepanov, Tallahassee, Fla., Gym Force Athletic Training Center
Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., Team Hilton HHonors/Universal Gymnastics
Jake Martin, Oviedo, Fla., Orlando Metro Gymnastics
John Martin, Gainesville, Fla., Stanford University
Maximilian Mayr, Miami, Fla., Universal Gymnastics
Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., Orlando Metro Gymnastics
Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., Universal Gymnastics
Georgia
Lee Wilkerson, Locust Grove, Ga., Sun Devil Gymnastic Club
Illinois
Danny Berardini, Lake Forest, Ill., Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center
Jack Boyle, Naperville, Ill., Premier Gymnastics Academy West
Wasef Burbar, Arlington Heights, Ill., Penn State University
Alexander Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., Stanford University
Craig Hernandez, Libertyville, Ill., Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center
Sean Johnston, Elburn, Ill., St. Charles Gymnastics Academy
Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., University of Michigan
Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., Stanford University
Matthew McGrath, Wheaton, Ill., University of Iowa
Sean Regan, Libertyville, Ill., Ohio State University
Jacoby Rubin, Buffalo Grove, Ill., Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center
Luke Stannard, Waukegan, Ill., University of Illinois
Michael Strathern, Bartlett, Ill., Bartlett Gymnastics Center
Jeffrey Treleaven, Glen Ellyn, Ill., Ohio State University
Joshua Wokurka, Lombard, Ill., University of Minnesota
Indiana
Ellis Mannon, Indianapolis, Ind., Indy School of Gymnastics
Blaize Monks, Noblesville, Ind., Ohio State University
Kentucky
Kevin Baker, Union, Ky., Queen City Gymnastics/Kids First
M. Parker Raque, Louisville, Ky., Penn State University
Massachusetts
Matthew Felleman, Medway, Mass., New England Academy of Gymnastics
Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., University of Michigan
Maryland
Christopher Mooney, Freeland, Md., Temple University Men and Boys Gymnastics
Donnell Whittenburg, Baltimore, Md., Ultimate Gymnastics
Michigan
Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., Mills Gymnastics USA
Nevada
Jacob Dalton, Reno, N.V., University of Oklahoma
New Jersey
Andrew Elkind, Cherry Hill, N.J., Team Hilton HHonors/U.S. Olympic Training Center
Austin Phillips, Mahwah, N.J., University of Illinois
Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., Ohio State University
New Mexico
Shaun Antonio, Rio Rancho, N.M., Eagle Ridge Gymnastics
Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M., Team Hilton HHonors/U.S. Olympic Training Center
CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., U.S. Olympic Training Center
David Repp, Albuquerque, N.M., University of Minnesota
Edward Umphrey, Albuquerque, N.M., University of Michigan
New York
Joseph Hodges, Webster, N.Y., University of Illinois-Chicago
James Pezzino Jr, Buffalo, N.Y., Springfield College
Daniel Ribeiro, Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., University Of Illinois
Paul Ruggeri III, Manlius, N.Y., University of Illinois
Jesse Silverstein, Suffern, N.Y., U.S. Gymnastics Develop Center II
Ohio
Alexy Bilozertchev, Hilliard, Ohio, Team Hilton HHonors/U.S. Olympic Training Center
Matthew Chelberg, Athens, Ohio, Penn State University
Ty Echard, Carroll, Ohio, Ohio State University
Ronnie Ferris, Austintown, Ohio, Ohio Gymnastics Institute
Aaron Fortunato, Bedford, Ohio, University of Minnesota
Trevor Howard, Columbus, Ohio, Hocking Valley Gymnastics Center
Nicholas Hunter, Canfield, Ohio, Gymnastics World
Benjamin Ketelsen, Lancaster, Ohio, University of Iowa
Seung Tai Lee, Columbus, Ohio, Ohio State University
Drew Moling, Canal Winchester, Ohio, Hocking Valley Gymnastics Center
Miguel Pineda, Galloway, Ohio, Penn State University
Oregon
Tory Brown, Portland, Ore., USAF Academy
Adam Hamers, Salem, Ore., University of Michigan
Pennsylvania
Adam Al-Rokh, Bensalem, Pa., Temple University Men and Boys Gymnastics
Anthony Beck, Northampton, Pa., Penn State University
RJ Heflin, Harrisburg, Pa., Team Hilton HHonors/Houston Gymnastics Associates
Patrick McLaughlin, Shrewsbury, Pa., Temple University Men and Boys Gymnastics
Chad Wiest, Butler, Pa., University of Illinois
Tennessee
Allan Malone, Cookeville, Tenn., Temple University Men and Boys Gymnastics
Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., Stanford University
Texas
Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, Cypress Academy
Cameron Deer, Houston, Texas, Houston Gymnastics Associates
Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, Stanford University
Sean Golden, Houston, Texas, Houston Gymnastics Associates
Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, Team Hilton HHonors/ Cypress Academy
Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, Cypress Academy
Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, University of Oklahoma
Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, University of Illinois
Philip Onorato, Plano, Texas, Ohio State University
Christopher Schaaf, Houston, Texas, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Eric Schryver, Richardson, Texas, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, University of Oklahoma
Alex Strait, Katy, Texas, Champions Gymnastics
Utah
Jacob Dastrup, Lindon, Utah, Arete Gymnastics
Michael Myler, North Orem, Utah, University of Michigan
Virginia
James Jindra, Fairfax, Va., Capital Gymnastics National Center
Washington
Spencer Smith, Olympia, Wash., Metropolitan Gymnastics
Wisconsin
Anthony Ingrelli, Milwaukee, Wis., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Alexander Tighe, Brookfield, Wis., Temple University Men and Boys Gymnastics
Kyle Voissem, West Allis, Wis., University of Illinois-Chicago