WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., May 19, 2019 – After three days of competition 2019 Elite Challenge at the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Fairgrounds Annex, champions were determined in trampoline, tumbling, double mini-trampoline and synchronized trampoline for men’s and women’s senior, junior, youth elite, open elite and Level 10.
The senior champions were: trampoline – Nicole Ahsinger of Lafayette, La./T&T Express, and Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy; tumbling — Kaden Brown of Herriman, Utah/Wasatch Trampoline and Tumbling, and Hope Bravo of Waco, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy; double mini-trampoline – Alex Renkert of Columbus, Ohio/Integrity Athletics, and Kayttie Nakamura of Honolulu, Hawaii/Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy; and synchronized trampoline – Gluckstein and Aliaksei Shostak of Youngsville, La./T&T Express, and Ahsinger and Sarah Webster of Lafayette, La./T&T Express.
The junior champions were: trampoline – Zachary Ramacci of St. John, Ind./Twistars, and Mary Gallagher of Middletown, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy; tumbling – Dom Dumas of Joplin, Mo./Air Extreme, and Tia Taylor of Knoxville, Tenn./Premier Athletics Knoxville North; double-mini – Changa Anderson of Washington D.C./Silver Stars Gymnastics, and Shelby Nobuhara of Mapleton, Utah/High Altitude; and synchronized trampoline – Anderson and Jace Williams of Cave Creek, Ariz./North Valley Gymnastics, and Maia Amano of Honolulu/Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy and Brooke Warzecha of Inez, Texas/Victoria Gymagic..
In senior trampoline, Ahsinger won the women’s title with a 154.420 total. Ellen Heinen of Lafayette, La./T&T Express, was second at 153.680. Charlotte Drury of Laguna Niguel, Calif./World Elite, was third at 152.130. Gluckstein defended his 2018 title by tallying a 169.090 total. Ruben Padilla of Oakley, Calif./Wasatch Trampoline & Tumbling, earned a 163.470 and Tristan Ackerson of Florence, Ky./MJM Studios Inc., posted a 161.810 for second and third, respectively.
The senior tumbling men’s title went to defending champion Brown at 151.300. Brandon Krzynefski of Centreville, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, claimed a 141.900, with Renkert at 136.500. For the women, Bravo edged out defending champion Eliza Floisand of Salt Lake City/Wasatch Trampoline and Tumbling, 134.700 to 134.600. Eve Doudican of Bixby, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, was next at 133.600.
Nakamura, the defending junior champion, garnered a 138.500 for the women’s senior double-mini crown. Kristle Lowell of Orland Park, Ill./Morgan Park Sports Center, took second at 136.700. Defending champion Tristan Van Natta of Hilliard, Ohio/Integrity Athletics, finished third (136.100). Renkert tabbed top honors in the senior double-mini finals at 147.900. Noah Orr of Phoenix, Ariz./Air Sports Unlimited, posted a 145.900, followed by Trevor Harder of Winston Salem, N.C./Carolina Elite Trampoline Academy, in third at 144.100.
The Elite Challenge is a qualifier for the 2019 USA Gymnastics Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Performances in Winston-Salem will also be part of the selection process for several major 2019 international events. Visit Winston-Salem is the event’s local partner.
Trampoline events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform double and triple twisting somersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated rod-floor runways that enable athletes to jump at heights more than 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. For the double-mini competition, the athlete makes a short run, leaps onto a small two-level trampoline, performs an aerial maneuver and dismounts onto a landing mat. Trampoline was added to the Olympic Games in 2000, and at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the USA had its first athlete in history advance to the finals.
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has already taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.