PESARO, Italy (September 19, 2026) – Two American women’s groups qualified to finals on the last day of qualifying Saturday at the Acro Junior Worlds and World Youth Competitions in Europe.
As the sole junior qualifiers in Pesaro, the 13-19 women’s group of Leesy Sarria (Gambrills, Md./International Elite), Gia Calo (Annapolis, Md./International Elite) and Dakota Martin (Upper Marlboro, Md./International Elite) will be active in the combined final after placing 11th all-around with a 54.170. The trio competed their balance routine Saturday with the eighth-highest score of a 27.900.
The U.S. 12-18 women’s group of Alexia Irreno (Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro), Zoe DeShields (Rockville, Md./Xtreme Acro) and Miah Collazo (Great Falls, Va./Xtreme Acro) secured their place to Sunday’s combined final round with an all-around score of 54.510, finishing seventh to advance. Their overall score was helped by a ninth-place finish in dynamic with a 27.450.
In youth women’s pair competition, the 12-18 duo of Alina Rizvanova (Sacramento, Calif./Rodina Elite Gymnastics Academy) and Violet Froste (Sacramento, Calif./Rodina Elite Gymnastics Academy) placed 18th all-around with a 52.420 and were tapped as second reserved to the combined final. The pair were 14th in dynamic with a 26.250.
In other competition, the women’s 13-19 junior group of Alani Do (San Diego, Calif./So Cal TTC), Awdriana Ornelas (Ramona, Calif./So Cal TTC) and Silver Weddle (Poway, Calif./So Cal TTC) finished competition 20th all-around (52.750) and 17th in balance (26.750). The 12-18 women’s pair of Elise Maher (Eureka, Mo./Show Me Acro) and Gracie Deters (Catawissa, Mo./Show Me Acro) placed 27th all-around (50.000) after their dynamic routine, where they landed 37th (24.100); and the 12-18 women’s group of Olivia Irreno (Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro), Danica Weinstein (Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro) and Keira Ackley (Gaithersburg, Md./Xtreme Acro) scored a 26.400 in balance to rank 24th among the performances and were 31st overall with a 51.230.
The 2026 Acrobatic Junior World Championships and World Youth Competitions conclude Sunday, September 20 with all combined finals in each division. The U.S. will be represented by three groups in the finals, and eight Americans will serve as reserves. Competition will stream live on tv.sportface.it and live scoring is available on acro-companion.com.