© Team Photo

PUURS, Belgium, April 12, 2019 – 2019 Maia World Cup women’s pair bronze-medalists Emily Davis and Aubrey Rosilier, both of San Antonio, Texas/Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio, are third in the rankings for the dynamic routine at the Puurs (Belgium) World Cup. Competition continues tomorrow with the second routine.

In the women’s pair, the U.S. duo posted a 27.410 for their dynamic routine. Portugal’s Rita Ferreira and Ana Teixeira earned the top mark at 27.700, with Russia’s Vliia Salakhova and Diana Tukhvatullina second at 27.550. In the mixed pair, Aisley Boynton of Riverside, Calif., and Sean Obley of Mesa, Ariz., who train at Aspire Kids Sports Center, earned a 23.760 for 15th. Russia’s Victoria Aksenova and Kirill Startsev topped the mixed pair dynamic score, 28.890.

The U.S. men’s pair Angel Felix and Braiden McDougall, both of Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy, received a 26.400 for their balance routine. Russia’s Timofei Ivanov and Maksim Karavaev’s 29.080 was the event’s best. The U.S. women’s group of Elanor Chang of Columbia, Md., Grace Vonder Harr of Imperial, Mo., and Kayla Vonder Haar of Imperial, who train at Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, placed ninth for their balance routine at 26.940. Belgium’s Talia de Troyer, Britt Vanderdonckt and Charlotte van Royen grabbed a 29.700 and the top spot.

The scores and placements for the U.S. Team groups and pairs are competing in the Flanders Flanders International Acro Cup, which is held in conjunction with the World Cup at the Sporthal De Vrijhals, are listed below, by division.

Senior

  • Women’s group: Isabel Chang of Columbia, Md., Alexandra Galdkova of Fairfax, Va., and Sydney Martin of Glenwood, Md., all of Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, 2nd, 27.600

Junior, 12-18

  • Men’s group: Ethan Chang of Columbia, Md., Devon Freed of Mt. Airy, Md., Samuel Lacy of Columbia, and Cade Shields of Columbia, Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, 2nd, 25.800.
  • Women’s group: Riley Freed of Mt. Airy, Md., Jessica Kicza of Woodbine, Md., and Mariam Tutberidze of Owings Mill, Md., Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, 12th, 26.400.
  • Women’s group: Bethany Click of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., Ellianne Sousa of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., and Emma Sousa of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Cal Elite Kids, 18th, 25.950.
  • Women’s pair: Catherine Borcherding and Destiny Nolting, both of Pacific, Mo./Show Me Acro, 5th, 24.850.

Age Group 11-16

  • Women’s group: Meghan Kampmann, Catherine Lacy and Cecelia Shadrick, Laurel, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, 8th, 25.700.
  • Women’s pair: Kaylee DeSantis and Reese Morgan, New Orleans, La./Crescent City Gymnastics, 9th, 25.700.
  • Women’s pair: Maria Wooden and Leah Yun, Rockville, Md./Xtreme Acro, 22nd, 23.300.

The World Cup schedule is: qualifications – April 13 at 4:15 p.m.; and finals – April 14 at 6 p.m. Times are local to Puurs, which is six hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.

For the detailed Flanders International Acro Cup schedule, click here. The general schedule is below times; are local to Puurs, which is six hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone

April 13

  • 8:10 a.m. Qualifications, age group and juniors, part 1
  • 12:40 p.m. Qualifications, age group and juniors, part 2
  • 7:35 p.m. Qualifications, junior and senior

April 14

  • 8:45 a.m. Finals, age group and junior
  • 1:50 p.m. Finals, junior and senior

For more information on both events, visit the event’s official website.

Participating gymnasts can earn World Cup points based on their performances that count toward the coveted Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup Series champion, which will be determined this fall at the conclusion of the series. At every World Cup, each pair or group will perform balance and dynamic routines. The pairs and groups that advance to the finals perform a combined routine.

Acrobatic gymnastics combines the beauty of dance with the strength and agility of acrobatics. Routines are choreographed to music and consist of dance, tumbling, and partner skills. At the elite level, each pair or group performs a balance, dynamic and combined routine. Pyramids and partner holds characterize the balance routine, while synchronized tumbling and intricate flight elements define the dynamic exercise. The acrobatic gymnastics events are: men’s pair, mixed pair, women’s pair, men’s group and women’s group. An acrobatic gymnastics pair consists of a base and a top. A women’s group is comprised of three athletes – a base, middle and top partner – while a men’s group has four athletes, a base, two middle partners and one top partner.

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 taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. 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, visit usagym.org.