© Ron Wyatt

Qualification competition for trampoline, tumbling and double-mini trampoline conclude

TULSA, Okla., March 30, 2012 – Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill./J&J Tumbling and Trampoline, and Savannah Vinsant of Lafayette, La/T&T Express, lead the first day of competition in trampoline at the 2012 T&T Elite Challenge, held at the Tulsa Convention Center Arena in Tulsa, Okla., on Friday. The top eight finishers advanced to tomorrow evening’s finals, where the scores start from zero and athletes will compete to earn points in the first of three Olympic qualifying events.

Competition continues tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. CT in Tulsa with the finals for men’s and women’s, junior and senior competition in individual trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline.

Devine, who competed in the second of two flights, posted a 48.640 for his compulsory routine and a 56.400 on his optional routine, which included a piked, triple flip with a half twist. His 105.040 total ranked him just ahead of Neil Gulati of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, who posted a 104.880 total (48.150, compulsory; 56.730, optional) for second. Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, finished third with a 104.635 total (48.715, compulsory; 55.920, optional). With their top three finishes, Devine, Gulati and Dooley advanced to the finals.

The additional men who advanced to tomorrow’s final are as follows: Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA; Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA; Austin White of Newport Coast, Calif/World Elite Gymnastics; Hunter Brewster of Lafayette, La./T&T Express; and Justin Hackett of Allendale, Mich./Branch Gymnastics.

Vinsant, the reigning U.S. champion, earned 46.850 for her compulsory routine. Then, she posted a 52.105 in the optional round, soaring through the air on a triple front tuck half out to half in to Rudi out opening combination. Her combined total, 98.955, earned her first place in the preliminary round. Shanelle Landry of Lafayette, La./ETA, finished second, posting a 95.385 total score (45.655, compulsory; 49.730, optional), while Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, scored 95.200 points (45.715, compulsory; 49.485, optional) for third.

Advancing to tomorrow’s with Vinsant, Landry and Earnest are: Nani Vercruyssen of Honolulu/Hawaii Academy; Hayley Butcher of Saint John, Ind./Midwest Training & Ice Center; Alaina Williams of Norman, Okla./Acrospirits; Audrey Ghanian of Holmdel, N.J./ETA; and Alicia Powder of Ladera Ranch, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics.

In the junior trampoline competition, Cody Gesuelli earned a 95.543 to lead at the conclusion of the prelims competition. Charlotte Drury of Laguna Niguel, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, leads the women’s competition, having scored 89.345 points.

In senior men’s tumbling, Kalon Ludvigson of Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution, posted the top score of the day with a 75.200 total. For the junior men, Garret Waterstradt of Paxton, Ill./Irish’s Gymnastics, qualified first to the final with a 62.500.

For the women tumblers, Natalya Beneschott of Reno, Nev./Team Revoltion, posted the top senior total with a 62.900. In the junior division, Mackenze Kulka of Tulsa, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme, scored 60.700 to lead the standings.

In the double mini-trampoline competition, Alex Renkert of Indianapolis, Ind./Interactive Academy, led the senior men with a 72.600 total. In the junior men’s competition, Waterstradt again posted the top mark with a 70.500 total.

For the senior women, Kristin Day of Reynoldsville, Pa./Uzelac Gymnastics, scored a 66.400 to take first place in qualification for double mini-trampoline, while Madi Webster of Odon, Ind./Tumbling Express, earned the highest score in the junior women’s competition, a 65.400.