Ava Gehringer
© James Glader

DALLAS, Texas, Aug. 12, 2009 – The first day of rhythmic gymnastics in the 2009 Visa Championships, USA Gymnastics national championships, at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, wrapped with junior Rebecca Sereda of Staten Island, N.Y., winning three event titles and senior Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill., sweeping all four event titles. The all-around competition, which takes place Friday for juniors, as well as Friday and Saturday for seniors, will determine rhythmic gymnastics national champion.

Gehringer, who trains at North Shore Rhythmics Gymnastics, won the gold medals in ball (24.700), hoop (24.025), ribbon (24.150) and rope (24.450). Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles, Calif./ Eurogymnastics, earned three silver medals: hoop (23.825), ribbon (24.100), and rope (23.750). Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex, claimed three bronze medals – ball (22.750), ribbon (23.400) and rope (23.350). Michelle Milstein of Eagan, Minn./International Gymnastics of Minnesota, and Rebecca Wallenstein, Point Verda, Fla., World Rhythmics, rounded out the event medal winners, taking bronze in hoop and silver in ball, respectively.

Sereda, who trains at Isadora, won three of the four junior event finals. She took top honors in hoop (23.825), ball (23.800) and clubs (24.125), along with a bronze medal in rope with a 22.200. Her teammate Olga Pavlenko of Flushing, N.Y., won the rope title with a 22.700, in addition to a bronze in clubs with a 22.400. Jessica Bogdanov of Brooklyn, N.Y., was second in rope at 22.625 and also was third in hoop at 22.000.

Shelby Kisiel of Missouri City, Texas/North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, won a silver medal on hoop with a 23.450. Alexis Page of New York, N.Y./ Aviator Sports and Recreation won the silver medal in ball with a 22.700. Jazzy Kerber of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, captured the silver medal in clubs (23.200) and the bronze in ball (22.600).

Rhythmic gymnastics continues on Friday, with the junior all-around finals and the first of the senior’s two-day all-around final.

 

Photos by James Glader and Diane Bidermann