PAMPLONA, Spain, May 22, 2022 – Evita Griskenas (Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) collected her second top-10 all-around finish of the international season Saturday as the 2022 FIG Rhythmic World Challenge Cup Series kicked off at Navarra Arena.

She and fellow 2020 Olympian Lili Mizuno (Northbrook, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) also appeared in a combined three event finals Sunday, and the U.S. Senior National Group was 10th in their first appearance on the world stage since the introduction of the International Gymnastics Federation’s 2022-24 Code of Points.

Griskenas was 10th in the all-around with a cumulative 112.150, while Mizuno’s 103.350 positioned her 17th in a competition won by Bulgaria’s Boryana Kaleyn with a 128.700. In apparatus competition, Griskenas qualified to the hoop final in the first-reserve spot, and after being called into action rose to place fourth with a 30.300 behind Germany’s Margarita Kolosov with a 31.850. After advancing to the ribbon final in the eighth position, Griskenas climbed two notches to finish sixth with a 28.450 as Germany’s Darja Varfolomeev won with a 31.450.

Mizuno was the epitome of consistency, placing sixth on clubs with a 30.050 after qualifying sixth. Bulgaria’s Stiliana Nikolova claimed gold with a 33.450, while Varfolomeev captured the top spot on ball with a 33.300.

The U.S. Senior National Group of Maria Bolkhovitinova (Northfield, Ill.), Isabella Ivanova (Kirkland, Wash.), Gergana Petkova (Barrington, Ill.), Katrine Sakhnov (Sammamish, Wash.), Karolina Saverino (Elk Grove Village, Ill.), Hana Starkman (Plantation, Fla.) and Emily Wilson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was 10th in their 2022 international debut. The group, which trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, garnered a 20.650 on five hoops and a 15.850 on three ribbons and two balls to finish with a combined all-around score of 36.500. Italy led the way on both apparatus combinations Friday and Saturday to clinch the top all-around spot with a 68.900. The Italians also topped the scoresheet during Sunday’s event finals, delivering a decisive 36.050 on five hoops and 29.600 on three ribbons and two balls to complete the gold-medal sweep.

The Rhythmic World Challenge Cup Series continues May 27-29 in Portimao, Portugal. Griskenas, Mizuno and the U.S. group are set to compete.