Jonathan Horton is congratulated by USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny
© John Cheng

HARTFORD, Aug. 13, 2010 – 2008 Olympic high bar silver-medalist Jonathan Horton of Houston defended his all-around title tonight at the 2010 Visa Championships at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. Horton, who trains at Cypress Academy, won his second national all-around title with a total of 181.650.

Horton battled with Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, for the lead. Horton led the first day of competition and the first rotation of finals, but Leyva took over the lead in rotations two through four. After a stellar still rings routine, which scored a 16.200, Horton regained the lead over Leyva with scores of 165.600 to 164.650. Horton clinched the title on his last event, vault, scoring a 16.050 for his handspring double front. Horton’s two-day event total was 181.650 to Leyva’s 179.350.

“This is one of the most satisfying meets I’ve had,” Horton said. “I put in all the work and it finally paid off. Last year, I got lucky. This year, I expected myself to win.

“I have all the respect for Danell. He pushed me and he made me nervous. He did an incredible job.”

Brandon Wynn of Voorhees, N.J./Ohio State University, finished third in the all-around with a score of 178.700. Chris Brooks of Houston, Texas/University of Oklahoma, was fourth in the all-around with a score of 176.700. Glen Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif./Cal-Berkeley, took fifth with a 176.150. Steven Legendre of Flower Mound, Texas/University of Oklahoma, rounded out the top six with a score of 175.250.

Horton also earned $17,500 in the 2010 Champions Challenge, a money prize pool for senior men sponsored by International Gymnastics Camp, based in Stroudsburg, Pa. The prize pool awarded $35,000 to gymnasts who ranked in the top 10 in the all-around, with the champion receiving $10,000. Each individual event champion received $2,500. Monies were paid to those who do not have NCAA restrictions. The Champions Challenge is designed to meet the ever-increasing demands of training for men’s gymnastics at the elite level. The $50,000 Champions Challenge was established to enhance their athlete funding and assist in covering year-round training costs. Horton won $10,000 for taking first in the all-around, as well as $2,500 each for three events: floor exercise, still rings and vault. The other top two money-earners were Leyva with $9,500 and Brooks with $7,500.

Josh Dixon of San Jose, Calif./Stanford University, won the floor exercise title with a score of 30.500, with a routine that included a layout double twisting double back. Jake Dalton of Sparks, Nev./University of Oklahoma, was second with a score a 30.300. Horton was third at 30.250.

Daniel Ribeiro of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y./University of Illinois, won the pommel horse title with a score of 30.300, showing consistency on both days of competition. Chris Cameron of Winter Haven, Fla./University of Michigan, and Ishino finished second and third, respectively, with scores of 29.250 and 29.150.

On rings, Wynn won the title with a score of 32.250, with Horton second (31.900) and 2008 Olympic team bronze-medalist Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif./Penn State, in third (30.95).

Legendre won the vault title scoring a 34.100, performing a front handspring double front half-out vault and a Kasamatsu one-and-half. Alex Buscaglia of Cary, Ill./Stanford, finished second on vault with a score of 32.800. Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./University of Illinois, was third with a 32.700.

Leyva won parallel bars with a score of 31.100. Brooks finished second with a 30.95. Ryan Lieberman of Lake Forest, Ill./Stanford, tied with Wynn for third at 30.500.

Brooks won the high bar title with a score of 31.250. Ruggeri was second with a 31.200 and Leyva was third with a 30.950.

Barry Weiner of Cal-Berkeley was named Coach of the Year; Tim McNeill was awarded Athlete of the Year; and Chris Brooks received Sportsperson of the Year.

Live, prime-time coverage of the final day of the women’s competition on NBC Sports begins at 8 p.m. on Aug. 14. NBC Sports will broadcast action from the men’s competition at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. 1984 Olympic gold-medalist Tim Daggett, Olympian Elfi Schlegel, Andrea Joyce and Al Trautwig are the announce team for both the NBC and Universal Sports broadcasts.

Hosted by 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin and three-time Olympian John Roethlisberger, “Around the Gym” will be a fun and informative way for TV viewers to see additional interviews and commentary from the Visa Championships. “Around the Gym” will air after competition concludes on Universal Sports on Aug. 12-14.

To find a Universal Sports channel in a specific area, click here. On the Web, live coverage will be available on both www.usagym.org/visa and www.universalsports.com.

The Visa Championships determine the U.S. champions and the national team for each discipline for both the junior and senior elite levels in four disciplines. Tickets are on sale now and available through all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information, go to www.usagym.org/visa.

Held at the Connecticut Convention Center, the USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is the annual gathering of professional members that offers educational and business sessions, a large exhibitor’s hall and other business and educational opportunities. The National Congress is staged in conjunction with the Visa Championships.

Photos by John Cheng

2010 Visa Championships – Men Day 2
XL Center
Hartford, Conn.
August 13, 2010
Senior men’s second of two days of competition (scores are a two-day total)

All-Around
1. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 181.650
2. Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., 179.350
3. Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., 178.700
4. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 176.700
5. Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., 176.150
6. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 175.250
7. Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 173.650
8. Paul Ruggeri, Manlius, N.Y., 173.300
9. Jesse Silverstein, Spring Valley, N.Y., 173.200
10. Andrew Elkind, Colorado Springs, Colo., 173.050
11. Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 173.000
12. Alexy Bilozertchev, Colorado Springs, Colo., 172.850
13. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 172.500
14. Sam Mikulak, Corona del Mar, Calif., 172.200
15. Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., 172.050
15. Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, 172.050
17. Alexander Naddour, Mesa, Ariz., 171.450
18. Alex Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., 171.400
19. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, 171.200
20. Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., 171.050
21. Kyson Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif., 171.000
22. Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., 170.600
23. Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., 170.550
24. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., 168.850
25. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., 168.550
26. Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, 168.000
27. Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., 167.700
28. CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., 167.500
29. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, 167.100
30. Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., 166.400
31. Trevor Howard, Cols, Ohio, 161.500
32. Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., 160.650
33. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., 159.650
34. Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., 159.200
35. Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, 159.100
36. Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M., 146.250

Floor exercise
1. Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., 30.500
2. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 30.300
3. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 30.250
4. Paul Ruggeri, Manlius, N.Y., 30.150
5. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 30.000
6. Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M., 29.950
6. Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., 29.950
8. RJ Heflin, Houston, Texas, 29.850
8. Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 29.850
10. Alexy Bilozertchev, Colorado Springs, Colo., 29.700
11. Chad Wiest, Butler, Pa., 29.600
12. Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., 29.550
13. Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., 29.350
14. Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., 29.300
15. Alexander Naddour, Mesa, Ariz., 29.200
16. Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., 29.100
17. Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., 29.050
18. Philip Onorato, Plano, Texas, 28.950
19. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, 28.900
19. Jesse Silverstein, Spring Valley, N.Y., 28.900
19. Alex Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., 28.900
19. Sam Mikulak, Corona del Mar, Calif., 28.900
23. Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 28.650
24. CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., 28.600
25. Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., 28.550
26. Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, 28.500
27. Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, 28.450
28. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., 28.100
29. Andrew Elkind, Colorado Springs, Colo., 27.750
30. Trevor Howard, Cols, Ohio, 27.550
30. Kyson Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif., 27.550
32. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, 27.500
33. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 27.350
34. Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., 27.300
34. Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, 27.300
34. Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., 27.300
37. Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., 27.000
38. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., 26.900
39. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., 26.750
40. Matthew del Junco, Santa Ana, Calif., 26.500

Pommel horse
1. Daniel Ribeiro, Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., 30.300
2. Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., 29.250
3. Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., 29.150
4. Alexander Naddour, Mesa, Ariz., 28.600
5. Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, 28.550
6. Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., 28.500
7. Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 28.400
8. Jesse Silverstein, Spring Valley, N.Y., 28.300
9. Kyson Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif., 28.150
9. Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., 28.150
11. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 28.100
12. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 28.050
13. Andrew Elkind, Colorado Springs, Colo., 27.750
14. Alexy Bilozertchev, Colorado Springs, Colo., 27.700
15. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., 27.550
16. Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., 27.450
17. RJ Heflin, Houston, Texas, 27.300
18. Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 27.050
19. Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., 27.000
20. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 26.850
21. Sam Mikulak, Corona del Mar, Calif., 26.800
22. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, 26.750
23. Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, 26.300
24. Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., 26.200
25. Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M., 26.150
26. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, 26.100
27. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 26.050
28. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., 25.900
29. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., 25.750
30. Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., 25.500
31. Trevor Howard, Cols, Ohio, 24.800
32. CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., 24.700
33. Matthew del Junco, Santa Ana, Calif., 24.650
34. Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., 24.300
35. Paul Ruggeri, Manlius, N.Y., 24.250
36. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 24.100
37. Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., 23.650
38. Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., 23.300
39. Alex Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., 23.250
40. Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, 23.100

Still rings
1. Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., 32.250
2. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 31.900
3. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 30.950
4. Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 30.850
5. Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., 29.850
6. CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., 29.500
6. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, 29.500
8. Jesse Silverstein, Spring Valley, N.Y., 29.450
9. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 29.400
10. Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., 29.350
11. Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., 29.250
12. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 29.200
13. Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., 29.000
14. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, 28.650
15. Andrew Elkind, Colorado Springs, Colo., 28.600
16. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 28.400
17. Kyson Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif., 28.350
17. Philip Onorato, Plano, Texas, 28.350
19. Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 28.200
20. Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, 28.150
20. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., 28.150
22. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., 28.000
23. Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., 27.900
23. Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, 27.900
25. Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., 27.800
25. Alex Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., 27.800
27. Trevor Howard, Cols, Ohio, 27.700
28. Sam Mikulak, Corona del Mar, Calif., 27.600
29. Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., 27.200
29. Alexy Bilozertchev, Colorado Springs, Colo., 27.200
31. Paul Ruggeri, Manlius, N.Y., 27.100
32. Alexander Naddour, Mesa, Ariz., 26.700
33. Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., 26.350
34. Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., 26.250
35. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., 25.950
36. Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, 25.350
37. Matthew del Junco, Santa Ana, Calif., 25.250
38. Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., 24.200

Vault
1. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 34.100
2. Alex Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., 32.800
3. Paul Ruggeri, Manlius, N.Y., 32.700
4. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 32.100
5. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 31.900
6. Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., 31.700
7. RJ Heflin, Houston, Texas, 31.500
8. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 31.250
8. Jesse Silverstein, Spring Valley, N.Y., 31.250
10. Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., 31.200
11. Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M., 31.150
12. Chad Wiest, Butler, Pa., 31.100
12. Sam Mikulak, Corona del Mar, Calif., 31.100
12. Alexander Naddour, Mesa, Ariz., 31.100
15. Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 31.000
16. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, 30.950
16. Kyson Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif., 30.950
18. Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., 30.850
19. Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., 30.700
20. Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, 30.650
21. Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., 30.550
22. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, 30.450
22. CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., 30.450
22. Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., 30.450
22. Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., 30.450
26. Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, 30.200
26. Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., 30.200
28. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., 30.150
29. Matthew del Junco, Santa Ana, Calif., 30.000
30. Trevor Howard, Cols, Ohio, 29.950
31. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., 29.900
31. Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., 29.900
33. Andrew Elkind, Colorado Springs, Colo., 29.850
34. Alexy Bilozertchev, Colorado Springs, Colo., 29.800
34. Philip Onorato, Plano, Texas, 29.800
36. Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 29.650
37. Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, 29.550
38. Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., 29.150
39. Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., 28.000
40. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., 26.550

Parallel bars
1. Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., 31.100
2. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 30.950
3. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., 30.500
3. Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., 30.500
5. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 30.250
6. Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., 30.100
7. Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M., 29.950
7. Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., 29.950
9. Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., 29.650
10. Andrew Elkind, Colorado Springs, Colo., 29.400
11. Alexy Bilozertchev, Colorado Springs, Colo., 29.350
12. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 29.300
13. Sam Mikulak, Corona del Mar, Calif., 29.250
13. Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., 29.250
15. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, 29.150
16. RJ Heflin, Houston, Texas, 29.050
16. Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, 29.050
18. Chad Wiest, Butler, Pa., 29.000
19. Jesse Silverstein, Spring Valley, N.Y., 28.850
20. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, 28.600
20. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 28.600
22. CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., 28.500
23. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 28.450
24. Alex Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., 28.400
25. Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 28.350
26. Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, 28.200
27. Alexander Naddour, Mesa, Ariz., 28.000
28. Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., 27.950
28. Philip Onorato, Plano, Texas, 27.950
30. Paul Ruggeri, Manlius, N.Y., 27.900
31. Trevor Howard, Cols, Ohio, 27.850
31. Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., 27.850
33. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., 27.700
34. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., 27.350
35. Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., 26.950
36. Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 26.900
37. Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., 26.650
38. Kyson Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif., 26.400
39. Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, 25.950
40. Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., 25.700

Horizontal Bar
1. Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas, 31.250
2. Paul Ruggeri, Manlius, N.Y., 31.200
3. Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla., 30.950
4. Alex Buscaglia, Cary, Ill., 30.250
5. Andrew Elkind, Colorado Springs, Colo., 29.700
6. Kyson Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif., 29.600
7. Bryan Del Castillo, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 29.200
8. Alexy Bilozertchev, Colorado Springs, Colo., 29.100
8. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 29.100
10. Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M., 29.050
11. Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., 28.800
12. Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass., 28.600
13. Wesley Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 28.550
13. Sam Mikulak, Corona del Mar, Calif., 28.550
15. Thomas Kelley, Libertyville, Ill., 28.500
16. Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev., 28.150
17. Glen Ishino, Santa Ana, Calif., 28.000
18. Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif., 27.900
19. Alexander Naddour, Mesa, Ariz., 27.850
20. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla., 27.800
21. Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla., 27.700
22. Dylan Akers, Kingwood, Texas, 27.650
23. Christopher Stehl, Houston, Texas, 27.550
24. Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas, 27.450
25. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill., 27.400
26. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 27.250
27. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas, 27.150
28. Spencer Johnson, Houston, Texas, 26.750
29. Chad Wiest, Butler, Pa., 26.700
30. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo., 26.650
31. Sho Nakamori, Albany, Calif., 26.500
32. Jesse Silverstein, Spring Valley, N.Y., 26.450
33. Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla., 26.350
34. Cale Robinson, Harriman, Tenn., 25.900
35. CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M., 25.750
36. Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich., 25.600
37. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas, 24.600
38. Trevor Howard, Cols, Ohio, 23.650
39. Matthew del Junco, Santa Ana, Calif., 13.150