2009-10 Acro J.O. National Team
© Champion Images

ST. Paul, Minn. – The U.S. Acrobatic Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships, which showcases the nation’s top acrobatic gymnasts, was held July 12-16 at The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Saint Paul, Minn., in conjunction with the Freedom Cup. The Junior Olympics featured competition at Levels 5-10.

In level 10, the women’s group of Kaitlyn Plata, Monika Terry, and Jenna Provazek of San Jose, Calif./Aerial Tumbling & AcroGymnastics, won the all-around with a score of 78.850. Kendall Meyer of Silver Spring, Md., and Christopher Ball of Rockville, Md./Xtreme Acro, won mixed pair with 75.450. Allison Traina and Devin Jones of San Antonio, Texas/USA Aerial Athletics, took the title in women’s pair with a 73.550.

The women’s group, 17+ division was won by of BreeAnna Saur of Lawson, Mo., Harley-Breean Elliott of Lawson, Mo., and Jamie Adreon of Platte City, Mo./Northwest Gymnastics, at level nine with a score of 52.200. Samantha Servellon, Madeline Bones, and Mikaela Fincannon of San Jose, Calif./Aerial Tumbling & AcroGymnastics, earned a score of 53.050, winning the women’s group 16 under division. Beth Landeche and Michael Zatarain of New Orleans, La./Crescent City Gymnastics, took home the mixed pair 17+ championship with 50.500. Women’s pair Kacie Weidmaier of Holt, Mo., and MacKenzie Porter of Kearney, Mo./Rising Star Acrobatic Club, finished first in the 17+ division with a 50.900. Mariana Rodriguez and Anissa Crispin of San Antonio, Texas/Browns Gymnastics, scored a 48.750, to win the women’s pair 16 under title.

Tiffany Hamilton of Cameron, Mo., Summer Howe of Lawson, Mo., and Katrina Freitag of Kearney, Mo./Northwest Gymnastics, finished first in the level eight women’s group 17+ division with a score of 52.950. Women’s group Kayla Ronquillo, Taryn Kies, and Kendall Tarvin of San Jose, Calif./Aerial Tumbling & AcroGymnastics, won the 15-16 division with a 52.450. Kelli Weidmaier of Holt, Mo., Halie Kimmel of Kearney, Mo., and Mariah Wilkin of Kearney, Mo./Rising Star Acrobatic Club, scored a 52.650 to win the women’s group in the 12-14 age division. The mixed pair Cheyenne McGlothin of Jessup, Md., and Josh Snyder of Beltsville, Md./TOPS Acrobatics, took the championship in 17+ with a 50.800. McKenzie Handy and Cole Francis of Blue Springs, Mo./Acro Explosion, won the mixed pair 15-16 division with a total of 49.650. Jarrett Darrah of Placerville, Calif., and Joshua Tucker of Cameron Park, Calif./All Star Gymnastics and Cheer, scored a 51.050 to win the men’s pair 17+ division. The men’s pair 15-16 division was won by Aaron Trofman of Owings Mills, Md., and Alexander Ruth of Laurel, Md./Emilias Acro Gymnastics Club, with a score of 50.050. Jenna Mangold of Destrehan, La., and Allyson Conway of New Orleans, La./Crescent City Gymnastics, won the women’s pair 17+ division title with a 51.650. McKenzie Handy of Blue Springs, Mo., and Catherine Gerstner of Lee’s Summit, Mo./Acro Explosion, scored a 50.600 to win the women’s pair 15-16 division, and women’s pair Daphne Kirschner and Rachel Cole of Rockville, Md./Xtreme Acro, won the 12-14 divsion with a 50.900.

The level six women’s group 17+ division was won by Abagail Kelly and Lynda Selegean of Reading, Pa., and Alyssa Peterson of Fleetwood, Pa./In Touch Acro, with a score of 21.800. Cagen Johnstonand Heather King of Kearney, Mo., and Madison Behney of Holt, Mo./Rising Star Acrobatic Club, took the women’s group 15-16 division with a 23.750. The 12-14 division of women’s group was won by Gretchen Lindemann, Ani Caballero and Kathleen Davis of San Antonio, Texas/Browns Gymnastics, with a score of 26.900. Katarina Partalas, Jessica Campbell and Taylor Mayo of San Antonio, Texas/Browns Gymnastics, scored a 27.200 to win the women’s group 11 under division. The mixed pair 15-16 division was won by Sarah Villegas and Gabriel Dominguez of Boerne, Texas/Boerne Gymnastics Center, with a 21.900. Adriene Aubuchon and Slater Heet of Owensville, Mo./Mid-America Acro & Tumbling Team, won the mixed pair 12-14 division with a score of 23.200. The mixed pair 11 under division title went to Jenna Daugherty and David Daugherty of Ellicott City, Md./Emilias Acro Gymnastics Club, with a 23.750. Malaiyah Shaw of Ironton, La., and Erica Sampey of Belle Chasse, La./Fliptastics, won the women’s pair 17+ division with a 23.350. Olivia Parks and Heather King of Kearney, Mo./Rising Star Acrobatic Club, took the women’s pair 15-16 division with a score of 24.050. The 12-14 women’s pair division title went to Brianna Foster and Emma Gaona of San Antonio, Texas/Browns Gymnastics, with a 26.850. Abby Cohen of Glen Burnie, Md., and Julia Snyder of Pasadena, Md./TOPS Acrobatics, won the women’s pair 11 under division with a score of 24.000.

In level five, Levi Beaty of Bethany, Mo., TJ Johnson of Excelsior Springs, Mo., Jamie Mullin of Kansas City, Mo., and Dakota Saur of Lawson, Mo./Northwest Gymnastics, scored a 27.050 to win the men’s group 17+ division. Allison Abadir, Julie Runyan, and Meghan Hartz of Columbia, Mo./Columbia Acro & Tumbling Team, won the women’s group 17+ division with a score of 24.000. Women’s group 12-14 division was won by Summer Beaty of Bethany, Mo., Corrine Siebert of Lawson, Mo., and Josie Wilkerson of Lawson, Mo./Northwest Gymnastics, with a 27.950. The women’s group of Gracie Schultz, Laurynn Tallent, and Abigail Gerlemann of Owensville, Mo./Mid-America Acro & Tumbling Team, won the 11 under division with a 27.200. Paige Tucker of Grain Valley, Mo., and Alexander Burt of Lee’s Summit, Mo./Acro Explosion, took the mixed pair 11 under division title with a 23.500. Lynda Selegean of Reading, Pa., and Alyssa Peterson of Fleetwood, Pa./In Touch Acro, won the women’s pair 17+ division with a score of 26.700. The women’s pair 15-16 division title was taken by Maya Craft of New Orleans, La., and Jennifer Landry of Harvey, La./Fliptastics, with a 27.050. Danielle Shima and Emily Milavich of Fresno, Calif./Gymnastics Beat, won the women’s pair 12-14 division with a 27.650, while Calista Davis of Ijamsville, Md., and Erin Weber of Mt. Airy, Md./Skyview Gymnastics, won the women’s pair under 11 division title with a score of 28.650.

The Junior Olympics served as a qualifying event for the 2009 Visa Championships, scheduled for Aug. 12-15 in Dallas, Texas.

Acrobatic gymnastics combines the beauty of dance with the strength and agility of acrobatic and gymnastic skills with intense acrobatic balance showing grace, strength and flexibility. 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.

An acrobatic gymnastics pair consists of a base and a top. A women’s group is comprised of a base, middle and top partner, while a men’s group has a base, two middle partners and one top partner. Bases generally are older athletes who display strength and balance and top partners generally are younger athletes who display flexibility and agility. Middle partners often are required to show a combination of all attributes.