KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 5, 2013 – Kalon Ludvigson of Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution, clinched his eighth straight U.S. tumbling title at the 2013 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships at Kansas City’s (Mo.) Municipal Auditorium. Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA, and Hayley Butcher of Saint John, Ind./Midwest Training and Ice Center, won the senior U.S. trampoline titles. The other senior U.S. champions are: Yulia Stankevich-Brown of Idaho Falls, Idaho/Idaho Elite Gymnastics, tumbling; and Ryan Roberts of Ramona, Calif./Southern California TTC, and Kristle Lowell of Orland Park, Ill./Branch Gymnastics, double mini-trampoline. Junior Olympic competition continues through July 10.
Gluckstein posted a 159.560 to clinch his second U.S. senior men’s trampoline title, finishing ahead of his brother Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA, whose 157.575 put him in second. Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, landed in third place at 156.370.
Butcher scored a 146.550 to win her first senior U.S. trampoline title, followed by Charlotte Drury of Laguna Niguel, Calif./World Elite, at 144.000 and Shaylee Dunavin of Amarillo, Texas/All-American Gymnastics, at 142.655 for second and third, respectively. 2012 Olympian Savannah Vinsant of Lafayette, La./T&T Express, the reigning U.S. champion, was fourth at 102.370.
Ludvigson, who now holds more than half of the U.S. tumbling titles since the discipline joined USA Gymnastics in 1999, easily won his eighth crown with his 80.300. Alex Renkert of Indianapolis, Ind./Geist Sports Academy, finished second at 72.200. Garrett Wheeler of Locust Grove, Ga./Flip City, rounded out the top three at 68.600.
In the women’s tumbling competition, Brown took top honors with her 133.600 total, garnering her fourth U.S. title. Marina Moskalenko of Saint Cloud, Fla./Stick It Gymnastics, was second at 130.200, and Stephanie Rennie of Riverdale, Utah/Flipside Tumbling, was third at 118.100..
Ryan Roberts of Ramona, Calif./Southern California TTC, clinched the senior men’s double mini-trampoline title by earning 75.000 for his two passes in the finals. Austin White of Newport Coast, Calif./World Elite, scored a 74.800 for the silver medal, and James Lichtenstein of Buffalo Grove, Ill./5-Star Tumbling and Trampoline, earned a 73.800 for the number three spot.
For women’s double-mini, Lowell’s 138.600 earned her the U.S. title. Tristan Van Natta of Pendleton, Ind./Geist Sports Academy, finished in second place with her 135.300. Moskalenko was third at 134.200.
In the junior men’s competition, the 2013 U.S. champions are: Cody Gesuelli of Middletown, N.J./ETA, trampoline; Brandon Krzynefski of Centreville, Va./Capital, tumbling; and Joshua Browne of Gilbert, Ariz./Aspire, double mini-trampoline.
The 2013 U.S. junior women’s champions are: Maggie Gallagher of Coto de Caza, Calif./World Elite, trampoline; Cassandra Skinner of Livonia, Mich./AGT FlipCity, tumbling; and Madi Webster of Odon, Ind./Tumbling Express, double-mini.
The remaining competition schedule is listed below.
Junior Olympic Division
July 7 – 7-8:30 p.m. – Level 9 Finals
July 7 – 8:30-9:30 p.m. – Regional All Star Competition
July 8 – 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. – Levels 5-7
July 9 – 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. – Levels 5-7
July 10 – 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. – Levels 5-7
Kansas City last hosted the U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in 2008.
Trampoline events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform single, double and twisted somersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated spring runways that enable athletes to jump at heights over 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. Double-mini competition involves the athlete making a short run and leaping onto a small two-level trampoline. The athlete will then perform an aerial maneuver and dismount onto a landing mat.