INDIANAPOLIS, July 25, 2015 – Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), will be seeking his third consecutive U.S. all-around title at the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Mikulak is one of nine men in the field who have combined for a total of three Olympic and nine World medals. 2014 Youth Olympic all-around bronze-medalist Alec Yoder of Zionsville, Ind./InterActive Academy, Mitchell Brown of Fortville, Ind./DeVeau’s, and Anton Stephenson of Fishers, Ind./University of Nebraska, are the three local male gymnasts expected to compete in the national championships for USA Gymnastics.
At the recent Pan American Games in Toronto, Ont., the U.S. men’s team of Marvin Kimble of Milwaukee, Wis./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Steven Legendre of Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton (University of Oklahoma), Paul Ruggeri III of Manlius, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Donnell Whittenburg of Baltimore, Md./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), and Mikulak became the first U.S. men’s team to win the Pan Am Games team gold in 20 years. Mikulak went on to win the all-around gold and the floor exercise and parallel bars bronze medals. Kimble tied for the pommel horse gold. Whittenburg captured three silver medals (vault, still rings and floor exercise), and Ruggeri claimed the horizontal bar bronze.
The nine men who have combined for a total of three Olympic, nine World and 36 U.S. titles are listed below. The complete men’s field is also included.
- Chris Brooks, Houston/Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center): 2011 World team bronze medalist; 2010 U.S. horizontal bar champion.
- Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev./Team Hilton (University of Oklahoma): 2014 World team and vault bronze medalist; 2013 World floor exercise silver medalist; 2011 World team bronze medalist; three-time U.S. floor (2011-12, 2014) and vault (2009, 2011-12) champion; 2012 Olympian.
- Jonathan Horton, Houston/Team Hilton (Cypress Gymnastics): 2012 Olympian; 2012 U.S. still rings champion; 2011 World team bronze medalist; 2010 World all-around bronze medalist; 2008 Olympic high bar silver and team bronze medalist; 2009-10 U.S. all-around champion; 2009 high bar champion; 2006 U.S. floor exercise champion.
- Danell Leyva, Miami/Team Hilton (Universal Gymnastics): 2014 World team bronze and parallel bars silver medalist; 2013 World Championships – parallel bars champion; 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist; 2011 World team bronze medalist; 2011 all-around U.S. champion; four-time U.S. parallel bars (2010-12, 2014) and three-time horizontal bar (2009, 2011-12) champion.
- Steven Legendre, Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton (University of Oklahoma): 2015 Pan Am Games team champion; 2013 World vault silver medalist; 2011 World team bronze medalist; two-time U.S. floor exercise champion (2011, 2013); 2010 U.S. vault champion.
- Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center): 2013-14 U.S. all-around champion (2013-14); 2015 Pan American Games all-around and team champion and floor exercise and parallel bars bronze medalist; 2014 World team bronze medalist; 2014 U.S. pommel horse champion; 2013 parallel bars and horizontal bar champion; 2012 Olympian.
- Alex Naddour, Gilbert, Ariz./Team Hilton (USA Youth Fitness Center): 2011 and 2014 World team bronze medalist; 2011-13 U.S. pommel horse champion.
- Donnell Whittenburg, Baltimore, Md./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center): 2015 Pan Am Games team champion, and vault, still rings and floor exercise silver medalist; 2014 World team bronze medalist; 2014 U.S. vault champion.
- Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center): 2013 World still rings bronze medalist; four-time U.S. still rings champion (2010-11, 2013-14).
Yoder will be competing in the senior division, with Brown and Stephenson in the junior elite 15-16 and 17-18 divisions, respectively.
P&G Championships information
Scheduled for Aug. 13-16, the four-day the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships serves as USA Gymnastics’ national championships and will determine members of the men’s U.S. National and World Teams.
Single-session tickets are on sale now and range from $10-$105, with prices varying depending on session and seating area, along with several other ticket packages: women’s gymnastics day 1 includes both the junior and senior sessions on Aug. 13, $75-$125 per seat; men’s gymnastics package that includes every men’s junior and senior session, Aug. 14 and 16, $75-$125; women’s gymnastics final day includes both the junior and senior sessions on Aug. 15, $90-$140; senior men’s and women’s gymnastics final day sessions, Aug. 15-16, $85-$135; and all-session ticket package includes every competitive session, with prices running from $150-$495, and a limited number of Platinum VIP all-session tickets, located in the first five rows, are still available and include an autographed poster and a meet-and-greet with an Olympian.
Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster through www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster charge by phone 1-800-745-3000 or at participating Walmart locations in Central Indiana and Bankers Life Fieldhouse Box Office. Tickets are also available at a discounted price through participating local gymnastics clubs. Prices vary depending on seat location, and listed ticket prices do not include applicable fees.
The competition schedule, which is subject to change, is outlined below:
- Thursday, Aug. 13 – women’s gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m., and seniors at 7 p.m.;
- Friday, Aug. 14 – men’s gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m., and seniors at 7 p.m.;
- Saturday, Aug. 15 – women’s gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m., and seniors at 7:30 p.m.;
- Sunday, Aug. 16 – men’s gymnastics, seniors at 1:30 p.m., and juniors at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, go to pgchamps.com.
Jaycie Phelps, who was a member of the Magnificent Seven who won the team gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and 2008 Olympic team silver-medalists Samantha Peszek and Bridget Sloan will be honored on Aug. 13, when women’s gymnastics takes the stage. The Indianapolis Children’s Choir will perform as part of the Olympian celebration, including singing “Back Home Again in Indiana.” Thursday evening’s start time has been moved up to 7 p.m. On Friday night, the 2015 induction class of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame will be recognized during the first night of men’s gymnastics, which also begins at 7 p.m.
Fans and Hoosiers can enjoy fan activities and fun on Georgia Street on all four competition days, Aug. 13-16. Dubbed the “Road to Rio” in recognition of the 2016 Olympic Games, the fun ranges from face painting, photo opportunities, live art, food, live Brazilian entertainment to interactive activities for adults and kids alike. More detailed information will be announced in late July, but the Road to Rio schedule is: Aug. 13-14, 4:30-6:30 p.m.; Aug. 15, 3:30-6:30 p.m.; and Aug. 16, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Gymnastics and the P&G Championships will also be part of some of the regular Georgia Street activities Aug. 12-14.
Indiana Sports Corp, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana are the event’s local organizers. St. Vincent Sports Performance is the official medical and performance nutrition provider of USA Gymnastics and the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships. The four premier level partners are: Deloitte, Vera Bradley, Kroger and OneAmerica Financial Partners. The other event partners are Bohlsen Group; Washington National Insurance Company, a subsidiary of CNO Financial Group; Hendricks Regional Health; Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; Crowe Horwath; and Faegre Baker Daniels. Indianapolis has served as the headquarters for USA Gymnastics since 1983.
Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, and Mikulak both won their second consecutive women’s and men’s U.S. all-around titles, respectively, at the 2014 P&G Championships. The roster of former U.S. all-around champions is a veritable who’s who of gymnastics, including: women – Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Carly Patterson, Courtney Kupets, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Kim Zmeskal and Mary Lou Retton; and men – Paul Hamm, Blaine Wilson, John Roethlisberger, Mitch Gaylord, Peter Vidmar and Bart Conner. The U.S. Gymnastics Championships traces its history back to 1897 for the men and 1931 for the women. Previously known as the Visa Championships, this is the fourth time the prestigious event has been held in Indianapolis (1986, 1998, 2005, 2015).
The annual USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is a three-day event open to the entire gymnastics community. Held in conjunction with the P&G Championships, National Congress provides a unique opportunity for presentations, demonstrations and educational seminars on a variety of topics and a large exhibitor’s hall with additional business opportunities. The 2015 edition will be staged at the Indiana Convention Center.
Background information
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St.Vincent Sports Performance. A worldwide destination for elite athlete training, the St.Vincent Sports Performance staff has been supporting world-class athletes since 1987. The first and largest hospital- based program of its kind in the United States, St.Vincent Sports Performance employs 70 nationally certified athletic trainers, 7 physicians, 12 certified strength and conditioning specialists, two licensed sports psychologists and a registered sports dietitian. Together they have trained athletes at every level from Olympians to the NFL and NBA, to Motorsports and NCAA athletes. Learn more at definingsportsperformance.com.
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Indiana Sports Corp. Indiana Sports Corp’s mission is to create positive impact by hosting world-class sporting events that enhance vibrancy in the community, build civic pride, drive economic impact and media exposure, and encourage opportunities for youth. A not-for-profit organization, Indiana Sports Corp was founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission. Our recent and upcoming schedule of events includes NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours, Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Big Ten Football Championship Games through 2021, Big Ten Basketball Tournaments, 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving, and much more. For more information, visit www.IndianaSportsCorp.org.
2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships Men’s Field
Alpha by state, last name
Arizona
Allan Bower, Mesa, Ariz./University of Oklahoma, Senior
Dante LaBarre, Mesa, Ariz./USA Flairs, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Alex Naddour, Gilbert, Ariz./Team Hilton (USA Youth Fitness Center), Senior
California
Donothan Bailey, Lake Forest, Calif./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
Cameron Bock, Tustin, Calif./SCATS Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Andrew Botto, Redwood City, Calif./University of Iowa, Senior
Adrian de los Angeles, Long Beach, Calif./University of Michigan, Senior
Joshua Dixon, San Jose, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center, Senior
Andrew Herrador, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Olympic Gymnastics Academy, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Bennet Huang, Palo Alto, Calif./West Coast Olympic Gymnastics Academy, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Steven Lacombe, Mission Viejo, Calif./University of California – Berkeley, Senior
Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
Shane Sadighi, Laguna Niguel, Calif./Azarian Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Kevin Wolting, Laguna Hills, Calif./University of California – Berkeley, Senior
Daniel Yoon, Huntington Beach, Calif./Scats Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Colorado
Yul Moldauer, Arvada, Colo./University of Oklahoma, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Florida
Marcos Gatinho, Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla./Team Hilton (Universal Gymnastics), Senior
Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla./Ohio State University, Senior
Anton Vorona, Sunrise, Fla./TAG USA Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Georgia
Andrew Bitner, Buford, Ga./Gymnastix Training Center, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Ethan Esval, Roswell, Ga./Atlanta School of Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Illinois
Maxim Andryushchenko, Arlington Heights, Ill./Lake Shore Academy, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Danny Berardini, Lake Forest, Ill./University of Oklahoma, Senior
Jack Boyle, Naperville, Ill./University of Iowa, Senior
Joshua Martin, Buffalo Grove, Ill./Aerial Gymnastics Club, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Bailey Perez, Glen Ellyn, Ill./Premier Gymnastics Academy, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Josh Zeal, Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove Gymn Center, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Indiana
Mitchell Brown, Fortville, Ind./DeVeau’s, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Anton Stephenson, Fishers, Ind./University of Nebraska, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Alec Yoder, Indianapolis, Ind./InterActive Academy, Senior
Massachusetts
Addison Chung, Medfeld, Mass./New England Sports Academy, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Peter Daggett, E Longmeadow, Mass./University of Oklahoma, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Matt Felleman, Medway, Mass./Pennsylvania State University, Senior
Mitchell Mandozzi, Harvard, Mass./New England Academy of Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Maryland
Donnell Whittenburg, Baltimore, Md./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
Kyle Zemeir, Ellicott City, Md./University of California – Berkeley, Senior
Michigan
Stacey Ervin, Taylor, Mich./University of Michigan, Senior
Jacob Moore, West Bloomfield, Mich./Twistars USA, Junior Elite L10 15-16
Minnesota
Shane Wiskus, Spring Park, Minn./MHG, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Nevada
Emyre Cole, North Las Vegas, Nev./Go For It USA, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Jacob Dalton, Sparks, Nev./Team Hilton (University of Oklahoma), Senior
Brennan Pantazis, Sparks, Nev./Gymnastics Nevada, Junior Elite 10 15-16
New Hampshire
Nicholas Merryman, Brookline, N.H./New England Academy of Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
New Jersey
Andrew Brower, Old Bridge, N.J./US Gymnastics DC, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Leroy Clarke, Jr., Maplewood, N.J./Pennsylvania State University, Senior
Evan Hymanson, Morganville, N.J./Monmouth Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Akash Modi, Morganville, N.J./Stanford University, Senior
Favian Valdez, Kearny, N.J./US Gymnastics DC, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
New Mexico
CJ Maestas, Corrales, N.M./U.S. Olympic Training Center, Senior
New York
Steven Legendre, Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton (University of Oklahoma), Senior
Eddie Penev, Rochester, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
Paul Ruggeri III, Manlius, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
Ohio
Michael Burns, Baltimore, Ohio/Hocking Valley Gymnastics Center, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Trevor Howard, Columbus, Ohio/Pennsylvania State University, Senior
Nick Hunter, Canfield, Ohio/University of Michigan, Senior
Connor Lewis, Grove City, Ohio/Integrity Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Pennsylvania
Jacob Light, Macungie, Pa./Parkette’s, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Texas
Levi Anderson, Spring, Texas/University of Oklahoma, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas/Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
Tristan Burke, Royse City, Texas/WOGA Frisco, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Davis Grooms, Katy, Texas/Champion Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas/Team Hilton (Cypress Gymnastics), Senior
Tanner Justus, Cypress, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Hunter Justus, Cypress, Texas/University of Oklahoma, Senior
Griffin Kehler, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Frisco, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Jordan King, The Woodlands, Texas/University of Nebraska, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Michael Reid, Kileen, Texas/University of Oklahoma, Senior
Blake Sun, San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Gymnastics Center, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Colin Van Wicklen, Magnolia, Texas/University of Oklahoma, Senior
Alexei Vernyi, Cypress, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Matthew Wenske, Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 15-16
Tanner West, Cypress, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Virginia
Kiwan Watts, N.Chesterfield, Va./Above The Bar Gymnastics Academy, Junior Elite 10 17-18
Wisconsin
Dmitri Belanovski, Milwaukee,Wis./University of Michigan, Senior
Marvin Kimble, Milwaukee, Wis./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), Senior
Robert Neff, Brookfield, Wis./Stanford University, Senior