Sam Mikulak
© Champion Images

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 8, 2010 – Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif., won the Level 10 (16-18) Junior Olympic National Championships all-around title at the 2010 U.S. Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships in the Knoxville (Tenn.) Convention Center. Competition continues this evening with Level 9 all-around finals and concludes on Sunday, May 9 at 12 p.m. with individual event finals for all levels.

Mikulak, who trains at SCATS, edged Jesse Silverstein of Suffern, N.Y./U.S. Gymnastics Develop Center II, by eight tenths, 181.450 to 180.800, to claim the Level 10 (16-18) all-around crown. Chris Turner of Fremont, Calif./West Coast Gymnastics Academy, finished third with 174.550. Wyatt Aycock of Orlando/Orlando Metro, and Colton Wulf of Golden, Colo./5280, rounded out the top five at 171.350 and 171.300, respectively.

Mikulak, who will compete for the University of Michigan in the fall, placed in the top three on all six events, posting the top score on vault (33.15) and placing second on floor exercise, still rings, parallel bars and horizontal bar. Silverstein recorded the top scores on floor (31.45) and rings (31.00). Turner earned the top mark on parallel bars (29.30). Eric Schryver of Richardson, Texas/WOGA, claimed the top score on pommel horse (29.30), and Wasef Burbar of Chicago, Ill./Buffalo Grove Gymnastics, had the top score on high bar (30.50). Mikulak, Silverstein, and Turner are members of the 2009-10 U.S. Junior National Team.

The top 36 all-arounders from Level 9, Level 10 (14-15) and Level 10 (16-18) from preliminaries advanced to the all-around finals.

The top 12 gymnasts on each apparatus from preliminaries that did not participate in the all-around final competed simultaneously in individual event semifinals. The top six ranked gymnasts on each apparatus after all-around finals and individual event semifinals advanced to individual apparatus event finals, tomorrow at 12 p.m.

The Junior Olympic levels are determined by age and skill level. Level 10 is split into two age groups, 14-15 years old and 16-18 years old. The top 18 U.S. all-around finishers at the Junior Olympic National Championships qualified to the 2010 Visa Championships, Aug. 10-14, in Hartford, Conn., where the U.S. Junior National Teams for both age groups are determined.

Tickets may be purchased at the Knoxville Convention Center at the admissions desk. Individual tickets are still available – children 12 & under, seniors (55+) and active military for $17 with adults for $20. All children four and under are admitted free. ID is required for age-specific and military rates. Tickets are cash only.

Premier Athletics is the host club for the Junior Olympic Championships.

To advance to the Junior Olympic National Championships, gymnasts compete in state and regional championships and qualify based on their all-around or multiple-event scores, or through regional allotment. For more information on the event and live scoring, go to www.2010jomen.com.

The U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships is one of the national championships of USA Gymnastics, the sport’s national governing body in the United States. Many Junior Olympic champions have gone on to make the U.S. National Team and represent the United States in international competition and/or to compete in collegiate gymnastics. All of the members of the medal winning 2004 (silver) and 2008 (bronze) U.S. Olympic Teams are past Junior Olympic National Championships participants, including Paul Hamm, 2004 Olympic all-around champion, and Jonathan Horton, 2008 Olympic horizontal bar silver medalist.

2010 Men’s Junior Olympic Championships
Knoxville Convention Center
Knoxville, Tenn.
May 8, 2010
Level 10 All-around results

All-around Results

 

Level 10 (16-18)
1. Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./SCATS, 181.450
2. Jesse Silverstein, Suffern, N.Y./U.S. Gymnastics Develop Center II, 180.800*
3. Christopher Turner, Fremont, Calif./West Coast Gymnastics Academy, 174.550
4. Wyatt Aycock, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro, 171.350
5. Colton Wulf, Golden, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, 171.300
6. Trevor Howard, Lewis Center, Ohio/Hocking Valley Gymnastics Center, 171.000
7. Jacoby Rubin, Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center, 170.550
8. C.J. Schaaf, Houston/Cypress Gymnastics Academy, 170.150
9. Matt Fellemen, Medway, Mass./New England Academy of Gymnastics, 170.050
10. Jesse Glenn, Northridge, Calif./SCATS, 169.700

Visa Championships Qualifiers

Level 10 (16-18)
1. Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./SCATS
2. Christopher Turner, Fremont, Calif./West Coast Gymnastics Academy
3. Wyatt Aycock, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro
4. Colton Wulf, Golden, Colo./5280 Gymnastics
5. Jacoby Rubin, Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center
6. Trevor Howard, Lewis Center, Ohio/Hocking Valley Gymnastics Center
7. Matt Fellemen, Medway, Mass./New England Academy of Gymnastics
8. C.J. Schaaf, Houston/Cypress Gymnastics Academy
9. Jesse Glenn, Northridge, Calif./SCATS
10. Cyrus Dobre-Mofid, Hagerstown, Md./Hanover YMCA
11. Wasef Burbar, Chicago, Ill./Buffalo Grove
12. Josh Ungar, Longmeadow, Mass./Daggett’s Gold Medal Gymnastics
13. Cameron Rogers, Mint Hill, N.C./Zenith Gymnastics
14. Alex Strait, Kathy, Texas/Champions Gymnastics Academy
15. Eric Schryver, Richardson, Texas/WOGA
16. Drew Moling, Canal Winchester, Ohio/Hocking Valley Gymnastics Center
17. Jordan Valdez, Louisville, Colo./Champions Gymnastics Academy
18. Justin Morinishi, Chesterfield, Mo./St. Louis Gymnastics Centre