Rhythmic gymnastics field set for 2007 Visa Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 9, 2007—2007 Pan Am gold medalist and defending U.S. all-around champion Lisa Wang of Buffalo Grove, Ill., is one of 42 rhythmic gymnasts competing in the junior and senior divisions at the 2007 Visa Championships, Aug. 15-18, in San Jose, Calif. At the conclusion of the Visa Championships, the members of the 2007 World Championships Team and the 2007 Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team will be named.

Other rhythmic gymnasts in the field include Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill, the 2006 U.S. all-around bronze medalist; Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles, who has won the last four U.S. junior all-around titles and is now competing as a senior; and Julie Zetlin, the 2007 Pan Am Games silver-medalist in ribbon. Marlee Shape of Buffalo Grove, Ill., the 2007 Rhythmic Challenge junior all-around champion, is competing in the junior division. Two Bay Area gymnasts are also competing: Amanda Heinemann, San Rafael/Rhythmic Academy of Marin (junior); and Anastasia Torba, Orinda/Allegro Rhythmic (junior).

The field breaks down into 22 seniors and 20 juniors, representing 10 states. The complete field is listed below.

The schedule for rhythmic gymnastics at the Visa Championships is: Thursday, Aug. 16 — 9:30 a.m., junior all-around qualifier and individual event finals, and 2:30 p.m., senior all-around qualifier and individual event finals; and Saturday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m. — junior and senior all-around finals. Rhythmic gymnastics competition is at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

The U.S. champions for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and acrobatic gymnastics are determined at the Visa Championships, gymnastics’ national championships.  Artistic gymnastics will be held at HP Pavilion at San Jose, and rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics are set for the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show, held in conjunction with the Visa Championships, will also be at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

Visa Championships tickets for men‘s and women‘s artistic and rhythmic/acrobatic gymnastics are on sale now at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office; all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at (408) 998-TIXS; or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Visa Championships traces its history back to 1897 for the men and 1931 for the women.

About HP Pavilion at San Jose