© James Glader
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 30, 2009 – 2009 U.S. all-around champion Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill., and Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md., will represent the United States at the 2009 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, Sept. 7-13, in Mie, Japan. Competing in the group competition for the USA are North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center’s Stephanie Flaksman of Northbrook, Ill.; Megan Frohlich of Marysville, Wash.; Kristin Kaye of Northbrook, Ill.; Sydney Sachs of Deerfield, Ill.; Sofya Roytburg of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; and Marlee Shape of Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Gehringer, who trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, won the gold medal in the all-around, rope, hoop, ball and ribbon at the 2009 Visa Championships. Zetlin, who trains at Rhythmflex, was third in the all-around, rope, ball and ribbon. North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center won the 2008 U.S. national group title.
The 2009 U.S. World Championships Team was selected following a training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Held in Mie’s Sun Arena, the competition schedule is: Sept. 7-8, rope and hoop, with individual event finals on Sept. 8; Sept. 9-10, competition in ball and ribbon, with individual event finals for both on Sept. 10; Sept. 11, individual all-around; Sept. 12, general group competition; and Sept. 13, group finals (hoop, ribbon/rope). The individual event competition on Sept.7-10 determines the team rankings and the top 24 gymnasts who advance to the individual all-around.