Each wins 3 gold medals at National Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, August 4, 2005 – 2005 U.S. acrobatic gymnastics champions Michael Rodrigues of Livermore, Calif., and Clare Brunson of Riverside, Calif., headline the 68-person field at the 2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Team Trials held as part of the Visa Championships, Aug. 10-13 in Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention Center. The twosome, which trains at Empire AcroGymnastics, swept the mixed pair competition at the 2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships in Louisville July 22-28, winning gold medals in all-around, balance and dynamic competitions.

Each of the 11 senior elite gold medalists from the national championships is competing in the national team trials. The Acrobatic Gymnastics National Team Trials competitive schedule is Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and Aug. 13, 10 a.m., at the Indiana Convention Center.
The 2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships was the first of two selection events for the junior and senior acrobatic gymnastics national teams. The Acrobatic Gymnastics National Team Trials is the second. Based on performances at these two events, a USA Gymnastics selection committee will determine the make-up of the 2006 national teams.
Angela Hatch of Pleasanton, Calif., Mariah Henninger of Livermore, Calif., and Kelly Topp of Pleasanton, Calif., won gold medals in women’s group all-around, balance, and dynamic. The group competes for Wings USA and is coached by Julie Miller.
In men’s action, Jake Kanavel, Kevin Smith and Andre Solodar of San Jose, Calif., and Lucas Martincik of Milpitas, Calif., earned the title for the group all-around, balance and dynamic. In the men’s pair, Julian Amaro of Pleasanton, Calif., and Tyler Spray of Livermore, Calif., also won the crown in the all-around, balance and dynamic.
Before winning gold at the Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships, Rodrigues and Brunson, both of whom compete for Empire Acrogymnastics Sports in Riverside, Calif., recently won the mixed-pair gold medal at the Machuga Cup in Krasnodar, Russia, and placed fourth in mixed pairs at the 2005 World Games in Duisburg, Germany.
Tickets for acrobatic gymnastic events are $15 for the Aug. 12 session and $20 for the Aug. 13 session, which is held in conjunction with the rhythmic gymnastics finals. All-session tickets that include both rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics are available for $40. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 317-239-5151 or at the Conseco Fieldhouse and Indiana Convention Center box offices.
The | 2005 VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS |, USA gymnastics’ national championship, also include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. Additional information on the 2005 Visa Championships, including ticket prices and a full schedule of events, see | SCHEDULE |
Acrobatic gymnastics combines the power and athleticism of tumbling with the grace and creativity of dance. Routines are choreographed to music and pairs or groups perform a balance, dynamic or combined routine. Balance routines are characterized by flexibility, pyramids and partner holds, while dynamic exercises exhibit aerial summersaults and throws. The combined exercises mix the elements of balance and dynamic movements.
Acrobatic gymnastics, which emerged at the world level in the 1970s, became a part of USA Gymnastics in 2002. Competition in acrobatic gymnastics is divided into men’s pairs, women’s pairs, mixed pairs, women’s groups (3 athletes) and men’s groups (4 athletes).

List of competitors (by state) for the 2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Team Trials
(as of 8/4/05)

NOTE: List shows gymnast’s name, his or her club and hometown;
* indicates Junior Olympic;
1 indicates junior elite.

California

Julian Amaro, Northern California Sports Academy, Pleasanton, Calif.
*Makaela Bogawitz, California AcroSports Team, El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Clare Brunson, Empire, Riverside, Calif.
*Caitlin Cusano, California AcroSports Team, El Dorado Hills, Calif.
1Carleen daSilva, Wings USA, Castro Valley, Calif.
1Cassidy Dolstra, Wings USA, Tracy, Calif.
Jon Gaiter, Empire, Riverside, Calif.
Angela Hatch, Wings USA, Pleasanton, Calif.
Mariah Henninger, Wings USA, Livermore, Calif.
Jake Kanavel, Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, San Jose, Calif.
1Allysha Kidd, Wings USA, Livermore, Calif.
*Paula Kidwell, California AcroSports Team, Fair Oaks, Calif.
Lukas Martincik, Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, Milpitas, Calif.
Holly Middag, Empire, Riverside, Calif.
Michael Rodrigues, Empire, Livermore, Calif.
Kevin Smith, Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, San Jose, Calif.
Andre Solodar, Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, San Jose, Calif.
Tyler Spray, Northern California Sports Academy, Livermore, Calif.
Kelly Topp, Wings USA, Pleasanton, Calif.
1Ting-Tien Wee, Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, Monte Sereno, Calif.
Xiau-Ling Wee, Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, Monte Sereno, Calif.

Louisiana

*Ravenne Eschette, Fliptastics, Belle Chasse, La.
*Melanie Gaudin, Fliptastics, Belle Chasse, La.
*Kelsey May, Fliptastics, Belle Chasse, La.

Maryland

*Laura Ames, Skyview Gymnastics, Mt Airy, Md.
*Kimberly Carmichael, Skyview Gymnastics, Mt Airy, Md.
*Jessica Geppert, TOPS, Eldersburg, Md.
*Kim Gray, Skyview Gymnastics, Mt Airy, Md.
*Jessica Guiel, TOPS, Gaithersburg, Md.
*Kaitlyn Hilton, TOPS, Ellicott City, Md.
*Kayleigh Komara, Skyview Gymnastics, Mt. Airy, Md.
*Allison Komara, Skyview Gymnastics, Mt Airy, Md.
*Lisa Ramsburg, Skyview Gymnastics, Ijamsville, Md.
1Karilynn Rockhill, Skyview Gymnastics, Clarksburg, Md.
1Melissa Summers, Skyview Gymnastics, Dickerson, Md.
1Nicole Summers, Skyview Gymnastics, Dickerson, Md.

Missouri

*Rochelle Belloir, Mid America Acro & Tumbling Team, Owensville, Mo.
*Briana Case, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Megan Clemons, Mid America Acro & Tumbling Team, Owensville, Mo.
*Stephanie Erteld, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Erika Gragg, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Amanda Gragg, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Audra Gustin, Rising Star Acrobatic Club, Kearney, Mo.
*Kim Hall, Rising Star Acrobatic Club, Bethany, Mo.
*Scott Hall, Rising Star Acrobatic Club, Kearney, Mo.
*Mallory Henthorn, Acro Explosion, Indepedence, Mo.
*Kayla Huesgen, Mid America Acro & Tumbling Team, Rosebud, Mo.
*Amber Kottwitz, Mid America Acro & Tumbling Team, Owensville, Mo.
*Sydni Krause, Mid America Acro & Tumbling Team, Bland, Mo.
*Mia Medina, Acro Explosion, Lee’s Summit, Mo.
*Courtney Miles, Rising Star Acrobatic Club, Kearney, Mo.
*Allison Mock, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Megan Muehlberger, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Ashley Mummaw, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Brooke Mummaw, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Alex Porter, Rising Star Acrobatic Club, Kearney, Mo.
*Savannah Shields, Acro Explosion, Grain Valley, Mo.
*Tia Stone, Mid America Acro & Tumbling Team, Belle, Mo.
*Maesyn Umstattd, Acro Explosion, Blue Springs, Mo.
*Chloe Wait, Acro