ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Nov. 10, 2009 – 2009 World Cup gold-medalists Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif., Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., and Kalon Ludvigson of Pocatello, Idaho, are among the world’s best trampoline and tumbling gymnasts who have converged on St. Petersburg, Russia, for the 2009 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships, Nov. 11-14, at the St. Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex. Qualification rounds begin on Nov. 11, with finals on Nov. 12-14.
Universal Sports will carry same-day coverage of the finals on Nov. 13-14 on universalsports.com. Universal Sports also will air a highlights show on its TV network later in November. During the competition, results, photos and other information will be available on usa-gymnastics.org.
Earlier this fall, Dooley and Gluckstein won the USA’s first-ever World Cup gold medal in men’s synchronized trampoline. Dooley also captured the USA’s first World Cup men’s trampoline title, and Ludvigson won the first U.S. tumbling World Cup gold medal in 10 years.
Also on the 2009 squad are several medalists from the 2005 and 2007 U.S. World Teams. Ludvigson was the men’s world double mini-trampoline bronze medalist in 2007, where he and teammate Stephen Raymond of Orlando, Fla., were members of the men’s world silver-medal team in men’s double mini. Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va., and Kaitlin Tortorich of Haymarket, Va., were members of the women’s tumbling team that won the team gold medal at the 2007 World Championships, and Seitzinger along with Amy McDonald of McKinney, Texas, were members of the 2005 team that earned the women’s tumbling team silver medal. Aubree Balkan of Carlsbad, Calif., was part of the group that captured the women’s team double mini bronze medal in 2007.
The complete 2009 U.S. World Team is listed below.
Trampoline
Men
Michael Devine, Winnebago, Ill./J and J Trampoline
Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics
Steve Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters
Neil Gulati, Laguna Beach, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics
Austin White, Newport Coast, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, alternate
Women
Hayley Butcher, St. John, Ind./Midwest Training
Nani Vercruyssen, Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Academy
Alaina Williams, Huntsville, Ala./Matrix
Synchronized trampoline
Women
Nani Vercruyssen and Alaina Williams
Men
Steven Gluckstein and Logan Dooley
Michael Devine and Austin White
Tumbling
Men
Jeffrey Brown, Hutsville, Ala./Matrix
Kalon Ludvigson, Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution
Women
Susannah Johnson, Roanoke, Va./Capital Gymnastics
Amy McDonald, McKinney, Texas/Eagle’s Wings Athletics
Leanne Seitzinger, Stafford, Va./Novaks
Kaitlin Tortorich, Haymarket, Va./Capital Gymnastics
Double mini-trampoline
Men
Tony Doles, Lubbock, Texas/Upsidedowners
Kalon Ludvigson, Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution
Stephen Raymond, Orlando, Fla./Stick It! Gymnastics
Austin White, Newport Coast, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics
Corey Whitfield, Detroit, Mich./AGT Flipcity, alternate
Women
Aubree Balkan, Carlsbad, Calif./Bounce California
Sarah Gandy, Reno, Texas/3TI
Sarah Prosen, Apple Valley, Minn./Gypsy Flyers
For the various qualification rounds, the U.S. gymnasts are in the following groups: men’s trampoline, 7 (of 7); women’s trampoline, 5 (of 6); men’s tumbling, 3 (of 4); women’s tumbling, 3 (of 3); men’s double mini-trampoline, 3 (of 4); women’s double mini, 2 (of 3); men’s synchronized trampoline, 1 (Dooley/Gluckstein) and 3 (White/Devine) (of 3); and women’s synchro, 1 (of 2).
The U.S. Team for World Championships was determined by placement in the World Championships Selection Points System. Athletes gained points based on placements at three events: U.S. Elite Challenge; Visa Championships; and the Final Selection Event, which concluded on Sept. 26. The top two athletes in the selection system rankings automatically qualified for the team and additional athletes were named by the selection committee.
2009 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships
Nov. 11-14, 2009
St. Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex (SKK)
St. Petersburg, Russia
Competition schedule
(Times are local St. Petersburg time)
Note: St. Petersburg is 8 hours ahead of the Eastern time zone; when it is midnight in NYC, it is 8 a.m. in St. Petersburg
Nov. 11
11 a.m. – Opening Ceremony
11:20 a.m. – Qualifications: Individual trampoline qualifications, Groups 1-4
3:35 p.m. – Qualifications: Individual trampoline qualifications, Groups 5-7
Nov. 12
11 a.m. – Qualifications: Men’s double mini-trampoline and women’s tumbling
2 p.m. – Qualifications: Men’s tumbling and women’s double mini-trampoline qualifications
7 p.m. – Finals: Women’s and men’s trampoline team finals
Nov. 13
11 a.m. – Qualifications: Men’s and women’s synchronized trampoline
6 p.m. – Finals: Women’s and men’s double mini-tramp team; women’s and men’s tumbling team; women’s synchronized trampoline; men’s trampoline
Nov. 14
2 p.m. – Finals: Men’s and women’s double mini-tramp; men’s tumbling
4 p.m. – Finals: Men’s synchronized trampoline; women’s tumbling; women’s trampoline