KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 3, 2013 – 2012 Olympians and reigning U.S. champions Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA, and Savannah Vinsant of Lafayette, La./T&T Express, look to defend their titles at the 2013 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships, which get underway today in Kansas City, Mo. The weeklong competition is scheduled for July 3-10 at Municipal Auditorium. With competition in Levels 5-10 and elite, the event will host the country’s best trampoline and tumbling athletes and determine the U.S. champions.

Competition this evening will crown the U.S. synchronized champions in the Elite Division.

The Elite Division, scheduled for July 3-6, determines the junior and senior national champions, and the Junior Olympic Division, slated for July 3-10, features competition for Levels 5-10. Both have competition in trampoline, double mini-trampoline, synchronized trampoline and tumbling for both men and women.

The USA’s elite trampoline and tumbling gymnasts will earn points toward making the junior and senior national teams. It is also a selection event for both the World Championships and World Age-Group Competition teams.

To qualify for the Junior Olympic Division, athletes must meet the qualifying criteria and score requirements, which vary by category and event. Gymnasts in Levels 5-10 are ranked by their level of expertise, with 10 being the highest and just below elite.

The Regional All-Stars competition features the Level 10 regional champions vying for the title of Grand Champion as the best overall Regional All-Star Team. The region accumulating the highest combined score is named the Grand Champion Team. The Grand March ceremony will take place prior to Saturday’s finals.

The competition schedule is listed below.

Elite Division
July 3 – 6:00-8:30 p.m. – Synchronized Trampoline Prelims & Finals
July 5 – 2–9:30 p.m. – Preliminary rounds (trampoline, tumbling, double mini-trampoline)
July 6 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Finals (trampoline, tumbling, double mini-trampoline)

Junior Olympic Division
July 3 – 5–6:30 p.m. – Levels 9-10 synchronized trampoline
July 4 – 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. – Levels 8-10
July 5 – 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – Levels 8-10
July 6 – 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. – Levels 8-10; 2-4 p.m. – Level 10 Finals
July 7 – 7-8:30 p.m. – Level 9 Finals
July 7 – 8:30-9:30 p.m. – Regional All Star Competition
July 8 – 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. – Levels 5-7
July 9 – 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. – Levels 5-7
July 10 – 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. – Levels 5-7

Kansas City last hosted the U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in 2008.

Trampoline events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform single, double and twisted somersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated spring runways that enable athletes to jump at heights over 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. Double-mini competition involves the athlete making a short run and leaping onto a small two-level trampoline. The athlete will then perform an aerial maneuver and dismount onto a landing mat.