© Volker Minkus
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 26, 2008 – 2007 double mini-trampoline world bronze-medalist Kalon Ludvigson of Sterling, Utah/Team Revolution, is one of 17 athletes who will represent the USA at the 2008 Pan American Trampoline and Tumbling Championships, Dec. 4-7, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Twelve athletes will compete in the senior division and five gymnasts will compete in the age-group competition.
Ludvigson is a three-time U.S. tumbling champion and a two-time U.S. double mini-trampoline champion. Other U.S. men’s champions on the Pan Am Championships Team are: 2007-08 U.S. synchronized trampoline champions Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, and Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters; 2006 U.S. synchronized trampoline titlist Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill/J & J Tumbling and Trampoline; and 2008 U.S. double mini gold-medalist Austin White of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics.
Four U.S. women’s champions will compete in the senior division: 2008 U.S. double-mini champion Aubree Balkan of Carlsbad, Calif./GTC Academy; 2008 U.S. trampoline and synchronized trampoline champion Alaina Hebert of Broussard, La./World Elite Gymnastics; 2004 and 2006 U.S. tumbling gold-medalist Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va./Novak’s Gymnastics; and 2007 U.S. synchronized trampoline titlist Alaina Williams of Amarillo, Texas/The Matrix Trampoline Team. 2005-06 U.S. junior trampoline champion Nani Vercruyssen of Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Academy, is competing in senior women’s trampoline. Also competing are Amy McDonald of Richardson, Texas/Eagle’s Wings Athletics, and Sarah Prosen of Apple Valley Minn./Gleason’s Gypsy Flyers.
In the age-group competition, Jake Jacobson of Rocklin, Calif./American Powerhouse T&T, will participate in the 11-12 year-old division. Four athletes will compete in the 15-16 year-old division: Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits; Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters; Conor Murphy of Lake Forest, Calif./Team OC; and Lisa Van Orden of Pingree, Idaho/Team Revolution.
The Pan American Championships features competition in men’s and women’s trampoline, synchronized trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline in the senior and age-group divisions. There also are team awards for trampoline, tumbling and double mini at the senior level. The age-group competition is divided into three age levels: 11-12 year old, 13-14 year old and 15-16 year old.
The qualification round for senior tumbling and double mini is Dec. 4, with the qualification round for senior trampoline and synchronized trampoline on Dec. 5. Team finals are Dec. 6 and senior finals for trampoline, synchronized trampoline, tumbling and double mini are Dec. 7.
The schedule for the age-group competition is: Dec. 4 – qualification and finals for 11-12 year-old tumbling, 13-14 year-old double mini, and 15-16 year-old trampoline and synchronized trampoline; Dec. 5 – qualification and finals for 11-12 year-old trampoline and synchronized trampoline, 13-14 year-old tumbling and 15-16 year-old double mini; and Dec. 6 – qualification and finals for 11-12 year-old double mini, 13-14 year-old trampoline and synchronized trampoline, and 15-16 year-old tumbling.
2008 Pan American Championships Team
Listed by division, then alphabetically by last name. Events are listed in parentheses.
Senior
Aubree Balkan, Carlsbad, Calif./GTC Academy (women’s double mini)
Michael Devine, Winnebago, Ill/J & J Tumbling and Trampoline (men’s trampoline)
Logan Dooley, Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics (men’s trampoline, synchronized trampoline)
Steven Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Head Over Heels (men’s trampoline, synchronized trampoline)
Alaina Hebert, Broussard, La./ World Elite Gymnastics (women’s trampoline, synchronized trampoline)
Kalon Ludvigson, Sterling, Utah/Team Revolution (men’s double mini, tumbling)
Amy McDonald, Richardson, Texas/Eagle’s Wings Athletics (women’s tumbling)
Sarah Prosen, Apple Valley Minn./Gleason’s Gypsy Flyers (women’s double mini)
Leanne Seitzinger, Stafford, Va./Novak’s Gymnastics (women’s tumbling)
Nani Vercruyssen, Honolulu, Hawaii/U.S. Olympic Training Center Trampoline Team (women’s trampoline)
Alaina Williams, Amarillo, Texas/U.S. Olympic Training Center Trampoline Team (women’s trampoline, synchronized trampoline)
Austin White, Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics (men’s trampoline, double mini)
Age Group
11-12 year old
Jake Jacobson, Rocklin, Calif./American Powerhouse T&T (men’s trampoline, double mini)
15-16 year old
Dakota Earnest, Plains, Texas/Acrospirits (women’s trampoline)
Jeffrey Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters (men’s trampoline, double mini)
Conor Murphy, Lake Forest, Calif./Team OC (men’s trampoline, double mini, tumbling)
Lisa Van Orden, Pingree, Idaho/Team Revolution (women’s double mini, tumbling)