DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 9, 2014 – Twelve age-group champions were named in trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline at the 2014 Stars & Stripes Cup at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., which also includes gymnasts vying for Levels 5-6 rhythmic gymnastics titles. Competition continues tomorrow in both rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling for the Stars & Stripes Cup. The Junior Pan American Championships, which is being held in conjunction with the Stars & Stripes Cup, begins at 4:30 p.m. today.

The age-group champions for trampoline and double mini are as follows.

Men’s trampoline
11-12: Grant Miller, Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, 44.240
17-18: Trevor Jackson, Ramona, Calif./So Cal TTC, 50.160
Women’s trampoline
11-12: Natalie Jenkins, Lubbock, Texas/Air Extreme, 43.710
17-18: Delilah Glidden, Laurel, Md./Fairland Gymnastics, 46.790
Men’s tumbling
11-12: Myles DeBose, Matteson, Ill./TwistStars Tumbling and Trampoline LTD, 32.100
17-18: Cliff Martin, Chicago, Ill./TwistStars Tumbling and Trampoline LTD, 30.700
Women’s tumbling
11-12: Eve Doudican, Bixby, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, 30.500
17-18: Raphaelle Villotte, Canada, 30.900
Men’s double mini-trampoline
13-14: Ruben Padilla, Oakley, Calif./Springtime Tumbling and Trampoline, 65.000
15-16: Ty Carlson, West Palm Beach, Fla./The Gymnastics Revolution, 70.800
Women’s double mini-trampoline
13-14: Jordyn Duffield, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./World Elite, 64.200
15-16: Shaye Hayden, Phoenix, Ariz./North Valley Gymnastics, 63.900

Here’s a summary of the champions from today’s rhythmic gymnastics competition.

  • Group E/Level 5. Vanessa Yu of Winchester, Mass./North-East Rhythmics, dominated the session by not only winning the all-around (41.800), but also taking the title for all four events – floor (10.700), rope (10.800), hoop (10.000) and ball (10.300). Jessica Tian of Winchester, Mass./North-East Rhythmics, was second in the all-around with 38.800, and Cheyenne Alarcon of Van Nuys, Calif./Rhythmic Academy of Los Angeles, was third at 38.700.

  • Group A/Level 6. Alina Franz of Alpharetta, Ga./Prima Rhythmic Gymnastics, won three gold medals: the all-around (43.700), floor (11.100) and ribbon (10.800). Naomi Skotnikov of Highland Park, Ill./Illinois Rhythmics Gymnastics Center, was the silver medalist for the all-around (43.000) and the gold medalist for hoop (11.900). Allison Tan of San Diego, Calif./Emerald City Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics, earned the ball title with her 11.300, as well as the all-around bronze medal (42.800).

The top athletes from North, South and Central America are competing in the Junior Pan Am Championships, which is the qualifier for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. The countries that qualify for the Youth Olympic Games, slated for this August in Nanjing, China, will be determined on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Both an all-session ticket, which includes all four days, and all-day passes are available. The all-session ticket is $45 and the all-day pass is $20. All tickets are general admission and include facility fees. The all-session package and the all-day pass for May 10, the finals for the Junior Pan Am Championships, are available online through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com or at the Ocean Center Box-office. A discounted ticket for Saturday evening is available on the website for $10, and the promo code is USA. Daily all-day passes will be available onsite only.

The Junior Pan Am Championships determine what countries will represent the Americas in the second Youth Olympic Games in individual and group rhythmic gymnastics and men’s and women’s trampoline. The USA is vying for spots for the Youth Olympic Games in men’s and women’s trampoline and individual rhythmic gymnastics. For rhythmic gymnastics, the athletes must be 15 years old, and trampoline athletes must be 16 or 17 in 2014. The Junior Pan Am Championships is an event of the Pan American Gymnastics Union. The Youth Olympic Games will be held Aug. 16-28 in Nanjing.

The Junior Pan Am Championships competition schedule is: May 9 – rhythmic gymnastics all-around, hoop and ball (two of four events), at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m., trampoline preliminary round (women at 6 p.m., men at 8:15 p.m.), and group rhythmic gymnastics (hoops) at 9 p.m.; May 10 – final day of rhythmic gymnastics all-around (clubs, ribbon) at 4:30 p.m., trampoline finals (women at 6 p.m., men at 8 p.m.), and group rhythmic gymnastics (10 clubs); and May 11 – event finals for individual (hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon) and group (five hoops and 10 clubs).

The Stars & Stripes Cup features international senior and age-group competition (11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18) in trampoline, tumbling, double-mini and synchronized trampoline. The Junior Olympic Levels 5-6 competition in individual rhythmic gymnastics is open to U.S. athletes in those two levels.

The remaining Stars & Stripes Cup competition schedule is as follows, and all times are local.

    May 10
    8:30 a.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics (Level 6)
    9 a.m. – Trampoline and tumbling, senior double-mini trampoline (plus various levels and events)
    12:45 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics (Level 6)
    1 p.m. – Trampoline and tumbling, senior trampoline (plus various levels and events)

    May 11
    9 a.m. – Trampoline and tumbling, senior tumbling (plus various levels and events)
    9:45 a.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics (Level 6)
    1 p.m. – Trampoline and tumbling, synchronized trampoline
    1:15 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics (Level 6)

The local partners for these events include the Central Florida Sports Commission, the Ocean Center, Volusia County and the Daytona Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, and National Travel Systems is a partner for the World Championships and World Age Group Competition.

The World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships, held annually except in the Olympic year, determines the men’s and women’s World champions in four events: trampoline, synchronized trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline. The World Age Group Competition showcases the world’s best boys and girls in those four events in four age groups: 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18 years of age. The two events are expected to showcase more than 1,100 athletes.

Background information

  • Central Florida Sports Commission. The Central Florida Sports Commission strategically solicits, creates and supports marquee sports-related events and businesses that enhance our community’s economy. The Sports Commission represents the counties of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia, as well as the City of Orlando. For more information, visit www.centralfloridasports.org.

  • International Gymnastics Federation. The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international sports federation and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896. The FIG governs seven disciplines: Gymnastics for All, Men’s Artistic, Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic. It counts 135 national member federations and boasts a 27-person staff at its international seat in Lausanne (SUI), host city of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).