INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. Trampoline Team members are aiming for Athens when they participate in the 2003 Trampoline World Championships, Oct. 16-19 in Hannover, Germany.


Olympian Jennifer Parilla of Lake Forest, Calif. and National Champion Ryan Weston of Chubbuck, Idaho lead the list of 21 athletes named to the World Championships Team roster on Monday following the World Team Selection Camp in Pocatello, Idaho.

“Trampolining in the United States is taking off both in popularity and skill level,” said Trampoline & Tumbling Sr. Program Director Ann Sims. “We are sending a very talented team to the World Championships in Hannover and hope that we can punch a few tickets to Athens.”

The Trampoline & Tumbling 2003 World Championships will award individual medals in Trampoline (TRI), Tumbling (TU), Double-Mini Trampoline (DM) and Synchronized Trampoline (TRS).

The 2003 Worlds is Parilla’s sixth and Weston’s third. Parilla most recently finished fourth in the Trampoline World Cup event in Prague on Sept. 6. Weston, the 2000 Olympic alternate, is a six-time national champion.

Joining Parilla on the women’s team is: Jaime Strandmark, TR, Minneapolis; Lindsey Blundell, TU, Lubbock, Texas; Krista Mahoney, TU, Heber City, Utah; Leanne Seitzinger, TU, Stafford, Va.; Shelley Klochan, DM, Whiting, Ind.; Drew Rentfro, DM, Dumas, Texas; Whitney Kusak, DM, Yoakum, Texas; and Megan Dacy, DM, Waxahachie, Texas.

Weston, who will compete in TRI and TRS, is joined by: Chris Estrada, TRI & TRS, Lafayette, La.; Derrick Aldrich, TRI & TRS, Windermere, Fla.; David Ford, TRI & TRS, Pocatello, Idaho; Casey Finley, TU & DM, Lubbock, Texas.; Chris Ford, TU, Haymarket, Va.; Jamar Young, TU & DM, Lubbock, Texas; Jared Olson, TU, Mandeville, La.; alternate Daniel Walker, TU, Littlefield, Texas; Keith Douglas, DM, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Josh Vance, DM, Grand Rapids, Mich.; and alternate Kory Konsoer, DM, Grand Rapids, Mich.

The World Championships are the only route to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Only individual trampoline is contested at the Olympics. The eight World Championships finalists earn automatic berths, along with the next five ranked athletes from the qualification round. An additional three athletes are submitted by the International Gymnastics Federation for a total of 16 men and 16 women competitors, with a maximum of two athletes per country per gender.

The worlds team is coached by Joy Umenhofer, Brad Davis, and George Drew.