INDIANAPOLIS, April 10, 2019 – Members of the U.S. National Team for rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics are competing this weekend in World Cup events in Sofia Bulgaria, and Puurs, Belgium, respectively, that begin on Friday. Additionally, the country’s top Division II and III collegiate gymnasts take to the competition floor at the 2019 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships at the University of Bridgeport (Conn.), also beginning on Friday.

Here’s a brief look at this weekend’s competitions.

USA Gymnastics Women’s National Collegiate Championships, April 12-14, Bridgeport, Conn.
Defending team champion Texas Woman’s University is seeking its third consecutive team title at this weekend’s 2019 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships that begins Friday, April 12, at the University of Bridgeport’s (Conn.) Wheeler Recreation Center. Yale’s Rebecca Chong and Jacey Baldovino are the returning 2018 champions who are hoping to repeat as the vault and uneven bars titlists, respectively. The three-day championships features gymnasts from 13 colleges and universities and will determine the national team, all-around and individual event champions and medalists.

The 13 schools and universities represented are: the U.S. Air Force Academy; Brown University; Centenary College; Cornell University; Lindenwood University; Seattle Pacific University; Southeast Missouri State University; Southern Connecticut State University; Texas Woman’s University; University of Bridgeport; University of Illinois – Chicago; Wester Chester University; and Yale University. The eight schools participating in the team competition are Air Force, Bridgeport, Cornell, Lindenwood, TWU, UIC, West Chester, and Yale.

In 2018, the top four teams, in rank order, were TWU, Lindenwood, Air Force and Cornell. In addition to Chong and Baldovino, the other returning individual medalists are Seattle Pacific’s Darian Burns, all-around silver; Air Force’s Anna Salamone, uneven bars silver; and Lindenwood’s Breanna Franklin, floor exercise bronze.

The competition schedule is:

  • April 12, all-around finals, and team and individual event qualifications, 2 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET
  • April 13, team finals, 7 p.m. ET
  • and April 14, individual event finals, 1 p.m. ET

The team and athlete rotation has been finalized, with Air Force, Lindenwood, West Chester and Yale competing at 2 p.m., and Bridgeport, Cornell, TWU and UIC taking the floor at 7 p.m.

Bridgeport is arranging for live scoring and video links for the championships.

The USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships is for Division I, II and III schools with less than seven-and-a-half full scholarships. For more information, visit usagymcollegiatechamps.com.

Sofia World Cup, April 12-14, 2019, Sofia, Bulgaria
Evita Griskenas of Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, and Camilla Feeley of Deerfield, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, are set to compete at the Sofia (Bulgaria) World Cup this weekend at the Arena Armeec, along with the U.S. senior group. Competition schedule has all-around and event qualifications on April 12-13, with event finals on April 14.

The members of the U.S. senior group, which trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, are: Isabelle Connor of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Connie Du of Deerfield, Ill.; Yelyzaveta Merenzon of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Elizaveta Pletneva of Deerfield; Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill.; and Kristina Sobolevskaya of Chicago.

The all-around concludes on April 13, and the top eight gymnasts for each event, with a maximum of two per country, advance to the event finals. For group, the all-around is also determined on the 13th, with the top eight groups for each event qualifying to the event finals. Tie-breaking rules are in effect.

The competition schedule, which is subject to change, is: April 12 – hoop and ball qualifications at 10:15 a.m., 12:25 p.m. and 3 p.m., with group 5 balls qualification at 5:10 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.; April 13 – clubs and ribbon qualifications at 10:30 a.m., 12:35 p.m. and 3 p.m., with group 3 hoops/four clubs qualifications at 5:20 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.; and April 14 – event finals at 4 p.m. All times are local to Sofia, which is seven hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.

Fans can find additional information on the event’s Facebook page and official website. On April 14, OlympicChannel.com will have a livestream at 9:45 a.m., and the Olympic Channel will telecast the finals tape-delayed at 8 p.m., with a simulcast.

Puurs World Cup, April 12-14, Puurs, Belgium
2019 Maia World Cup women’s pair bronze-medalists Emily Davis and Aubrey Rosilier, both of San Antonio, Texas/Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio, lead the U.S. Team pairs and groups that are competing in the Puurs (Belgium) World Cup, April 12-14. In addition, other national team groups and pairs are competing in the Flanders Flanders International Acro Cup, which is held in conjunction with the World Cup at the Sporthal De Vrijhals.

In addition to Davis and Rosilier, the U.S. Team competing in the World Cup includes the 2018 U.S. mixed pair silver-medalists Aisley Boynton of Riverside, Calif., and Sean Obley of Mesa, Ariz., who train at Aspire Kids Sports Center; 2018 U.S. men’s pair champions Angel Felix and Braiden McDougall, both of Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy; and the U.S. women’s group of Elanor Chang of Columbia, Md., Grace Vonder Harr of Imperial, Mo., and Kayla Vonder Haar of Imperial, who train at Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer.

U.S. Team groups and pairs, listed below by division, are competing in the Flanders Acro Cup in three of the competition’s divisions: age group 11-16; Junior 12-18; and senior.

Senior

  • Women’s group: Isabel Chang of Columbia, Md., Alexandra Galdkova of Fairfax, Va., and Sydney Martin of Glenwood, Md., all of Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer

Junior, 12-18

  • Men’s group: Ethan Chang of Columbia, Md., Devon Freed of Mt. Airy, Md., Samuel Lacy of Columbia, and Cade Shields of Columbia, Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
  • Women’s group: Riley Freed of Mt. Airy, Md., Jessica Kicza of Woodbine, Md., and Mariam Tutberidze of Owings Mill, Md., Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
  • Women’s group: Bethany Click of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., Ellianne Sousa of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., and Emma Sousa of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Cal Elite Kids
  • Women’s pair: Catherine Borcherding and Destiny Nolting, both of Pacific, Mo./Show Me Acro

Age Group 11-16

  • Women’s group: Meghan Kampmann, Catherine Lacy and Cecelia Shadrick, Laurel, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
  • Women’s pair: Kaylee DeSantis and Reese Morgan, New Orleans, La./Crescent City Gymnastics
  • Women’s pair: Maria Wooden and Leah Yun, Rockville, Md./Xtreme Acro

The World Cup schedule is: qualifications – April 12 at 4:30 p.m. and April 13 at 4:15 p.m.; and finals – April 14 at 6 p.m. Times are local to Puurs, which is six hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.

For the detailed Flanders International Acro Cup schedule, click here. The general schedule is below times; are local to Puurs, which is six hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone

April 12

  • 8:15 a.m. Qualifications, age group and juniors, part 1
  • 1:10 p.m. Qualifications, age group and juniors, part 2
  • 7:55 p.m. Qualification, junior and senior

April 13

  • 8:10 a.m. Qualifications, age group and juniors, part 1
  • 12:40 p.m. Qualifications, age group and juniors, part 2
  • 7:35 p.m. Qualifications, junior and senior

April 14

  • 8:45 a.m. Finals, age group and junior
  • 1:50 p.m. Finals, junior and senior

For more information on both events, visit the event’s official website.

Participating gymnasts can earn World Cup points based on their performances that count toward the coveted Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup Series champion, which will be determined this fall at the conclusion of the series. At every World Cup, each pair or group will perform balance and dynamic routines. The pairs and groups that advance to the finals perform a combined routine.

Acrobatic gymnastics combines the beauty of dance with the strength and agility of acrobatics. Routines are choreographed to music and consist of dance, tumbling, and partner skills. At the elite level, each pair or group performs a balance, dynamic and combined routine. Pyramids and partner holds characterize the balance routine, while synchronized tumbling and intricate flight elements define the dynamic exercise. The acrobatic gymnastics events are: men’s pair, mixed pair, women’s pair, men’s group and women’s group. An acrobatic gymnastics pair consists of a base and a top. A women’s group is comprised of three athletes – a base, middle and top partner – while a men’s group has four athletes, a base, two middle partners and one top partner.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.