LANDOVER, Md. – Six members of the U.S. National Acrobatic Gymnastics Team headline the 58-person U.S. athlete delegation for the 2005 Freedom Cup, Nov. 17-19, at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md. The three-day competition features acrobatic gymnasts from Australia, England, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, the United States and Wales. The U.S. contingent includes a mixture of U.S. senior national team members, Junior Olympic national team members and club representatives.

The six members of the senior national team are: Clare Brunson of Riverside, Calif., and Michael Rodrigues of Livermore, Calif., mixed pair; Julian Amaro of Pleasanton, Calif., and Tyler Spray of Livermore, Calif., men’s pair; and Andre Solodar of San Jose, Calif., and Xiau-Ling Wee of Monte Sereno, Calif., mixed pair.
Earlier this year, the mixed pair duo of Brunson and Rodrigues, the reigning national champions, won the Machuga Cup in Krasnodar, Russia, and placed fourth at the World Games in Duisburg, Germany. Solodar and Wee finished behind Brunson and Rodrigues at the 2005 U.S. Championships. Amaro and Spray are the current U.S. men’s pair champions.
The Freedom Cup features competition in women’s pairs, men’s pairs, mixed pairs, women’s group and men’s group on both the senior and junior levels. Tickets are available on day of competition at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex. Ticket prices are: adults, $15 per day or $40 for a three-day pass; and children, $7 per day or $15 for a three-day pass; children under seven are admitted free.
The schedule is:
Nov. 17 – 3-5 p.m., age group competition
              6-9 p.m., Freedom Cup Opening Ceremony and competition
Nov. 18 – 4-6 p.m., age group competition
              7-9 p.m., junior and senior competition
Nov. 19 – 2-3:30 p.m., age group finals
              4-6 p.m., junior and senior finals
Acrobatic gymnastics features the combined beauty of dance and acrobatics. Some observers have compared acrobatic gymnastics to pairs figure skating, only without the ice. Acrobatic balances demonstrate grace, strength and flexibility, while dynamic elements demonstrate power, flight and agility. Acrobatic gymnastics’ basic elements have the same source as other gymnastics disciplines – choreography, agility, balance, strength and grace – with the added element of synchronization.
Pairs are made up of a base and a top. Women’s groups are comprised of a base, a middle and a top partner, while men’s groups have a base, two middle and one top partner. Bases are generally older athletes who display strength and balance. Tops are generally younger athletes who display flexibility and agility. Middles are often required to show a combination of all attributes.