© Diane Bidermann

EVERETT, Wash., March 17, 2012 – Team USA captured six out of the eight available gold medals at today’s junior and senior rhythmic event finals at the 2012 Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Championships at the Comcast Community Ice Rink in Everett, Wash.

In the first half of competition, recently crowned all-around champion Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Capital Rhythmics, had a first-place finish in ball, scoring a 25.300. Polina Kozitskiy of Fountainville, Penn./Philadelphia Rhythmic Academy, also claimed a gold in hoop with an 24.775, and finished fourth in ball with 24.000.

"This was a really big competition for me," Kozitskiy said, "and I can honestly say I felt really prepared for it today. It was a great event and the crowd was so supportive."

Junior Julia Garbuz of Eden Prairie, Minn./NorthWest Rhythmic LLC, won the gold medal in both hoop and ball, scoring an impressive 24.325 and 24.350, respectively. Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, finished second in ball with a 24.200, and third in hoop, 23.775.

"The past two days have been an amazing experience for me," Garbuz said. "It was a great competition for the U.S. and I was so proud to see our team win the gold medal."

The competition continued with more success for Team USA as Zetlin and Zeng earned the senior and junior ribbon title, respectively, with scores of 25.250 and 24.300. Alexis Page of New York, N.Y./Aviator Sports and Recreation, also medaled in the senior ribbon event final with a score of 24.300, earning silver, as Garbuz gained the junior ribbon bronze medal with a 23.375.

"We all really pulled together at this event and showed what the U.S. is made of," Zetlin said. "It was a good step before London and a great competition all around."

In the senior clubs event final, Kozitskiy placed second with a score of 24.000, behind China’s Linyi Peng, with a 24.175. Juniors Zeng and Jennifer Rokhman of Northbrook, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, placed second and third, respectively, with scores of 23.500 and 22.950, respectively. Canada’s Patricia Bezzoubenko was first with a score of 23.825.

Today concluded the rhythmic competition at the Pac Rim Championships, but competition continues tomorrow with women’s and men’s artistic individual event finals and trampoline competition.

Background information

  • Kellogg Company. For more than 100 years, consumers have counted on Kellogg for great-tasting, high-quality and nutritious foods. Kellogg Company, with 2010 sales of more than $12 billion, is the world’s leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. Kellogg Company’s beloved brands, which are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries, include Kellogg’s®, Keebler®, Pop-Tarts®, Eggo®, Cheez-It®, All-Bran®, Mini-Wheats®, Nutri-Grain®, Rice Krispies®, Special K®, Chips Deluxe®, Famous Amos®, Sandies®, Austin®, Club®, Murray®, Kashi®, Bear Naked®, Morningstar Farms®, Gardenburger® and Stretch Island®. For more information on the Kellogg Company, including our corporate responsibility initiatives, visit www.kelloggcompany.com.

  • Comcast Arena at Everett. The Comcast Arena at Everett, recipient of the International Association of Venue Manager’s (IAVM) prestigious Venue Excellence Award 2010, was developed by the Everett Public Facilities District. The 10,000-seat venue hosts a myriad of events including concerts, ice skating and family shows. The facility is also home to the Everett Silvertips, a Western Hockey League franchise and the 2010 National Lacrosse League Champions, the Washington Stealth. The venue accommodates other sporting events such as basketball, volleyball and international skating competitions. Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the Comcast Arena at Everett, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Based in Philadelphia, Pa., Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies.

  • Comcast Community Ice Rink. The Comcast Community Ice Rink is used for public skating, hockey leagues, figure skating and much more. The two ice sheets can be converted to form a 57,000 square foot space to host trade shows and special events. The three-story Edward D. Hansen Conference Center includes three 900 square foot executive meeting rooms, and an 11,000 square foot ballroom, which can be arranged in a number of different configurations.

  • Everett, Wash., and Snohomish County. Everett, the county seat of Snohomish County, is home to innovative companies and industries producing everything from large commercial airplanes to tiny microprocessors. Just minutes north of Seattle, Snohomish County and Everett offer a diverse collection of urban delights and rural masterpieces and an endless menu of outdoor recreation and indoor attractions.

  • Everett Community College. Everett Community College educates more than 20,000 students every year at seven learning centers throughout Snohomish County, with most students and faculty at the main campus in north Everett. Students come to EvCC to affordably start their four-year degrees, earn certificates, train for a new job, experience hands-on training in professional and technical programs, learn English, develop basic skills, finish high school, train for a promotion, or to learn just for fun. EvCC is also the home of the University Center of North Puget Sound, which offers more than 25 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. For more information, visit www.everettcc.edu.

  • Production Sports Management. Based in Snohomish County, Production Sports Management is an LLC offering sport national governing bodies, sports clubs and other community groups the support needed to take an event to the next level. Acting as the liaison between the local community and USA Gymnastics for the 2012 Pacific Rim Championships, Production Sports will be the eyes and ears on the ground to assist with marketing, public relations, sponsorships and event logistics. For more information, log on to www.productionsports.net.

  • Tulalip Resort Casino. With exceptionally appointed rooms and suites and a warm, personal brand of hospitality Tulalip Resort Casino makes you feel right at home. In celebration of our Native American heritage our Seattle luxury accommodations feature vibrant Northwest Coast Salish artwork and textures. No modern comfort has been overlooked from complimentary Wi-Fi Internet and 47-inch flat screen HDTVs to stylish furnishings and bathrooms with Italian tile and granite countertops. With 30,000 square feet, our meeting and event spaces are orchestrated to ensure productive, efficient and trouble-free sessions, whether for a committee of 10 or a conference for 1,000. Rooms combine Coast Salish art with complimentary state-of-the-art presentation technology to offer distinctly elegant, highly functional spaces. Our casino boasts a 192,000 square-foot facility featuring nearly every game imaginable. With outstanding catered meals, luxurious rooms, spa and gaming facilities, and nearby shopping, golf and entertainment, it’s easy to see why Tulalip Resort is regarded as one of the most outstanding meeting venues in the Pacific Northwest. Come discover the perfect blend of contemporary style and authentic Pacific Northwest culture at the only AAA-Four-Diamond-rated Washington luxury resort casino.

    In 1855, with the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty, the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and other Pacific Northwest allied tribes settled what is now the Tulalip Reservation. In the Lushootseed Salish language, the word for Tulalip is dxwlilap, which means "small-mouthed bay," a description of the body of water on the western boundary of our home.