PESARO, Italy (September 18, 2026) – The U.S. 12-18 men’s group of Grant Mathison (Crofton, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer), Benjamin Dethridge (Laurel, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer), Max Rosenshaft (Damascus, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer) and Peter Vonder Haar (Imperial, Mo./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer) qualified to their combined final as qualifying rounds continued Friday at the 2026 Acro Junior World Championships and World Youth Competitions in Italy.
With their dynamic routine score of 26.400, which landed them seventh in the event, the group finished sixth in all-around qualifying with a total score of 51.950 to advance to the final. Fellow Americans Dean Miller (Highland, Calif./Incentive), Noah Alvarado (San Jacinto, Calif./Incentive), Caleb Hoffmann (Fontana, Calif./Incentive) and Joshua Hoffmann (Fontana, Calif./Incentive) scored a 25.840 in dynamic and finished just behind the first U.S. group in seventh (51.690) overall. They will serve as national reserves for the final.
Continuing in youth competition, the American 12-18 mixed pair of Yasmin Roberts (Las Vegas, Nev./AGC Las Vegas) and Valentino Elbaz (Las Vegas, Nev./AGC Las Vegas) placed 13th overall with a 51.250 following their balance routine Friday, where they ranked 14th (25.750). The pair take the first reserve position for Sunday’s combined final.
Taking the floor for the first time were the U.S. 12-18 women’s pairs and groups, with pairs competing their balance routines and groups performing dynamic. The women’s trio of Alexia Irreno (Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro), Zoe DeShields (Rockville, Md./Xtreme Acro) and Miah Collazo (Great Falls, Va./Xtreme Acro) finished eighth in dynamic qualifying with a 27.060, followed by U.S. women Olivia Irreno (Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro), Danica Weinstein (Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro) and Keira Ackley (Gaithersburg, Md./Xtreme Acro), who were 35th (24.830).
In pairs competition, Alina Rizvanova (Sacramento, Calif./Rodina Elite Gymnastics Academy) and Violet Froste (Sacramento, Calif./Rodina Elite Gymnastics Academy) rank 21st (26.170) after their balance routine and Elise Maher (Eureka, Mo./Show Me Acro) and Gracie Deters (Catawissa, Mo./Show Me Acro) are 23rd (25.900).
Qualifications conclude Saturday, September 19 with women’s group and pair action in both the junior and youth divisions starting at 3 a.m. ET. Visit the World Gymnastics live webpage for all information on the Championships.