Men’s and Women’s Double Mini Teams

SOFIA, Bulgaria, Nov. 8, 2013 – The U.S. men and women both finished in the top qualification spot for their respective double-mini trampoline team finals at the 2013 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. The U.S. also qualified to the team finals in men’s tumbling, as well as earning seven spots in the individual event finals. Competition resumes tomorrow with team and event finals. Fans in the United States can watch the team finals and all medal rounds live on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel.

For women’s double-mini, Erin Jauch of Crystal Lake, Ill./Fox Valley Tumbling and Trampoline, posted scores of 33.600 and 35.000. Her 68.600 total qualified her to the double-mini final with her third-place finish. Kristle Lowell of Three Rivers, Mich./Branch Gymnastics, was right behind Jauch in fourth with scores of 33.600 and 34.800 and will also advance to the finals. Tristan Van Natta of Pendleton, Ind./Geist Sports Academy, finished eighth in qualifying but does not advance to the individual double-mini final due to the maximum two athletes per country rule. The USA’s Shelby Gill of Ladera Ranch, Calif./Air Sports Unlimited, also competed.

Led by Austin Nacey of Braidwood, Ill./TwistStars Tumbling and Trampoline, the U.S. men advanced to the tumbling team final in fourth position,. Nacey earned scores of 33.800 and 34.600, giving him a 68.400 total and ninth place for qualification. Alex Renkert of Indianapolis, Ind./Geist Sports Academy, earned 68.200 points for his two passes to finish 10th. Nacey advanced to the individual tumbling final, and Renkert is the first reserve athlete. Garret Waterstradt of Paxton, Ill./Irish’s Gymnastics, earned a 63.700 total and finished 28th.

Renkert also competed in the double-mini qualification round, posting a 73.900 total, which qualified him to the finals in third place. Nacey made his second final of the day in fourth place, behind a total of 73.300. Ryan Roberts of Ramona, Calif./So Cal TTC, was just behind in fifth place with 72.900 but will not compete in the finals due to the two-athlete rule. 2011 World double-mini silver medalist Austin White of Newport Coast, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, missed the landing of his first pass and finished in 37th place.

Yuliya Stankevich-Brown of Idaho Falls, Idaho/Idaho Elite Gymnastics, qualified to the women’s tumbling final in 10th place after posting scores of 32.400 and 31.700 for a combined total was 64.100.

Charlotte Drury of Laguna Niguel, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, and Shaylee Dunavin of Amarillo, Texas/All-American, advanced to the women’s synchronized trampoline final after finishing third in the qualification round with a two-routine total of 85.300. Hayley Butcher of St. John, Ind./Midwest Training and Ice Center, and Deana Parris of Burtonsville, Md./Fairland Gymnastics, finished 16th.

Neil Gulati of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, and Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, earned an 82.800 total and are the first reserve synchro duo for the final. Steven and Jeffrey Gluckstein, both of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA, finished 23rd.

The rest of the World Championships’ competition schedule is:

  • Nov. 9 – semifinals and finals for men’s trampoline (2:30 p.m. Sofia/7:30 a.m. ET, and 8 p.m. Sofia/1 p.m. ET), team finals for men’s and women’s double mini-trampoline and tumbling (5 p.m. Sofia/10 a.m. ET), and finals for women’s synchronized trampoline (7:30 p.m. Sofia/12:30 p.m. ET);
  • Nov. 10 – semifinals and finals for women’s trampoline (1:30 p.m. Sofia/6:30 a.m. ET, and 6:30 p.m. Sofia/11:30 a.m. ET), and finals for men’s and women’s double-mini and tumbling, and men’s synchronized trampoline (3:30 p.m. Sofia/8:30 a.m. ET).

USA Gymnastics will have coverage, photos and videos from Sofia on usagym.org, Facebook and YouTube. Additional information is available on the International Gymnastics Federation’s microsite, sofia2013.fig-gymnastics.com.

Trampoline events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform double and triple twisting somersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated rod-floor runways that enable athletes to jump at heights more than 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. For the double-mini competition, the athlete makes a short run, leaps onto a small two-level trampoline, performs an aerial maneuver and dismounts onto a landing mat. Trampoline was added to the Olympic Games in 2000, and at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the USA had its first athlete in history advance to the finals.