INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., July 29, 2011 – Samuel Chiacchia of Colorado Springs, Colo./Artsports – Trampoline World, and Sean Sargent of Mason, Ohio/Queen City Gymnastics, won the junior men’s synchronized trampoline title at the 2011 Canada Cup in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. In addition, Jordan Webb of Tulsa, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, took top honors in the novice tumbling division, and the senior women’s synchronized trampoline team of Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, and Alicia Powder of Ladera Ranch, Calif./World Elite, earned the bronze medal. Twenty-six U.S. athletes will compete in the finals that wrap up on July 30.

Here’s a quick recap of the athletes who will compete in the finals on July 30.

Tumbling
Kaylah Whaley of Knoxville, Tenn./Premier Athletics Knoxville North, finished second in the senior women’s prelims at 58.600. Junior women McKenzie Kulka of Tulsa, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, was second and Brittney Bernard of Bixby, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, was third, scoring a 57.700 and 56.900, respectively.

In novice tumbling, Harley Merritt of Auburndale, Fla./Reflex, won the prelims for women 11-14 at 55.000; Nathan Miller of Greensboro, NC/Ultimate Air, was third in the 11-14 prelims at 54.300. For women’s 15+, Choyce Hayes of Bristow, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, and Jordan Webb of Tulsa, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, were second (54.200) and third (53.900), respectively, in the prelims.

Trampoline

Three senior women are headed to the finals: Savannah Vinsant of Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, who was fifth in prelims at 94.565; Earnest, who was seventh at 92.715; and Powder, who was eighth at 90.850. Junior women Maggie Gallagher of Coto de Caza, Calif./World Elite, and Erynn Stier of Morley, Mich./Branch Gymnastics, were sixth and seventh in the prelims to advance.

In the junior men’s division, three U.S. trampolinists advanced to the finals: Cody Gesuelli of Middletown, N.J./Head Over Heels/UltraTwisters, who was third in the prelims at 90.420; Sargent, who was fifth at 89.395; and Chiacchia, who was seventh at 88.265.

For novice trampoline, five gymnasts in the 11-14 age group advanced to the finals: Joseph Kozlowski of Avondale, Pa./KMC, who was second in the men’s prelims at 84.670; Nathan Miller of Greensboro, NC/Ultimate Air, who was seventh in the men’s at 81.215; Isaac Rowley of Allen, Texas/Eagles Wings, who was 10th in the men’s prelims at 66.450; and women Hally Piontek of Warrensburg, Mo./KC Trampoline, and Shea Silhan of Morton, Texas/Acrospirits, who were third and eighth, respectively.

Double mini-trampoline

Justin Hackett of Allendale, Mich./Branch Gymnastics, and Austin White of Newport Coast, Calif./World Elite, were third and fourth, respectively, in the senior men’s prelims, and Casey Chandler of Reno, Nev./Legacy Trampoline and Tumbling, who finished eighth, also advanced to the finals. Three junior men qualified for the finals: James Lichtenstein of Buffalo Grove, Ill./5 Star Tumbling and Trampoline, tied for first in the prelims at 69.400; Chiacchia, who was third in the prelims at 68.000; and Zachary Moore of Woodville, Wash./Gymnastics East, who was sixth at 66.600 in the prelims.

Synchronized trampoline finals

For the women, Canada took the top two spots – Karen Cockburn and Rosannagh McClennan took the title at 136.100, followed by Mariah Madigan and Samantha Sendel in second at 130.600. The USA’s Earnest and Powder were third at 114.900. Nani Vercruyssen of Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Academy, and Vinsant finished in fifth place at 79.800. Junior women Maggie Gallagher of Coto de Caza, Calif./World Elite, and Meghan O’Connell of Middletown, NJ/Head Over Heels/UltraTwisters, also finished fifth at 108.900.