Houston, July 25, 2005 – Eight-time consecutive trampoline national champion Ryan Weston of Chubbuck, Idaho, and two-time Olympian Jennifer Parilla of Newport Beach, Calif., headline the 1,600-athlete field for the 2005 Trampoline & Tumbling National Championships in Houston July 27-Aug. 3 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Weston, in addition to winning every men’s trampoline national championship since 1996, was an alternate for the 2000 Olympic team and a nine-time national team member. Weston competes for Elite Performance. Parilla, who competes for Team Everybody NGTC, is a five-time national champion and has competed in trampoline at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.
In addition to Weston and Parilla, some other athletes to watch for during the championships are as follows.

Men’s trampoline: Chris Estrada of Layfayette, La., the 2005 Winter Classic trampoline champion, and Michael Devine of Winnebego, Ill., the 2003 Winter Classic trampoline champion; Weston and Estrada are also teaming up in synchronized trampoline.

Women’s trampoline: Alaina Herbert of Broussard, La., the 2001 national trampoline champion, and Brittany Dircks of Orland Park, Ill., second place in trampoline at the 2004 Elite Challenge; Herbert and Jenny Wescott of Lansing, Ill., compete as a team in synchronized trampoline.

Men’s tumbling: Casey Finley of Lubbock, Texas, the 2004 national tumbling champion, and Chris Ford of Harmarket, Va., winner of the 2005 Winter Classic.

Women’s tumbling: Yuliya Hall of Idaho Falls, Idaho, the 2005 Winter Classic tumbling champion; Krista Mahoney of Herber City, Utah, the 2004 Winter Classic tumbling champion; and Leanne Seitziner of Stafford, Va., the 2004 national tumbling champion.

Men’s double mini: Finley and Keith Douglas of Grand Rapids, Mich., the 2003 double mini national champion.

Women’s double mini: Shelley Klochan of Whiting, Ind., the 2003 World Championships silver medalist.

This year’s event features competition for the senior elite, junior elite and Junior Olympic (JO) levels 5-10. Tickets, available at the door, are $10, with children under 7 admitted free.

Trampoline events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform single, double and twisted summersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated spring runways that enable athletes to jump at heights over 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. Double mini competition involves the athlete making a short run and leaping onto a small two-level trampoline. The athlete will then perform an aerial maneuver and dismount onto a landing mat.

Additional information on the 2005 Trampoline & Tumbling National Championship, including a detailed schedule of events, may be found at the T&T NATIONALS WEB SITE.