© John Cheng

INDIANAPOLIS, July 20, 2014 — Donnell Whittenburg of Baltimore, Md./U.S. Olympic Training Center, posted the top score at the 2014 Men’s National Qualifier at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics), is among the 17 senior men who qualified for the 2014 P&G Gymnastics Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa., scheduled for August 21-24 at CONSOL Energy Center. Also, seven junior men qualified for a trip to Pittsburgh.

Whittenburg posted a 87.950 for the event’s highest all-around score. Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center), was next at 87.200, with 2013 World bronze-medalist John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center), at 86.450.

Leyva posted an 86.250 at the Qualifier to qualify. The 17 senior men who qualified to the 2014 P&G Championships are listed below.

Dylan Akers, Houston, Texas/University of Oklahoma
Danny Berardini, Lake Forest, Ill./University of Oklahoma
Allan Bower, Chandler, Ariz./University of Oklahoma
Jack Boyle, Naperville, Ill./University of Iowa
Alex Diab, Glen Ellyn, Ill./Premier Gymnastics
Trevor Howard, Columbus, Ohio/Pennsylvania State University
Nicholas Hunter, Canfield, Ohio/University of Michigan
Alex Johnson, Marysville, Ohio/Ohio State University
Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics)
Steven Lacombe, Mission Viejo, Calif./University of California-Berkeley
Matthew Loochtan, Hawthorn Woods, Ill./University of Iowa
Ellis Mannon, Indianapolis, Ind./University of Minnesota
Drew Moling, Canal Winchester, Ohio/Ohio State University
Kanji Oyama, Huntington Beach, Calif./University of Oklahoma
Colin Van Wicklen, Magnolia, Texas/University of Oklahoma
Kevin Wolting, Laguna Hills, Calif./University of California-Berkeley
Joshua Yee, Mililani, Hawaii/University of Oklahoma

In addition, Van Wicklen posted a 135.300 for the highest junior technical sequence score, with Shane Wiskus of Spring Park, Minn./MHG, next at 129.500. Vitali Kan of West Allis, Wis./Swiss Turners, earned a 127.600 to round out the top three junior scores. The seven junior men who qualified to the P&G Championships are: Maxim Andryushchenko of Arlington Heights, Ill./Lake Shore Academy; Addison Chung of Medfield, Mass./New England Sports Academy; Christian Kalustian of Gold River, Calif./Byers Gymnastics; Kan; Kyle King of Mesquite, Texas/Ridgewood Gymnastics; Eric Klein of W. Brookfield, Mass./Daggett Gymnastics; and Wiskus.

Male gymnasts qualified to the senior division at the 2014 P&G Championships in a variety of ways. Senior national Team members following the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge automatically qualified to the championships. A minimum of 14 athletes will qualify to the P&G Championships based on the National Points Ranking System from this weekend’s national qualifier. The top six ranked all-around gymnasts who are U.S. citizens from among the top 12 all-around athletes at the 2014 NCAA Championships also qualified to the P&G Championships.

Juniors qualify in a similar fashion. The top 24 athletes from the 15-16 junior elite age division from the all-around finals at the 2014 Junior Olympic National Championships and the top 12 athletes from the 17-18 junior elite age division from the all-around finals at the 2014 Junior Olympic National Championships qualify to the 2014 P&G Gymnastics Championships. The top six age eligible juniors form the junior elite division at the 2014 National Qualifier will qualify using the rank order all-around results (optional + technical sequence score) with 15-16 and 17-18 age divisions combined also qualify. This will total approximately 42 athletes in two age divisions.