ORLANDO, Fla., June 26, 2014 — The USA Gymnastics for All Nationals concluded recently after a successful four days of competition and performances for all 418 participants in Orlando, Fla. The event officially began with the Opening Ceremonies at the Premium Theater at Disney Hollywood Studios with performances of GymFest routines and the March of Teams.
The first competition session featured Level 6 and 8 gymnasts. The Level 8 girls team from Biron’s Gymnastics of Houston, Texas, and the Level 6 girls team from Fliptastic of Carmichael, Calif., took home the first national titles of the weekend. Biron’s won with a total score of 26.575 while Fliptastic had a 17.425. For Level 5, La Jolla YMCA Gymnastics of La Jolla, Calif., took home the girls title (17.735) and the Level 5 team from Fallbrook Boys Gymnastics of Fallbrook, Calif., was victorious in the boys’ competition (15.475). La Jolla YMCA and Columbia Gymnastics of Columbia, Md., were awarded the Level 4 girls team title (17.790), Fliptastic picked up another title with its Level 4 boys team (16.400) and Berks East Gymnastics of Parker Ford, Pa., won Level 3 for the girls (17.220).
The Level 2 teams received achievement awards for their session performances. Berks East finished with the session’s highest overall score of 18.230 for the blue ribbon. Fliptastic and Northern Elite Gymnastics and Cheer of Flanders, N.J., followed with red ribbons, and Classic Gymnastics of Jacksonville, N.C., and Aurora Kids of Anchorage, Alaska, received white ribbons. Berks East’s ADSN (special needs) team also came home with a red ribbon.
Power TeamGym, which consists of team jump routines of tumbling, vaulting, mini-trampoline and team floor exercise, includes Levels 2-8, as well as ADSN (special needs). Power TeamGym is a competitive version of GfA where squads of athletes perform together in two events — group floor exercise and group jump.
Northern Elite won the inaugural team acro and tumbling title with a 39.275. Defy Gravity Trampoline and Tumbling of Clermont, Fla., finished second with a 35.850 and posted the highest score of the meet with a 9.0 on its pyramid. Team acro and tumbling is a head-to-head competition with athletes competing in compulsory pyramid, toss, acro, and tumbling, combined with a group team event. It is the developmental program for the varsity team sport and administered by university athletic departments through the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA).
GymFest performances were held throughout the weekend, including performances at Downtown Disney. The participating gyms included: West Bend Dance and Tumbling Troupe of Westbend, Wis.; Impact Sports of Lodi, Calif.; Olympiad Gymnastics of Wilmington, Del.; Biron’s Gymnastics; Classic Gymnastics; Chattooga of Marietta, Ga.; Defy Gravity; Encore Gymnastics of Concord, Calif.; Greenville Training Center of Greenville, S.C.; Fallbrook Gymnastics; Berks East ADSN; Aurora Kids; and Berks East 2-3 mix.
Biron’s took home the big prize of the weekend at the Gymnastics For All Challenge by winning the Best of Show. Other teams performing included Vision Gymnastics of Pfafftown, N.C.; Fliptastic, Skyview Gymnastics of Mt. Airy, Md.; Olympiad Gymnastics of Wilmington, Del.; Greenville Gymnastics Training Center; La Jolla YMCA; Westbend Dance Tumbling Troupe; and Defy Gravity. The Gymnastics for All Challenge, a performance-based exhibition contest, is evaluated on: entertainment, overall presentation, innovation and variety and technique (quality and skill safety). Evaluators award performance groups gold, silver or bronze status. Multiple teams can achieve each status.
Gymnastics for All, which is open to both genders, also includes programs for athletes with disabilities and special needs. For more information on GfA and/or the newly added team acrobatics and tumbling, please go to usagym.org/gfa. For more information on NCATA, go to thencata.org.
Level 8 Champions