INDIANAPOLIS, May 2, 2022 - All-around and individual event champions were crowned across the HOPES, junior and senior age divisions over the weekend at the Rhythmic Eastern and Western Level 9 Classics in Lake Placid, N.Y., and Los Angeles, Calif. Based on their all-around performances, a combined 85 athletes - 55 juniors and 30 seniors - across both competitions secured spots for the upcoming 2022 Elite Qualifier, slated for May 21-22 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Eastern Level 9 Classic

Mia Bukatar (Valley Stream, N.Y./Empire Rhythmic Gymnastics) notched the top senior all-around spot this weekend at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. Her combined 101.450 led all senior competitors, while her 27.100 on hoop and 27.700 on ball were also top marks in the division. All-around runner up Amelia Schneider (Sunrise, Fla./Rhythmic Art) garnered the high score on clubs with a 26.000 en route to a 98.200. Mina Bourabah (Riverview, Fla./Jubilee Gymnastics), who was third with a 95.250, topped the scoresheet on ribbon (24.800).

Ksenia Pototski (Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora by Matchpoint) paced the field in the junior all-around with a 105.950, notching high scores on ball (28.650) and ribbon (25.950) along the way. Anastassia Kim (Duluth, Ga./Prima Rhythmic Gymnastics) posted the second-highest all-around score with a 101.250, while Olivia Sklyut (Churchville, Pa./Iliana Rhythmic Gymnastics) was third with a 100.850. Sklyut led the way on hoop with a 27.200 and clubs with a 26.050.

In the HOPES division, Daniela Shevchenko (Philadelphia, Pa./Iliana Rhythmic Gymnastics) set the tone in the all-around (98.000) and on hoop (26.250), ball (24.650) and ribbon (25.000). Runner up Anya Tarasyuk (Livingston, N.J./Liberty Academy) scored a combined 92.800 and posted the high mark on clubs with a 23.950. Louisa Konnik (Brooklyn, N.Y./Empire Rhythmic Gymnastics) rounded out the top three with an all-around score of 91.350.

Junior groups were also in action this weekend. The group from Liberty Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics - which comprised Ruby Freshwater (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Sophie Freshwater (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Sarah Novofastovsky (Livingston, N.J.), Alisa Sadykov (Summit, N.J.), Anastasia Slipets (Wyckoff, N.J.) and Ivanka Tarasyuk (Livingston, N.J.) - outpaced the field in the all-around and both apparatus combinations. They delivered a cumulative all-around score of 36.600 behind meet-high scores of 17.850 on five ropes and 18.750 on five balls.

Western Level 9 Classic


Laura Peng (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Irene School of Rhythmic Gymnastics) topped the senior all-around standings in Los Angeles with a 104.250. All-around runner up Kasey Chang (Glendale, Calif./Rhythmic Olympica) posted the high score on hoop with a 27.250 en route to a combined 103.600, while Veronika Klyuchkovska (Granada Hills, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics), who took third in the all-around (102.600) led the way on clubs with a 27.550. Michelle Hua (Troy, Mich./Oakland Rhythmics) notched top marks on ball with a 26.450. Sasha Starsky's (Encino, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics) 26.800 set the bar on ribbon.

In the junior field, Isabel Borges (San Diego, Calif./Emerald City Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics) finished nearly four points ahead of runner up Alisa Semenova (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Irene School of Rhythmic Gymnastics) in the all-around. Borges delivered a meet-high 111.200 to Semenova's 107.550 and also collected high scores on clubs (28.500) and ribbon (27.000). Isabella Acosta (San Diego, Calif./Emerald City Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics) finished third in the all-around with a 106.850 and topped the scoresheet on hoop (28.800) and ball (27.850).

Natalie de la Rosa (Woodland Hills, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics) notched the top spot among HOPES division athletes with a 109.100 behind high scores of 29.400 on hoop, 28.150 on ball, 28.100 on clubs and 23.450 on ribbon. De la Rosa outpaced Katherine Pavlovsky (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Rhythmic Academy of Los Angeles, 101.550) and Emma Shi (Medina, Minn./NorthWest Rhythmic, 91.200) who finished second and third, respectively.

In the group competition, the North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center group comprised of Nida Balsys (Northbrook, Ill.), Annabella Hantov (Chicago, Ill.), Kristina Lee (Woodridge, Ill.), Isabelle Novoseletsky (Highland Park, Ill.) and Kalina Trayanov (Deerfield, Ill.) swept the all-around (43.000) and apparatus titles after posting scores of 21.600 on five ropes and 21.400 on five balls.