News: Defending champions lead respective events after preliminary round of 2007 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships

Ludvigson and Estrada defend U.S. titles at
2007 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships

For immediate release - June 23, 2007

| PHOTO GALLERY |

MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 23, 2007 – Kalon Ludvigson of Plano, Texas, successfully defended his U.S. titles in senior elite men’s tumbling and double mini-trampoline, and Chris Estrada of Lafayette, La., earned his third consecutive U.S. men’s senior elite trampoline title at the 2007 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn. Brittany Dircks of Orland Park, Ill., earned gold medals in senior women’s trampoline and synchronized trampoline and 2005 U.S. tumbling champion Yuliya Hall of Idaho Falls, Idaho, won senior women’s tumbling. Kaci Barry of San Diego, Calif., won the senior women’s double mini-trampoline title.

The pair of Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highalnds, N.J., and Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif., won gold in senior elite men’s synchronized trampoline, while Dircks paired with Alaina Williams of Amarillo, Texas, to claim the U.S. title in senior elite women’s synchronized trampoline.

Ludvigson won his second consecutive tumbling title with a total score of 148.70 after final-round passes of 37.90 and 37.10. In second was Jeffrey Brown of Lee’s Summit, Mo., at 134.80 and in third was Chris Ford of Haymarket, Va., with a score of 112.70.

In men’s double mini-trampoline, Ludvigson scored a 146.30 to edge Josh Vance of Byron Center, Mich., by just 0.20. Vance finished second with a total score of 146.10 and Derek Stangel of Cedar Lake, Ind., was third at 144.40. Barry won senior women’s double mini with a score of 134.60 and Sarah Prosen of Apple Valley , Minn., was second at 131.30.

“I thought I did well today and I did everything that I wanted,” Ludvigson said. “I was nervous coming in as the defending champion, but I felt really prepared and was training a lot. I’m glad I was consistent.”

In senior elite trampoline, Estrada placed first on the men’s side with a score of 106.90, followed by Ryan Weston of Chubbuck, Idaho, in second and Austin White of Irvine, Calif., in third with scores of 103.70 and 100.30, respectively. For the women, Dircks earned the gold medal with a score of 97.00 and Williams was second at 95.20.

“I was really happy with how I did today and I felt it was my best routine,” said Dircks.

With a final-round routine of 46.90, Gluckstein and Dooley earned a total score of 130.30 to win the men’s synchronized trampoline title. Phil Meyer of Mequon, Wis., and Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill., were second with a total score of 102.00, and Estrada and Weston were third at 77.40. Dircks and Williams won the women’s synchronized trampoline title with a score of 121.00 after a final-round routine of 43.20.

Hall claimed the second national tumbling title of her career with passes of 33.50 and 32.40 in the final round to finish with a total score of 129.50. Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va., the 2006 U.S. tumbling champion, claimed the silver medal with a score of 126.20, followed by Susannah Johnson of Roanoke, Va., in third at 125.70 and Kaitlin Tortorich of Haymarket, Va., in fourth at 124.90.

In the junior elite division, Nani Vercruyssen of Honolulu, Hawaii won her second consecutive U.S. junior women’s double mini title. The other 2007 U.S. junior champions were: women’s trampoline – Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas; men’s trampoline – Neil Gulati of Irvine, Calif.; women’s synchronized trampoline – Julianne Gonet of Rocklin, Calif., and Sarah Gandy of Paris, Texas; men’s synchronized trampoline – Kevin Heger of Rockford, Ill., and Andrew Muzzarelli of Rockford, Ill.; men’s double mini-trampoline – James Zielsdorf of Bakersfield, Calif.; women’s tumbling – Alexandra Stallons of Rockford, Ill.; and men’s tumbling – Kile Allen of Rockford, Ill.

The 2007 Trampoline and Tumbling Junior Olympic National Championships begin tomorrow at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn., and continue through June 28. For the competition schedule, go to http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/tt/2007/champs/index.htm.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

2007 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships

Cook Convention Center

Memphis, Tenn.

June 23, 2007

Final results

Women’s senior elite results

Trampoline

1. Brittany Dircks, Orland Park, Ill./USOTC Trampoline Team, 97.00

2. Alaina Williams, Amarillo, Texas/USOTC Trampoline Team, 95.20

Synchronized trampoline

1. Brittany Dircks, Orland Park, Ill./USOTC Trampoline Team, and Alaina Williams, Amarillo, Texas/USOTC Trampoline Team, 121.00

Double mini-trampoline

1. Kaci Barry, San Diego, Calif./GTC Academy, 134.60

2. Sarah Prosen, Apple Valley, Minn./Gypsy Flyers, 131.30

Tumbling

1. Yuliya Hall, Idaho Falls, Idaho/IFTC, 129.50

2. Leanne Seitzinger, Stafford, Va./Novaks' Gymnastic Center, Inc., 126.20

3. Susannah Johnson, Roanoke, Va./Capital Gymnastics NTC, 125.70

4. Kaitlin Tortorich, Haymarket, Va./Capital Gymnastics NTC, 124.90

Men’s senior elite results

Trampoline

1. Chris Estrada, Lafayette, La./USOTC Trampoline Team, 106.90

2. Ryan Weston, Chubbuck, Idaho/USOTC Trampoline Team, 103.70

3. Austin White, Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, 100.30

4. Steven Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters (Head over Heels), 97.40

5. Logan Dooley, Lake Forest, Calif./USOTC Trampoline Team, 95.90

6. Phil Meyer, Mequon, Wis./Wabash Valley Tumbling & Gymnastics, 95.50

7. Derrick Aldrich, Windemere, Fla./USOTC Trampoline Team, 94.40

8. Sean Kennedy, Holland, Mass./Airtime Trampoline Team, 93.80

Synchronized trampoline

1. Logan Dooley, Lake Forest, Calif./USOTC Trampoline Team, and Steven Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters (Head over Heels), 130.30

2. Phil Meyer, Mequon, Wis./Wabash Valley Tumbling & Gymnastics, and Michael Devine, Winnebago, Ill. 102.00

3. Chris Estrada, Lafayette, La./USOTC Trampoline Team, and Ryan Weston, Chubbuck, Idaho/USOTC Trampoline Team, 77.40

Double mini-trampoline

1. Kalon Ludvigson, Plano, Texas/Team Revolution, 146.30

2. Joshua Vance, Byron Center, Mich./Great Lakes Griffins, 146.10

3. Derek Stangel, Cedar Lake, Ind./Great Lakes Griffins, 144.40

4. Matt Moniz, Aiea, Hawaii/Hawaii Academy, 141.20

5. Tony Doles, Lubbock, Texas/Upsidedowners, 137.40

6. Nathan Harr, Rockford, Mich./Aerials and Baranis Gymnastics Center, 129.30

Tumbling

1. Kalon Ludvigson, Plano, Texas/Team Revolution, 148.70

2. Jeffrey Brown, Lee's Summit, Mo./Xtreme Gymnastics & Trampoline, 134.80

3. Chris Ford, Haymarket, Va./Capital Gymnastics NTC, 112.70

Women’s junior elite results

Trampoline

1. Dakota Earnest, Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, 91.00

2. Nani Vercruyssen, Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Academy, 90.40

3. Jane Truster, Lee's Summit, Mo./Xtreme Gymnastics & Trampoline, 87.80

4. Sarah Gandy, Paris, Texas/Texas T & T Institute, 87.40

5. Chelsey Hunt, Lamesa, Texas/Acrospirits, 85.30

6. Lauren Lange, Erath, La./Trampoline & Tumbling Express, 82.80

7. Savannah Vinsant, Newton, Texas/Twist-n-Shout, 78.60

8. Brooke Samec, Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Garners Gymnastics, 60.90

Synchronized trampoline

1. Julianne Gonet, Rocklin, Calif./American Powerhouse T&T, and Sarah Gandy, Paris, Texas/Texas T & T Institute, 91.30

Double mini-trampoline

1. Nani Vercruyssen, Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Academy, 135.40

2. Sarah Gandy, Paris, Texas/Texas T & T Institute, 121.40

3. Lisa VanOrden, Pingree, Idaho/Joy's Jym, 120.50

4. Stephanie Toubman, Laguna Niguel, Calif./Azarian USGTC, 118.00

Tumbling

1. Alexandra Stallons, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 123.80

2. Chelsea Fisher, Stone Ridge, Va./Capital Gymnastics NTC, 119.10

3. Elizabeth Flint, Springfield, Va./Capital Gymnastics NTC, 118.60

4. Samantha Shepard, Warren, Mich./All World Gymnastics, 117.00

5. Ana Tortorich, Haymarket, Va./Capital Gymnastics NTC, 112.20

Men’s junior elite results

Trampoline

1. Neil Gulati, Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, 95.60

2. Andrew Muzzarelli, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 95.60

3. Jeffrey Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters (Head over Heels), 94.60

4. K.J. Heger, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 93.40

5. Kevin Heger, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 90.40

6. Adam Bragg, Lake Forest, Calif./SkySurfers Trampoline Team, 90.00

7. Joshua Bednorz, Victoria, Texas/Victoria Gymagic, Inc., 88.40

8. Nathan Harr, Rockford, Mich./Aerials and Baranis Gymnastics Center, 82.40

Synchronized trampoline

1. Kevin Heger, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, and Andrew Muzzarelli, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 120.50

2. Casey Gesuelli, Middletown, N.J./Ultra Twisters (Head over Heels), and Jeffrey Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters (Head over Heels), 118.50

3. K.J. Heger, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, and Adam Bragg, Lake Forest, Calif./SkySurfers Trampoline Team, 117.60

4. Ken Corner, Comstock Park, Mich./Great Lakes Griffins, and Zachary Griffin, Howard City, Mich./Great Lakes Griffins, 80.40

Double mini-trampoline

1. James Zielsdorf, Bakersfield, Calif./Stars Gymnastics, 136.10

2. K.J. Heger, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 135.70

3. Kevin Heger, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 135.00

4. Courtney Osborn, Maple Grove, Minn./Gypsy Flyers, 134.10

5. Adam Bragg, Lake Forest, Calif./SkySurfers Trampoline Team, 133.10

6. Andrew Muzzarelli, Rockford, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 125.40

7. Zachary Griffin, Howard City, Mich./Great Lakes Griffins, 122.90

8. Joshua Cox, Burlington, Ky./Kristis Tumbling & Trampoline, 99.80

Tumbling

1. Kile Allen, Rockford, Ill./Kids Spot, Inc. 127.80

2. Maurice Dunker, Marenge, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, 126.10

3. Joshua Cox, Burlington, Ky./Kristis Tumbling & Trampoline, 120.50

4. Brandon Sloan, Forest, Va./Lynchburg Academy of Gymnastics, 119.20

5. Steven Walker, Fairfax Station, Va./Capital Gymnastics NTC, 114.20

6. Jonathan Fox, Hooper, Utah/Edge Sports and Learning Center, 110.50

7. Sedret Whitfield, Detroit, Mich./All World Gymnastics, 106.10

USA Gymnastics
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.
For more information about USA Gymnastics and its programs, access USA Gymnastics online at
www.usa-gymnastics.org.

Ludvigson and Estrada defend U.S. titles at 2007 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships

Ludvigson and Estrada defend U.S. titles at
2007 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Championships