EWA Flyers Win 2nd National Title

EWA FLYERS WIN 2^ND NATIONAL TITLE

ALLEN, TX: These girls are so good they have earned not just one, but two National titles so far this season. The Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA) Flyers cheerleading team is undefeated in their division, and won back-to-back national championships in January.

On January 16 they competed at the American Cheerleading Association (ACA) small gym national championships at the Ft. Worth Convention Center. There they had the highest score of the 23 Level 1 teams participating. They also received High Point honors in their division, which earned them a $500 prize.

The next weekend the team competed at the Cheer Gyms of America (CGA) small gym nationals at the Dallas Convention Center, where they again took the top spot. As first place team their competition fees are covered for the Alamo National Championships in San Antonio in February. Their coach, Anthony Thomas, was voted “Coach of the Year” at the competition. Assistant coach, Dabney Eiland, has also helped the EWA Flyers go undefeated in their six contests this season.

Three girls, Kaylan Guvernator, Lauren Huck and Jocelyn Lo, have received the WOW! award at CGA competitions for their exceptional performances.

USAG Men Compete In Houston

USAG MEN COMPETE IN HOUSTON

Level 9 and 10 gymnasts from EWA’s men’s team competed at the GymMasters Invite in Houston January 23. Logan Doughty, Level 10, earned a silver medal on vault (14.10) and floor exercise (13.00). Evan Fitzgerald, also Level 10, placed second on parallel bars (12.90) and third on vault (13.90). Adam Templin also helped the team earn third place in the team awards.

Level 9 Cameron Lake had an exciting warm up session on still rings as Olympian Jonathan Horton was in line right in front of him. After the session the entire team got to hear Horton, fellow Olympian Raj Bhavsar, and former Olympic Men’s coach and current Men’s National Team Coordinator, Kevin Mazeika, as they spoke to the athletes about mental toughness and focus.

Greg Schram is head coach of the men’s program at EWA, assisted by Craig Locke, Wesley Cox, Bob Martichuski and Evan Fitzgerald.

Gymnasts Win Gold and Meet Olympians

GYMNASTS WIN GOLD AND MEET OLYMPIANS

EWA’s USAG women’s gymnastics team competed at the Texas Prime Meet in Coppell January 23-25, where two Level 7 gymnasts earned gold, lots of gold.

In the Senior A division, Natalie May was the champion on each individual event and the all-around. She earned 9.825 out of a possible 10 on vault, 9.375 on floor exercise, 9.175 on balance beam, and 8.7 on uneven parallel bars, giving her a score of 37.075 all-around.

Isabella Gordillo competed in the Level 7 Junior A division, earning first place on vault (9.725), beam (9.575), floor (9.5) and all-around (38.30). She also earned a bronze medal on bars with a score of 9.5.

Level 10 Casey Dreyer earned a silver medal on vault (9.525) and bronze all-around (36.625) in the Junior division.

Makenzie Johnson, in the Senior division, won third place on vault (9.7), beam (9.3) and all-around (37.050). She was one of the top eight Level 10 gymnasts at the meet, and qualified to compete in the Legendz Classic the following evening. Three World and Olympic champions, Bridget Sloan, Samantha Peszek, and Courtney Kupets, served as team captains. They each had a total of five Level 9 and 10 girls on their team, which took turns competing each of the four events. Johnson was on Team Kupets, which won second place. Team Sloan took first place, and Team Peszek took third.

“Being on Team Kupets was awesome and gave me a taste of what college gymnastics is like,” said Johnson. “Courtney was so energetic and fun to be around.”

The USAG women’s team at EWA is coached by Helen Verucchi and head coach Alex Atamas.

Team Kupets

Congrats to Level 10 Makenzie Johnson who was one of the top eight level 10 gymnasts at the Texas Prime Meet who qualified to compete in the Legendz Classic hosted by Texas Dreams.  Three World and Olympic champion team captains - Bridget Sloan, Samantha Peszek and Courtney Kupets - had five level 9 and 10 girls on their teams, and took turns competing each of the four events.  Makenzie was on Team Kupets, which won 2nd place.  Team Sloan took first place and Team Peszek took third.

Men’s Gymnastics Season Under Way

Gymnasts from the Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA) men’s team, levels 7 through 10, took a road trip to Katy for their first meet of the season at the Ricky Deci Invitational January 9.

Cole Wilhelm, a level 7 gymnast who competed in the 12-13 year- old division, was the high bar champion with a score of 14.2. He took silver on both floor exercise (14.8) and still rings (14.0), and bronze all-around (80.80).

Level 8 Chandler Guvernator placed fourth on floor exercise, while Level 9 Cameron Lake took fourth on vault and fifth on floor exercise. Evan Fitzgerald competed Level 10 and placed fifth on vault and still rings.

At a second meet the next weekend, the Star Center Invitational at St. Edwards University in Austin, Cole Wilhelm proved he’s no one-time wonder by winning second place all-around and finishing in the top five on all six events. “Cole has clearly shown that he is dedicated towards his improvement,” said EWA’s men’s team head coach Greg Schram.

The level 7 Wilhelm earned silver medals on high bar (14.4) and pommel horse (14.3), and bronze on vault (14.3). Fourth place finishes on still rings and parallel bars, and fifth on floor exercise secured his silver all-around with a score of 83.70.

Drew Huck, competing Level 7 in the age 10-11 division, tied for fourth on pommel horse and all-around, and fifth on floor exercise. “Drew was sick for days prior to and including the meet”, noted coach Schram, “but he managed not only to compete but do very well too.” Huck, Wilhelm, Christopher Bowling and Drew Sikora tied for third place for the Level 7 team award, having gone up against tough competition from all over the region.

Level 8 Chandler Guvernator earned a bronze medal on pommel horse (9.5), and had fourth place finishes on parallel bars, high bar and all-around. He also took fifth place on floor exercise and still rings, and seventh on vault.

Level 6 top ten finishers on individual events included Landon Smith, Nicholas Brocklesby, Carter Frederick, Bradley Weatherford, Kade Cummings, and Karcen Raney. The 8-9 year-olds in this level won 2^nd place team.

The men’s team at EWA is coached by Evan Fitzgerald, Bob Martichuski, Wesley Cox, Craig Locke, and Head Coach Greg Schram.

Allen Team Wins Challenge in Houston

A last minute change in plans did not derail the Level 10 gymnasts at Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA) from taking the first place team award at the Winter Cup Challenge held near Houston the weekend of January 9 and 10.

Originally scheduled to compete locally, a meet cancellation forced the team to look for another location for their first meet of the season. Reflex Gymnastics in Pearland was willing to take the team in on short notice.

The team award is given to the team that has the highest total score from the top three gymnasts on each event. EWA won the team event with only three gymnasts, meaning each score from every girl was used. The second place team had 8 gymnasts to glean scores from.

EWA’s Casey Dreyer, of Plano, earned first place on the floor exercise with a score of 9.4. She took second place on balance beam (9.25) and vault (9.4) to win the all-around (36.65) in the Level 10 Junior division.

Sabrina Schwab, took the silver all-around (36.075). The Lucas resident also took silver on uneven parallel bars (9.075) and bronze on floor exercise (9.25).

In the Level 10 Senior division, Makenzie Johnson, from Parker, was the balance beam and floor exercise champion, earning 9.45 and 9.425 respectively. She placed second on vault with a 9.575 and earned silver in the all-around (36.95).

EWA’s level 7 team also competed. In the Junior A division, Isabella Gordillo won the floor exercise (9.7) and vault (9.3), and took second on uneven bars (9.5). Sierra Thain earned silver on beam (9.175) and bronze on floor (9.35).

Natalie May competed in the Senior B group, taking first place on floor exercise (9.6) and tying for third place on vault (9.275).

Several Level 4 girls competed in their first meet ever. Abbie Haigwood tied for first place (9.7) on floor exercise in the Jr. A division, and placed second on vault (9.65). She tied for third all-around with a 36.9. Abigail Johnston took bronze on both vault (9.5) and floor (9.3).

In the Jr. B division, Madelyn Johnson was the vault champion (9.65) and Kynsey Hennen tied for gold on balance beam (9.2). Hennen also took bronze on floor (9.1) and all-around (36.0). Alexandra Brownlee earned a 9.4 on floor exercise, winning second place.

Competing Level 4 Achievement were Jillian Goodrich, Grace Felton, Keira Cushman, Alysia Burwinkel and Natalie Garst. Garst had the highest balance beam score (9.0), while Burwinkel tied for the second highest vault score (9.4) and earned second on balance beam (8.9).

Eagle’s Wings Athletics is also proud to announce that two of their gymnasts, Sabrina Schwab and Jordan Stavrou, have been named to the USA National Team training squad. They will continue to travel to the Karolyi Ranch near Houston for developmental camps every other month, and participate in National Qualifying Meets for competitive experience.

Congrats Mary

Mary Rossi from the EWA Trampoline & Tumbling Team had the opportunity to travel to Sacramento, California with Coach Amy for the 2010 Trampoline & Tumbling Olympic Development Team Qualification Camp. Mary spent three days training with national team coaches, proving to them that she was physically and mentally ready to be on the Olympic Development Team. Mary did a great job and hit both of her routines in the competition that was held on the final day of the camp. Based on her physical abilities and the competition at the camp, Mary was placed on the 2010 Trampoline & Tumbling Olympic Development Team. She will have the opportunity to travel to Belgium in April and compete on this team against other level 10 athletes in the world. Congratulations Mary!

Vitamin D3 and Indoor Winter Health

Vitamin D3 and Indoor Winter Health by Laura Kopec, CNC

Did you know that Vitamin D3 is being recognized for its immune strengthening powers and assisting the body’s defenses against cold and flu symptoms?

Vitamin D3 is synthesized in the body through exposure to the sun. Adequate Vitamin D3 is acquired through approximately 20 minutes of sunshine every day.

During these cold and sometimes gray days, getting adequate sunshine is not always possible leaving us at greater risk for winter time sniffles.

Often a Vitamin D3 supplement is necessary not only for winter immunity, but is also important for healthy athletes and coaches that spend a significant part of their day inside the gym!

Information provided is solely for informational purposes only. Do not use this information for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing of any medications. Only your doctor should diagnose your healthcare problems and prescribe treatment. None of our statements or information, including health claims, articles, advertising or product information have been evaluated or approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Please consult your doctor before starting any supplement, diet or exercise program, before taking any medications or receiving treatment, particularly if you are currently under medical care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, do not take any supplements without first consulting and obtaining the approval of your doctor.

Laura Kopec, CNC is a Certified Nutritional Consultant specializing in nutritional support for chronic health disorders, acute health issues and weight issues. Consultations available for both adults and children. Discounts available to Eagles Wings athletes and family members. www.laurakopec.com Call 972-890-5921 for more information.