Gymnast Earns Silver at Nationals

Allen gymnast Makenzie Johnson recently earned second place all-around at the Junior Olympic National Invitational Tournament(JO-NIT) held in Long Beach, California on May 14.

Johnson, a junior at Allen High School, earned bronze on vault with a score of 9.5, took fourth place on uneven parallel bars (9.1), sixth on balance beam (9.15) and ninth on floor exercise (9.375). Her total score was 37.125, earning her silver all-around out of the 25 competitors in the Senior B age group.

One month earlier Johnson, who trains at Eagle’s Wings Athletics, missed qualifying for the JO-NIT by two-tenths of a point. At Regional championships, the top seven all-around athletes in each age group advance to the Junior Olympic National Championships. Those who place 8th, 9th, and 10th all-around qualify to the JO-NIT.

Johnson, who received an uncharacteristically low score by the judges on the balance beam at Regionals, earned the 11th spot all-around. However, she was notified two days later that one of the other JO-NIT qualifiers had chosen not to go, opening a spot for her to attend.

Johnson moved from Southern California almost seven years ago, and was excited to go back to see family, the beach, and to compete. “It was great getting to go back to California - I had such a good time with all my family,” said Johnson. “Although the weather wasn’t exactly perfect, everything else was great. I am really pleased with how I did at NIT and I am very glad I got the opportunity to go.”

The Junior Olympic National Invitational Tournament (JO-NIT) was developed to allow an additional 192 athletes the opportunity to compete at the national level, with college coaches in attendance.

Johnson is coached by Helen Verucchi and head coach Alex Atamas.

Gymnast Places at State, Advances to Regionals

Allen’s own Makenzie Johnson was one of the 101 level 10 gymnasts to descend on Texas Women’s University March 26 for the Texas State Championships. Johnson, who trains at Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA), won fifth place all-around out of the 18 competitors in the Senior B age group.

Johnson’s highest score came on the floor exercise, a 9.675 that was awarded 6th place. She earned a 9.625 (9th place) on vault, and took 6th place on both uneven parallel bars (9.375) and balance beam (9.35), earning 38.025 out of a possible 40 in the all-around.

Johnson easily moves on to the Regional Championships, to be held April 15 at Lovejoy High School in Lucas. Gymnasts from Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming will be competing for the top few spots that will advance to the Junior Olympic National Championships in Long Beach, California in mid-May.

Johnson, a junior at Allen High School, lives about a mile from the Regional competition site. After having traveled to Regionals at Denver two years ago, and New Mexico last year, she is excited at the prospect of being the level 10 gymnast who lives the closest to the venue. But she doesn’t want the season to end there. “I really want to make it to Nationals,” says Johnson. “I want to show myself and everyone else that I have the skills, work ethic, and determination to be a great gymnast and an asset to college teams.” Johnson moved to Texas from Southern California over 5 years ago, and would also enjoy the opportunity to return and see family, friends, and the beach.

Local Athlete Earns Prestigious Trophy

For one local athlete it’s time to add the first place all-around trophy from the prestigious Houston National Invitational gymnastics competition to her large collection of hard-earned medals and plaques.

Level 10 Makenzie Johnson, of Eagle’s Wings Athletics in Allen, took the all-around title during the 17th annual meet held March 4-6 at the George Brown Convention Center in Houston. She also medaled on all four individual events, earning another first place award on floor exercise (9.225). She took silver on vault (9.2) and bronze on balance beam (9.2) and uneven parallel bars (9.05).

“Winning the HNI made me feel so good inside and I knew that if I kept trying my best I would be able to accomplish much more,” said Johnson. “Regardless of your past, if you work hard and set your mind to something you will be able to accomplish so much in life.”

Johnson has had a rough start this season, first injuring her toe on uneven bars at the beginning of the season, and then getting ill days before another meet. During competition season any time on restricted workouts, or out of the gym sick, is precious time lost. For this reason, most gymnasts don’t take time off when they’re hurt, but they modify their workouts to accommodate the injury and try to let it heal.

Makenzie’s coaches, Alex Atamas and Helen Verucchi, believe in her. “The good thing about Makenzie is that she can work through the pain and can put things together very quickly,” said Verucchi. “This is a good quality for a gymnast. I still believe the best is yet to come this season.”

Men’s Team Rocks

The Eagle’s Wings Athletics Men’s Team is getting close to the end of their competitive season. They have been improving steadily, and they have had great showings at their meets! Recently the EWA Men’s Team hosted one of the biggest and best Level 6-10 State Championships at McKinney North High School. It was an incredible weekend with the gymnasts, coaches, parents, staff, and the coaches/judges from the men’s community all helping together to make it such a huge success!! All of our Level 6-10s qualified to the Regional Meet that will be in Austin from April 1st-3rd. The Level 4s & 5s just had their last invitational meet in Garland at the Brandenburg Invite on March 26th. They all improved in many areas and the Level 5s were able to compete as a team one last time before the state meet (which will have them separated by age-groups and sessions). Ryan Phillips won the Gold Medal on Parallel Bars, and several of our boys received silver and bronze medals. The Level 4s & 5s end their season with their state meet on April 9th & 10th in Euless. The Level 6s & 8s end their season with the regional meet mentioned above. The Level 9s and 10s will try to qualify from regionals to the National Meet that will be in Long Beach, California, from May 3rd-8th. So, great job so far boys, and good luck as you finish your season!!! Go EWA Boys!!!

Blue Team Has a Great Weekend!

It was another great weekend for the EWA Blue Team compulsory girls as they competed in Sulphur Springs Gymnastics “America the Beautiful” TAAF Qualifier on February 26 and 27, 2011. Competing level 5 were Gabby Smith (division 1), Erin Palmer (division 1), Meghan Wellman (division 2) and Erin Volesky (division 5). Gabby won the gold in all four events as well as the all around. Erin P. won 4th in the all around while Meghan won 5th on the floor exercise. Erin V. had a great meet hitting her personal best of the season on floor and beam.

Kayla Spillman competed in level 6, division 4. She won the gold medal on the balance beam (9.250) and the bronze on the vault (9.150). Kayla’s all around score moved her up to division 3.

Coach Bob’s Blue Team will compete next at EWA’s own “At the Hop” TAAF Qualifier on April 9 - 10, 2011.

Blue Team Does Great Again

EWA Blue Team levels 5 and 6 competed in the “Queen for a Day” TAAF Qualifier at Empire Gymnastics Academy in Euless, Texas on Saturday, February 19, 2011. Competing level 5 were Gabby Smith, Erin Palmer, Meghan Wellman and Erin Volesky. Gabby competed in division 1 where she won gold in all four events as well as in the all around with an impressive score of 37.850! Erin Palmer competed in division 2 where took gold on vault (9.7), silver on floor (9.4) and bronze on beam (9.35). Erin also won the gold medal in the all around with a score of 37.350! Erin’s all around score moved her up to division 1. Meghan Wellman competed in division 3 where she won the bronze medal on vault with a 9.0. Meghan’s all around score moved her up to division 2. Erin Volesky competed in division 5 where she won bronze on uneven bars (8.40).

Kayla Spillman competed in level 6, division 6. She won gold medals on balance beam (9.2) and on vault (8.885) and a bronze medal in the all around. Kayla’s all around score moved her up to division 4.

TAAF Girls Are On a Roll

TAAF Winter Games:

EWA TAAF level 5 girls’ team began its meet season on January 15, 2011 with the TAAF Winter Games at ASI Gymnastics. Gabby Smith competed in division 3 earning gold medals on vault (9.0) and floor exercise (9.4) and a silver medal on uneven bars (9.3). Gabby took silver in the All Around with a score of 35.750 and moved up to division 2. Erin Palmer competed in division 4 and won the bronze on balance beam (8.9). Her all around score of 34.725 earned her 4^th place in the AA and moved her up to division 2. Meghan Wellman competed in division 6 and earned the gold on balance beam with a score of 8.775. Meghan placed 6^th in the all around with a score of 32.525 moving her up to division 4. Erin Volesky also competed and earned an all around score that moved her up to division 5.

Metroplex Challenge:

EWA TAAF level 5 girls’ team competed in the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas on January 29, 2011. Gabby Smith competed in division 2 and won gold medals on vault (9.00), uneven bars (9.450) and in the all around with a score of 36.750. Gabby also won silver on floor (9.350). Gabby’s all around score moved her up once again to division 1. Meghan Wellman also brought home 3 gold metals in division 4 with wins on the beam (9.250) and floor (8.5) as well as in the all around (33.750). Meghan’s all around score moved her up to division 3. Also competing at Metroplex Challenge were Erin Palmer (division 2) and Erin Volesky (division 5).

EWA TAAF team is coached by Bob Martichuski.

Solid Season So Far!

The Eagle’s Wings Athletics Men’s Gymnastics Team has been having a solid season so far!! Currently they are in the middle of their season. Here are a few of the stats and information: The Level 6s won the 1st place team award at the Lone Star Invitational! The Level 8s received 2nd at the Star Center Invitational, and the Level 9s received 4th there. The Level 8s received 4th at the Ricky Deci Meet. The Level 9s and the Level 10s each received 3rd place at the GymMasters Invitational. The Level 8 boys won the 1st place team trophy at the Kansas City Classic in Missouri! The Level 9 & 10s had a meet - The BlackJack National Invitational - in Las Vegas. This meet is held in conjunction with the Elite Qualifier known as the Men’s Winter Cup Challenge that has several Olympic and World Team Members present during the competition! The Level 4 & 5 boys have been doing great having received several individual and all-around awards as well! The EWA Men’s Team just finished hosting its annual Friendship Invitation here at EWA (Allen location) - Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 12th-13th, and it was AMAZING! The Level 6s received 2nd place team, the Level 8s also received 2nd place, and the Level 9s & 10s combined received the first place team award!! We had incredible performances, scores, and the boys, parents, coaches, judges, and the entire crowd really got into the spirit of the meet! We hope you were able to come watch our great Level 4-10s and cheer them on!! It was really exciting!! Go to EWAGYM.com to see more detailed results and information about the men’s team.

Green Team Soars at Magical Classic

Eagle’s Wings Athletics USAG Green Team competed in their first International Gymnastics Meet in Orlando, Florida, February 11th, 2011.

Emma Harrelson, level 4, placed on every event, including a bronze medal on floor, to take 7th AA in the Jr A age division with a 36.75.

Level 5’s dominated the competition and finished first as a team against 14 other teams. In age group 2, Maleah Ross swept all events and the all around finishing with a super impressive 38.05 including 9.45 vault, 9.35 uneven bars, 9.65 balance beam, and 9.6 floor exercise. In group 3, Catherine Constantini won bars 9.225 and beam 9.725 on her way to an all around win. In group 4, Allison Moring completed the sweep winning bars 9.5, floor 9.7, and first place in the all around. Allison also placed second on beam with a 9.45.

Jenna Wicker, Level 7, placed 2nd on vault, 4th on balance beam and 9th place all around.

The girls enjoyed meeting gymnasts from other countries and are very proud of their performances. They thought traveling to Orlando, site seeing, and competing in an international meet was “so cool and super awesome”! Good job girls and keep up the hard work!

Level 4 Girls Are On Fire

At the Metroplex Challenge, Eagle’s Wings girls took the top eight places in all around. Lucey Hilley had the top score of 38.00. 2nd was Allie Bianchi with a 37.9, 3rd was Alyssa Alvarez with a 37.425. Lucey also had the top scores on Vault, 9.9, Bars 9.575, and Floor, 9.675. Allie had the top beam score of 9.45. Alyssa finished 3rd on bars, 9.475, and beam, 9.0, and 2nd on floor, 9.5. Priscilla Ramirez finished 2nd on vault with a 9.825 and fourth all around. Iris Moorehead scored a 9.425 on floor and finished 3rd. Alex Privat finished 3rd on vault and scored a 9.65. Brooke Bennett, Valerie Young, Jessica Mingee, Addie Hebert, Bria Shavers, and Keira Cushman also competed and contributed to the teams first place finish!

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