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.”

EWA Gymnasts Compete at Nationals

EWA GYMNASTS COMPETE AT NATIONALS

Two Level 10 gymnasts from Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA) competed at National competitions in Dallas the weekend of May 8 - 10. USA Gymnastics (USAG) sponsored the Junior Olympic (JO) National Championships and the National Invitational Tournament at the Dallas Convention Center. The meet was attended by dozens of collegiate recruiters looking at the some of the best talent in the country.

Casey Dreyer, a freshman from Plano, was one of 56 athletes competing in the Junior C division at JO Nationals. She tied for eighth place on balance beam (9.525) and 13^th place all-around (37.725). She earned 9.575 on vault, 9.425 on floor exercise and 9.2 on uneven parallel bars to round out the individual events. Her coaches, Alex Atamas and Helen Verucchi, were pleased with her performance.

USAG also sponsors the Junior Olympic National Invitational (JO-NIT), a competition held to allow an additional 192 athletes the opportunity to compete nationally and be seen by NCAA coaches. Less than one-third of the 1500 Level 10 gymnasts that compete at State competitions are seen at Nationals. USAG developed the JO-NIT so that coaches already in attendance for JO Nationals can see and evaluate more athletes for recruiting purposes.

Allen High School sophomore Makenzie Johnson competed in the Junior D division at the JO-NIT. She tied for silver on vault with a score of 9.375. She earned fifth place on uneven bars (9.025), tied for eighth on balance beam (9.05) and took seventh all-around (36.25).

Congrats!!

Congratulations to Casey Dreyer-3rd AA at the Regional level 10 in NM -JO National Championships qualifier! And Makenzie Johnson- NIT qualifier! Way to go girls!!!!

Women’s Regionals

WOMEN’S REGIONALS

The USAG women’s Level 9 & 10 Regional Championships were held the same weekend in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Level 10 Casey Dreyer competed in the Junior C division, taking bronze all-around (37.725) out of 14 competitors. She earned fourth place on balance beam (9.55), fifth on floor exercise (9.55), sixth on uneven parallel bars (9.225) and seventh on vault (9.4). As one of the top 7 all-around finishers in her age group, she qualified to the Level 10 Junior Olympic National Championships to be held in Dallas.

Makenzie Johnson, also Level 10, competed in the Junior D division. Competing against 24 other gymnasts, Johnson placed sixth on bars (9.3), eighth on vault (9.275), and ninth on floor (9.4) to earn tenth place all-around (36.85). She will compete at the National Invitational Tournament, held in conjunction with Junior Olympic Nationals next month.

EWA Gymnast is State Champion

EWA GYMNAST IS STATE CHAMPION

Casey Dreyer got a surprise several days after competing in the USA Gymnastics (USAG) Level 10 State Championships held at TWU in Denton March 20.

According to a chart posted online by Texas USAG, the Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA) gymnast was assigned to and competed in the Jr. B session, earning second place all-around. However, due to an error by Texas USAG, Dreyer competed in the wrong age group. The error was not made public until results from the meet were posted online a few days later.

When her scores were put with those of her age group, she learned that she had tied for the honor of Level 10 Jr. C balance beam state champion. She also placed fourth all-around (37.525) after tying for fourth place on vault (9.45), and earning 9.525 (7^th) on floor exercise and 8.925 (9^th) on uneven parallel bars.

Makenzie Johnson also competed, tying for fourth place all-around (37.375) in the Sr. A division. She earned 9.4 on floor (6^th), 9.35 on bars (6^th) and beam (9^th), and 9.275 on vault (8^th). Both girls qualified to advance to the Region 3 Championships to be held in New Mexico in April.

They are coached at EWA by Helen Verucchi and Head Coach Alex Atamas.

Women Compete at Natia Comaneci Invite

WOMEN COMPETE AT NADIA COMANECI INVITE

The Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy hosted the annual Nadia Comaneci Invitational in Oklahoma City, where two EWA gymnasts received the Spirit Award. Makenzie Johnson and Isabella Gordillo received custom Nadia Comaneci Invitational watches, from Comaneci herself, for their outstanding performances on floor exercise.

Level 10 Johnson also won first place on vault with a score of 9.475, and third on floor (9.45) and uneven parallel bars (8.8) to win silver all-around (36.375) in the age 15 division. Casey Dreyer was the floor exercise champion in the age 13-14 group, winning that event with a score of 9.45. She also took second place on vault (9.05).

Natalie May won silver on both floor (9.6) and bars (9.075), and bronze on vault (9.3) to earn second place all-around (36.55) in the Level 7, 12 and over division. Gordillo took second on floor (9.55) and third on vault (9.3) in the 11-year old group, while Sierra Thain took silver on bars (9.175) in the age 9-10 division.

Level 4 gymnast Abbie Haigwood was the vault champion with a score of 9.5. Abigail Johnston won floor exercise (9.3) and took third place on vault (9.375) and balance beam (8.7). Both girls competed in the age 6-7 division.

USAG Girls at WOGA Classic

USAG GIRLS AT WOGA CLASSIC

Sabrina Schwab, a Level 10 gymnast competing in the ages 8 – 13 group, won four gold medals at the WOGA Classic held in Frisco February 12-14. Schwab’s wins came on floor exercise (9.35), vault (9.15), uneven parallel bars (9.175) and all-around (36.025).

Level 10 Makenzie Johnson, competing in the age 14-15 group, tied for first place all-around with a score of 36.65. She also took third place on vault (9.25). Casey Dreyer earned bronze on floor exercise (9.3).

The Level 10 team took home the third place team award.

On the Level 7 team, Natalie May competed in the age 13 and over group and was the balance beam champion (9.475), along with taking second on vault (9.4) and third on floor (9.375) to earn second place all-around (37.3). In the age 11-12 group, Isabella Gordillo was the vault champion (9.6). Sierra Thain took silver on balance beam (9.4) in the age 7-10 division.

The Level 4 team also competed. In the 6 to 7 year-old division, Abbie Haigwood was the floor exercise champion (9.6), and tied for second on vault (9.75) with teammate Abigail Johnston. Haigwood also took third on beam (9.4) and all-around (37.95). Madelyn Johnson earned bronze on floor exercise (9.5). In the eight year-old group, Kynsey Hennen took third place on balance beam with a score of 9.2. The Level 4 team won third place in the team awards.

Four girls competed Level 4 Achievement, earning colored ribbons for scores in a certain range. Earning blue ribbons on vault for scores of 9.0 and above was Alysia Burwinkel and Jillian Goodrich (9.65), and Grace Felton (9.05). Red ribbons for 8.0-8.9 scores were given to Burwinkel on balance beam and floor, Felton on beam and floor, and Keira Cushman on vault.

USAG Women at State Qualifier

USAG WOMEN AT STATE QUALIFIER

EWA’s women’s team competed at the State qualifying meet held at Texas Women’s University in Denton February 5-7. Level 10 Makenzie Johnson was the Senior A all-around champion with a score of 37.325. She also won gold on vault (9.475) and floor exercise (9.4), silver on balance beam (9.575), and bronze on uneven parallel bars.

Casey Dreyer, also Level 10, placed second all-around (36.6) in the Junior B division, having earned second on vault (9.25) and bars (8.925), and third on floor.

Competing Level 7 in the Junior B division, Isabella Gordillo was the all-around champion (38.35) and also won bars with a score of 9.65. She took silver on vault (9.625) and floor (9.6), and bronze on balance beam (9.475).

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