EWA at Metroplex Challenge USAG Girls

EWA AT METROPLEX CHALLENGE

The Dallas Convention Center was busy the weekend of January 29-31, as it was the venue for gymnastics testing and competitions for teams from around the nation. Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA) had their two girls teams participate in the Metroplex Challenge.

EWA’s USA Gymnastics Women’s team, Levels 7 and 10, brought home 13 medals and a trophy. In the Junior B division in Level 7, Isabella Gordilllo brought home four medals, having been crowned all-around champion (37.15) and earning gold on floor exercise (9.675), and balance beam (9.4), and silver on uneven parallel bars (8.725). Teammate Natalie May, in the Senior A division, was the floor exercise champion (9.6), and took second on vault (9.5) and third all-around (36.35).

The Level 10 women’s team took second place in the team competition. Sabrina Schwab and Casey Dreyer competed in the younger division, where Schwab earned 9.4 for second place on balance beam, and Dreyer earned 9.35 for third. Schwab’s all-around score of 36.925 earned her a bronze medal.

Makenzie Johnson, in the older division, earned second on floor exercise (9.25), and third on bars (9.15) and all-around (36.725).

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

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.

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.

Makenzie Interview

Makenzie Johnson was interviewed on Gymnastike.org. Here’s the video! Go Mak!

Workout Wednesday

Gymastike.org came and videoed our girls working out.  Check out their ballet and beam work!

Interview on Gymnastike.org

Check out Coach Helen on Gymnastike.org!

Still to come on Gymnastike.org…..Interviews with Makenzie Johnson, Sabrina Schwab, and Jordan Stavrou, as well as Workout Wednesday…a look at the EWA Beam practice with Coach Helen! Stay tuned!

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