Successful State Championships

Congrats to all the athletes on a very successful State Championships this past weekend! The coaches are very proud of everyone!  The team had 11 gold medals, 14 silvers, and 11 bronze medals, and also won 6 teams awards… 2nd place for level 8 trampoline, level 10 trampoline, and level 7 double mini, 1st place for level 8 double mini and level 9 double mini, and 3rd place for level 7 tumbling. GO EWA!! State Championships is the first qualifier to Nationals for the Trampoline and tumbling team and they had many athletes qualify for a total of 35 events.
Level 10

17 & Over
Bryan Bashrum - 3rd Tumbling

15 & 16
Sydney Wendt - 2nd Tumbling
Kelsey Dock - 2nd Double-Mini & 3rd Trampoline
Brian Schmidt- 1st Double-Mini & 2nd Trampoline

11&12
Isaac Rowley - 1st Trampoline & Double-Mini

Level 9
15 & Over
Hannah Green - 2nd Double-Mini & 3rd Trampoline

11 &12
Wyatt Sharp - 1st Trampoline

Level 8
15 & Over
Brittany Stout - 2nd Tumbling

13 & 14
Charlotte Pearce - 3rd Trampoline

11 &12
Caeley Black - 2nd Double-Mini & 3rd Trampoline
Gabi D’annunzio - 1st Double-Mini & 2nd Trampoline
Cole Kirby - 2nd Trampoline & Double-Mini
Wyatt Sharp - 3rd Double-Mini

Level 7
13 &14
Macy Levine - 3rd Double-Mini

11 & 12
Caeley Black - 3rd Tumbling
Gabi Williams - 2nd Double-Mini
Tyler Dunning - 2nd Double-Mini & 3rd Trampoline

Level 6
13 & 14
Jeremy Darr - 1st Trampoline & 2nd Tumbling & Double-Mini

11 &12
Peter Kring - 2nd Double-Mini & 3rd Trampoline

Level 5
Tyler Dunning - 1st Tumbling
Grayson Ireland - 1st Trampoline & 3rd Double-Mini
Ashley Davis - 1st Double-Mini

Level 4
9 & 10
Ashley Davis - 1st Tumbling
Tessa Stiener - 2nd Tumbling

Level 3-1
9 & 10
Marshall Stanton - 1st Tumbling
Grayson Ireland - 2nd Tumbling

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.

Once, Twice, Three Times a Champion

Shianne Orr of Eagle’s Wings Athletics in Allen earned the state championship title on two individual events and the all-around at the USA Gymnastics Level 6 Texas State Championships held Nov. 20-21 in Cedar Park.

Orr won the top spot in the all-around with a score of 38.175, having also taken gold on balance beam (9.825) and floor exercise (9.7). She placed fourth on uneven parallel bars (9.35) and tied for ninth on vault (9.3) out of the 20 competitors in the Jr. C2 age division.

Teammate Ashleigh Rose competed in the Jr. A1 division and took silver on vault with a score of 9.525. Rose also earned sixth place on balance beam (9.65) and floor exercise (9.575) to earn a total of 37.00 and tenth place all-around.

The girls are coached by Alex Atamas and Helen Verucchi at Eagle’s Wings Athletics.

The Results Are In!!

The level 6 USA gymnasts in Texas were gearing up for Halloween in more ways than one. In addition to shopping for costumes and carving pumpkins, these talented young girls have been training and preparing for one of their most exciting competitions of the season. On October, 30, 2010, approximately 150 level 6 gymnasts from district 1, 2 and 3 competed at North State in Metroplex Gymnastics located in Allen, Texas.

Two gymnasts representing the Eagle’s Wings USAG team were among those 150 level 6 gymnasts who competed. Ashleigh Rose and Shianne Orr, age 8 and 11, competed in Junior A1 division and Junior C2 division respectively. Shianne Orr captured the title of all-around champion in her division (38.275). She was also gold medalist in floor exercise (9.7), balanced beam (9.775) and uneven bars (9.55). Her score of 9.25 on Vault won her a silver medal. Ashleigh Rose had strong showings in two events. She was North State champion on floor exercise (9.775) and the silver medalist on vault (9.475). Her praise-worthy all around score of 37.25 placed her sixth place in Junior A1 division, one of the most competitive divisions at the entire competition.

Shianne Orr and Ashleigh Rose are on the USA gymnastics team at Eagles Wings, coached by Alex Atamas and Helena Verucchi.

Eagle’s Wings Owns Spotlight at Allen Classic

The performances of the Eagle’s Wings USAG gymnasts could not have been classier at the Allen Classic meet on September 18, 2010.

Winning 13 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 9 bronze medals, two level 6 gymnasts and seven level 4 gymnasts have lots to smile about after competing at Allen Classic hosted by Metroplex Gymnastics. This was just the second meet for these Eagle’s Wings gymnasts this season and their performances not only enchantingly highlight their talents but also strongly reflect their hard work and dedication.

Two level 6 gymnasts, Ashleigh Rose and Shianne Orr, competed at Junior A and Junior B division respectively. Ashleigh Rose, a third-grade Plano resident, captured the all-around gold medal with a score of 37.25, thanks to her gold-medal performances on floor exercise (9.65) and vault (9.55). She also placed third on balance beam (9.25) and on uneven bars (8.8). Shianne Orr, a relatively new Lucas resident from California, won the title of all-around champion (38.050) in the Junior B division. Shianne had strong showings on balance beam (9.75) and uneven bars (9.45) and placed first in these two events. Third place in vault (9.45) and floor exercise (9.4) also helped secure her all-around championship.

The level 4 team consists of 7 talented gymnasts, and they won the first place team award with ease. In the Junior A division, Abigail Haigwood, the all-around champion scoring 38.05, had great performances on vault (9.7) and balance beam (9.45), winning her gold medals in both events. Her floor exercise (9.6) and uneven bars (9.3) also won her second place medals. Her teammate, Abigail Johnston, placed second all around (37.4) and was the floor exercise champion (9.65). Abigail Johnston also placed second on vault (9.6), third on bars (9.15) and third on beam (9.0).

In the Junior B division, Madelyn Johnson was the all-around (38.25) and balance beam (9.65) gold medalist. In addition, she won second place on vault (9.75), third on bars (9.3) and floor exercise (9.55). Rounding out the gold medal winners, Alexandra Brownlee was Junior B vault champion (9.8) and a bronze medalist on balance beam (9.45). Jillian Goodrich, a silver medalist on uneven bars (9.4), Grace Felton and Kynsey Hennen also contributed to a successful first place team finish with outstanding performances.

“We are very proud of our gymnasts and are pleased with their performances. We are always looking for ways to perfect their techniques. There is still a lot to do and we will get on it right away when we return to practice on Monday,” coaches Alex Atamas and Helena Verucchi said with a smile. Alex Atamas and Helena Verucchi are the coaches for the USAG girl’s team at Eagle’s Wings Athletics

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).

EWA Winners at State Meets

EWA WINNERS AT STATE MEETS

Five first place team awards, and 37 national qualifiers on three events mean a very successful state championship for the trampoline and tumbling (T & T) team at Eagle’s Wings Athletics (EWA).

The state competition, held April 23-24 in Paris, Texas, awarded first place team to EWA for level 5 tumbling, levels 9 and 10 trampoline, and levels 7 and 9 double mini. Level 6 tumbling and level 7 trampoline teams earned third place as a team.

On individual events, in the age 15 and over division, Mary Rossi won gold for the Level 10 trampoline and in the Junior division on double mini. Level 9 Kelsey Dock took second place on trampoline, and third on double mini. On Level 7 tumbling and trampoline Sara Stewart earned second and third place respectively, and on level 8 double mini added another bronze medal.

The athletes ages 13 and 14 were in another group, where Sydney Wendt competed level 10 on tumbling and trampoline, and earned first and third respectively. Rebecca Clouthier earned fourth place on level 9 trampoline, while Charlotte Pearce placed second on Level 7 double mini. Brittany Stout earned fourth place on level 8 tumbling and double mini.

In the 11 and 12 year-old division, Caeley Black was the Level 7 trampoline champion. Gabi D’annunzio took bronze in Level 6 tumbling, and Macy Levine took third in Level 5 tumbling and fourth on level 7 double mini. On Level 7 trampoline, Veronica Prior earned fourth place.

EWA’s oldest female competitor, Melissa Courtad, competed Level 10, age 17 and over, on trampoline, where she earned a silver medal. The youngest, Gaby Williams, in the age 9-10 division, placed fourth in level 6 tumbling.

Three EWA boys competed in the age 9-10 division. Cole Kirby was the level 6 tumbling champion, and earned silver on level 7 trampoline and bronze on level 7 double mini. Tyler Dunning earned first place on level 6 trampoline and third in level 5 tumbling. Wyatt Sharp took silver in level 6 tumbling.

Isaac Rowley, in the 11-12 year-old division, was the champion on all three events – level 9 trampoline and double mini, and level 6 tumbling. Caden Kirby took silver on level 9 double mini and level 6 tumbling, and bronze on level 9 trampoline.

In the 15 and over group, Bryan Bashrum was the level 10 double mini champion, and took second on both level 9 trampoline and tumbling. Brian Schmidt earned a bronze medal for level 10 trampoline and placed fourth on level 9 double mini. Josh Williams was the Level 10 double mini champion in the 17 and over division.

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