Ahsinger/Johnson, Gluckstein/Shostak win senior synchro titles at USA Gymnastics Championships

MILWAUKEE, June 27, 2017 – Synchronized trampoline kicked-off the senior elite competition at the 2017 USA Gymnastics Championships today inside Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center. Nicole Ahsinger of Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, and Clare Johnson of Huntsville, Ala./ Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, took top honors for women’s synchronized trampoline. Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy, and Aliaksei Shostak of Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express claimed the men’s senior synchronized trampoline title. Scheduled for June 27-July 2 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center and Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, the six-day competition is the national championships for acrobatic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline and tumbling, and it features competition on both Junior Olympic and elite levels. Most of the junior and senior elite competition takes place June 29-July 1, at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Junior Olympic sessions run all six days at the Wisconsin Center in addition to several elite sessions

For senior women, Ahsinger and Johnson scored 79.100 to clinch the title. Susan Stringfellow of Frisco, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy, and Sarah Webster of Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, earned a 71.200 for second. Hally Piontek of Warrensburg, Mo./Kansas City Trampoline Club, and Jessica Stevens of Ellicott City, Md./Fairland Gymnastics, posted 63.500 to round out the medals podium.

Gluckstein and Shostak tallied 87.700 to earn the duo the men’s synchro title. Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, and Cody Gesuelli of Schererville, Ind./World Elite Gymnastics, won the silver, 86.200, with Paul Bretscher of Huntsville, Ala./Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, and Isaac Rowley of Allen, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy, finishing third, scoring 75.500

The junior elite synchro champions were: women – Maia Amano and Kayttie Nakamura, both of Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Trampoline and Tumbling; and men – Haydn Fitzgerald and Garrett George, both of Seattle, Wash./Seattle Gymnastics-Ballard.

On Thursday at 4 p.m., the 2017 USA Gymnastics Championships Kick-Off Celebration, held outside the BMO Harris Bradley Center at Fourth Street and State Street, is a fun gathering for athletes, families and fans alike leading into the senior elite acrobatic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline competition. From face painting, games, local mascots, live music and food, there is something for everyone. Several U.S. Olympians will also be on hand for the celebration.

For the junior and senior elite levels for each discipline, the athletes are vying for national titles. Performances in Milwaukee will also determine berths on the junior and senior U.S. National Teams for acrobatic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline and tumbling. In rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling, the competition will be part of the selection process for the 2017 World Championships. For acrobatic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling, the USA Gymnastics Championships are part of the selection process for the U.S. teams that will compete at the 2017 World Games, the equivalent of the Olympic Games for sports and events not included in the Olympics. 2016 Olympian Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, has already been named the U.S.’s World Games representative in rhythmic gymnastics.

The Junior Olympic division has several different levels, and national titles will be awarded for each level and age group for each discipline.

On sale now, evening session tickets at the BMO Harris Bradley Center are: $35, June 29-30; and $40, July 1. The all-session pass, which grants access to all sessions at both venues, is $95. Tickets may be purchased at the BMO Harris Bradley Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. For the events at the Wisconsin Center, a $35, single-day pass will be available onsite on competition days, and on June 26-27, the all-day pass also includes access to the afternoon sessions at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. For more information on the USA Gymnastics Championships, please go to usagymchamps.com.

USA Gymnastics will provide live webcast coverage of three evening sessions from Milwaukee. The webcasts of the senior elite competition will be available via USAGymChamps.com/live Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. CT.

VISIT Milwaukee is working in conjunction with USA Gymnastics on the championships. This is the event’s first trip to Milwaukee, which hosted the 2003 U.S. Championships for men’s and women’s gymnastics.

The competition schedule is outlined below. For a complete schedule, please visit USAGymChamps.com/schedule.

Wednesday, June 28

    Wisconsin Center
    9 a.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, Level 7; Rhythmic gymnastics, Level 7
    1:30 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, Level 8; Rhythmic gymnastics, Levels 7-8
    6 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, Levels 9 – 10; Rhythmic gymnastics, Level 8; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, Levels 9-10

Thursday, June 29

    BMO Harris Bradley Center
    1:30 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics, junior and senior elite all-around preliminaries and event finals
    6 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, junior and senior elite preliminaries; Rhythmic gymnastics, senior elite all-around preliminaries and event finals; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, senior elite preliminaries

    Wisconsin Center
    9 a.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, Level 7; Rhythmic gymnastics, Level 9; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, Levels 9-10
    1:30 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, junior elite; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, junior elite/youth elite/open elite

Friday, June 30

    BMO Harris Bradley Center
    1:30 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics, junior all-around and event finals, senior elite all-around preliminaries and event finals
    6 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, junior and senior elite preliminaries; Rhythmic gymnastics, senior elite all-around preliminaries and event finals; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, senior elite preliminaries

    Wisconsin Center
    9 a.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, Level 6; Rhythmic gymnastics, Level 9; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, Levels 9-10
    1:30 p.m. Acrobatic gymnastics, junior elite; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, youth elite/junior elite/open elite

Saturday, July 1

    BMO Harris Bradley Center
    1:30 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics, senior elite all-around finals
    6 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, junior and senior elite finals; Rhythmic gymnastics, senior elite all-around finals; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, senior elite finals

    Wisconsin Center
    9 a.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, Level 6; Rhythmic gymnastics, Level 9; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, Level 8
    1:30 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, junior elite; Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, Level 8

Sunday, July 2

    Wisconsin Center
    9 a.m. – Trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline, Level 8

Background information

  • Visit Milwaukee. Celebrating 50 years in 2017, VISIT Milwaukee is the Greater Milwaukee area’s convention & visitors bureau, marketing the destination as a top choice for business, convention, and leisure travel to national and international visitors to increase the economic impact of tourism in the region.
  • BMO Harris Bradley Center. Starting its 30th and final season this July, the BMO Harris Bradley Center is the downtown live entertainment destination that turns moments into memories. Home to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball team, the Center offers family fun, concerts, sports and special events for fans of all ages. Upcoming events include Roger Waters (July 29), Janet Jackson (Oct. 22), Marvel Universe Live! (Nov. 24-26), Katy Perry (Dec. 4), 2CELLOS (Jan. 24, 2018), and Lorde (Mar. 1, 2018). Learn more on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or at www.bmoharrisbradleycenter.com.
  • Wisconsin Center. The Wisconsin Center, located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, opened in 1998 as the Midwest Express Center. Designed for both sensory delight and efficiency, the Wisconsin Center is home to the $1.2 million Burke Family Collection of commissioned and integrated art. Opened in 1998 and completed by the end of 1999, the Wisconsin Center has 188,695 square feet of contiguous, state-of-the-art exhibit space and a 37,506 square-foot ballroom with capacity for 3,150 diners and ample utilities for corporate theater. An additional 39,364 square feet of meeting space can be partitioned into as many as 28 meeting and breakout rooms equipped for satellite links, video teleconferencing, data transmission and other telecommunications and audio-visual technology. The 2,500-4,100 seat Milwaukee Theatre – formerly the Milwaukee Auditorium – provides assembly space or entertainment right across the street. Skywalks to the Hilton and Hyatt hotels link some 1,500 rooms to the Wisconsin Center.
  • USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to www.usagym.org.