Griskenas, Zeng win U.S. rhythmic event titles at 2017 USA Gymnastics Championships

MILWAUKEE, June 30, 2017 – Evita Griskenas of Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, and 2016 Olympian Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, won the U.S. ribbon and clubs titles, respectively, tonight at the USA Gymnastics Championships at Milwaukee’s BMO Harris Bradley Center. Senior elite competition wraps up tomorrow with the finals for the rhythmic gymnastics all-around, men’s and women’s trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics at 6 p.m.

For clubs, Zeng won the title with her 18.084. Lili Mizuno of Brentwood, Calif./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, claimed the silver with her 16.584 and Griskenas rounded out the podium with a 16.367.

Griskenas brought home the ribbon gold with a 16.267, which put her ahead of Zeng at 15.634 and Camilla Feeley of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center (15.434).

Heading into the all-around finals, Zeng, the two-defending U.S. all-around champion, leads the field with her score of 68.552, followed by Griskenas at 67.734 and Feeley at 65.936.

In the junior rhythmic competition, Elizabeth Kapitonova of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, tallied a 58.902 to clinch the all-around crown. Lily Avila of Highland Park, Ill./Vitrychenko Academy, posted a final score of 55.751 to earn the silver medal. The bronze medal went to Lennox Hopkins of Wilkins, Wash./Evergreen Rhythmics, who finished with a 55.301. Kapitonova picked up two additional gold medals winning the hoop (15.550) and ribbon (14.584) titles. Matylda Marszalek of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, was the ball (14.550) and clubs (15.350) champion.

In the women’s trampoline preliminary round, 2016 Olympian Nicole Ahsinger of Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, topped the standings with her 100.275. 2015 U.S. trampoline champion Clare Johnson of Huntsville, Ala./Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, and Hally Piontek of Warrensburg, Mo./Kansas City Trampoline Club, were second (97.045) and third (97.010), respectively.

For men’s double mini-trampoline, Alex Renkert of Columbus, Ohio/Integrity Athletics, leads the field with his 75.500. Austin Nacey of Braidwood, Ill./TwistStars Tumbling and Trampoline, sits in second place with his prelim total of 72.800. Matthew Hawkins of Phoenix, Ariz./Aspire Kids Sports Center, rounds out the top three (72.100).

In women’s tumbling, Rachel Thevenot of Metairie, La./Elmwood Gymnastics Academy, accumulated 66.000 points and leads the standings after prelims. Breanne Millard of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, ranks second with 64.100, and Melissa Doucette of Somersworth, N.H./Roots Gymnastics Center, is third at 63.500.

In acrobatic gymnastics, pairs and groups performed either their dynamic or balance routines. Sitting atop those scores are: women’s group, dynamic – Elanor Chang, Calista Davis, Madison Freed, Laurel, Md./Emilias Acro Gymnastics and Cheer; women’s pair, balance – Emily Davis, Aubrey Rosilier, San Antonio, Texas/Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio; and mixed pair, balance – Axel Osborne and Tiffani Williams of Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy.

Friday’s Results

Rhythmic gymnastics (senior)

  • Top three senior rhythmic gymnasts, clubs final: 1. Laura Zeng, Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, 18.084; 2. Lili Mizuno, Brentwood Calif./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, 16.584; 3. Evita Griskenas, Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, 16.367
  • Top three senior rhythmic gymnasts, ribbon final: 1. Evita Griskenas, Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, 17.700; 2. Laura Zeng, Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, 15.634; 3. Camilla Feeley, Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, 15.434
  • Qualifiers to all-around finals: 1. Zeng; 2. Griskenas; 3. Feeley; 4. Nastasya Generalova, Los Angeles, Calif./California Rhythms; 5. Mizuno; 6. Ekatherina Kapitonova, Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora; 7. Serena Lu, Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora; 8. Brigita Budginas, Agoura Hills, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics; 9. Eliza Cohen, Los Angeles, Calif./California Rhythms; 10. Heather Chan, South Pasadena, Calif./Emerald City Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics; 11. Isabelle Connor, Manhattan Beach, Calif./ Los Angeles School of Gymnastics, 52.268; 12. Faith Bolden/ California Rhythms, Fresno, Texas, 51.884

Trampoline

  • Top three women’s qualification scores: 1, Nicole Ahsinger, Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, 100.275; 2. Clare Johnson, Huntsville, Ala./Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, 97.045; 3. Hally Piontek, Warrensburg, Mo./Kansas City Trampoline Club, 97.010
  • Qualifiers for finals (in placement order): 1. Ahsinger; 2. Johnson; 3. Piontek; 4. Jessica Stevens, Ellicott City, Md./Fairland Gymnastics; 5. Susan Stringfellow, Frisco, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy; 6. Shea Silhan, Lafayette, Texas/Trampoline and Tumbling Express; 7. Sarah Webster, Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express

Tumbling

  • Top three women’s qualification scores: 1. Rachel Thevenot, Metairie, La./Elmwood Gymnastics Academy, 66.000; 2. Breanne Millard, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, 64.100; 3. Melissa Doucette, Somersworth, N.H./Roots Gymnastics Center, 63.500
  • Qualifiers for finals (in placement order): 1. Rachel Thevenot, Metairie, La./Elmwood Gymnastics Academy, 66.000; 2. Breanne Millard, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, 64.100; 3. Melissa Doucette, Somersworth, N.H./Roots Gymnastics Center, 63.500; 4. Angel Rice, Locust Grove, Ga./FlipCity South, 61.500; 5. Hope Bravo, Dallas, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy, 58.200; 6. Eliza Floisand, Salt Lake City, Utah/Wasatch Trampoline & Tumbling, 54.900

Double mini-trampoline

  • Top three men’s qualification scores: 1. Alex Renkert, Columbus, Ohio/Integrity Athletics, 75.500; 2. Austin Nacey, Braidwood, Ill./TwistStars Tumbling and Trampoline, 72.800; 3. Matthew Hawkins, Phoenix, Ariz./Aspire Kids Sports Center, 72.100
  • Qualifiers for finals (in placement order): 1. Alex Renkert, Columbus, Ohio/Integrity Athletics, 75.500; 2. Austin Nacey, Braidwood, Ill./TwistStars Tumbling and Trampoline, 72.800; 3. Matthew Hawkins, Phoenix, Ariz./Aspire Kids Sports Center, 72.100; 4. Trey Katz, Charleston, Ill./ Kris Power Tumbling, 71.500; 5. CJ Rhoades, Joplin, Mo./ Amplify Gymnastic, 71.500; 6. Wolfgang Fanestiel, Hedgesville, W. Va./ Fairland Gymnastics, 68.500; 7. Malik DePasquale, Dayton, Nev./ Legacy Trampoline and Tumbling, 66.300; 8. Nicholas Melloni, Potomac Falls, Va./ Dulles Gymnastics Academy, 64.200

Top senior acrobatic gymnastics scores

  • Women’s group, through balance and dynamic: 1. Eleanor Chang/Calista Davis/Madison Freed, Laurel, Md./Emilias Acro, 54.380; 2. Sophie Gruszka/Morgan Sweeney/Amanda Waterson, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Training Academy, 52.050; 3. McKenzie Handy/Treva Neathery/Megan Nordike, Blue Springs, Mo./Acro Explosion, 51.790
  • Senior Women’s pair through balance and dynamic: 1., Emily Davis/Aubrey Rosilier, San Antonio, Texas/Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio, 55.970
  • Mixed pair, through balance and dynamic: 1. Aisley Boynton/Maxim Sedochenkoff, Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy 55.423; 2. Axel Osborne/Tiffani Williams, Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics 54.687

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

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

    • 1:30 p.m. – Acrobatic gymnastics, junior elite

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.

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.

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 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.