NASA GYMNASTS SHINE IN FIRST USA COMPETITION!

Five of NASA's newest competitors made a big splash in their first ever USA Gymnastics competition on Oct 3, 2009.

Roach Gymnastics of Sumner hosted the Monster Mash Halloween gym competition for 37 level 4 gymnasts from Five clubs in SW Washington. NASA Gymnastics entered five young gymnasts who have been training with the team for nearly one year to prepare for competition. When the results were announced the team from Gig Harbor was pleased with their efforts and with the outcome. In their first meet in the US the level 4 Team from NASA won the 1st place Team trophy. In addition to placing First in the team competition NASA Gymnasts ranked 1st through 5th in the All Around competition. Leading the team from Gig Harbor was 8 year old Kaeli Cunningham who placed 1st on the Vault,  and Bars and tied for 1st on Beam and placed 2nd on Floor Exercise. A masterful performance that was created by major strength and flexibility work and attention to detail for nearly 12 months of training with the team. Cunningham's team mate Madeline Pickett tied for 1st on the Beam and placed 3rd in the All Around and Amelia Wright won the Floor Exercise and placed 5th in the All Around. Emma Cantus finished 2nd in the All Around and 2nd on Bars while sister Clare Cantus placed 2nd on Vault and 5th All Around out of 37 gymnasts ages 7 to 13. Quite and accomplishment for the team from NASA. Next up for the "Fab Five" will be Oct 17 Yelm Gymnastics Invitational.

NASA GYMNASTS QUALIFY TO PACIFIC NW CHAMPIONSHIPS!

We are so proud of our two level 9 gymnasts Madison Rich and Brittany Chen, for many reasons. First and foremost, both of them suffered through periods of major illness in recent weeks, like many others. Despite the challenges, they were able to regain adequate strength to perform well enough, to qualify to the Junior Olympic Pacific NW Championship.

Chen and Rich competed on Friday March 27th at Seattle Pacific University, in the Washington State Junior Olympic Gymnastic State Championships and Madison Placed 5th on Bars and 5th in the All Around with a 36.125 and Brittany with a 35.225.

 The Pacific NW Region is comprised of 6 states called REGION 2. It includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii. Gymnasts representing these 6 states will compete in White Fish, Montana, near Kalispell, April 15-19. Washington and Oregon have the largest number of level 8, 9 and 10 gymnasts in the Region. The regional championship meet moves from state to state each year and Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon may be likely venues in the next few years. Should our level 9 gymnasts perform well at regionals and hit their routines, the way they do in practice, they have a chance to compete in the level 9 Western USA Championships in Tulsa, OK.

On Sunday March 29th at Seattle Pacific University- Alexandra Pugmire and Megan Atkinson hit all 4 of their events and they both qualified to the Region 2 Junior Olympic Gymnastics Championships April 15-19 in White Fish Montana. They will join their level 9 team mates with the goal of standing on the podium on their favorite events and possibly in the All Around.

Blessings to each of you who competed and those who read this. We as coaches and athletes give God the Glory for the success of these four talented young ladies.

NASA Gymnasts Rise to the Occasion in first major meet of 2009! January

At the invitation of Kokokahi Gymnastics Club in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii, the oldest Junior Olympic Gymnastics Club in the Hawaiian Islands, NASA Gymnastics of Gig Harbor, WA USA sent six gymnasts to compete in the 33rd annual Aloha Gymfest.

The USA Gymnastics sanctioned event included teams from Australia, Japan, Canada and numerous teams from Hawaii, with several teams from the west coast of the US.

The competition included 5 sessions of competition over two days, which allowed more than 200 gymnasts from throughout the Pacific to meet, engage in conversations and appreciate the work being done in other countries and in the sport to which they are dedicated.

Competing for NASA in the level 9 USA Gymnastics Jr division (2 steps below Olympic level) were, Lauren Schmeiss, Madison Rich, Brittany Chen and Alexandra Pugmire. All four had competed in prior Aloha Gymfests, and enjoyed various degrees of success in the event. PLC Sydney, one of the strongest teams from Australia, had sent along a large contingent of more than thirty talented athletes and would shine at every level. Also bringing an excellent team of athletes was Yamanashi from Japan, who were competing in their 5th consecutive Aloha Gymfest.

The team from Gig Harbor began the competition on Uneven Bars, where they were led by the tiniest of gymnasts, Lauren Schmeiss. Schmeiss enjoyed a strong routine with handstands and release moves from one bar to the other and produced a dismount with a near perfect landing which earned her the Gold medal on the bars. Team mate Madison Rich performed nearly as well and took the Bronze while Chen placed fourth. On the Balance beam Schmeiss hit again and the medals came down to .05 with a tie for the gold with Yamanashi of Japan and Niheu of Kokokahi for first and Schmeiss with the Bronze. In the Floor Exercise, NASA gymnasts earned Gold and Silver medals with Schmeiss winning her second event with a score of 9.35 (the 2nd highest score of any event championship) and Rich winning the silver. Chen finished in 5th on Floor. In the Vault competition Wang from Australia won the gold with a 9.475 with Schmeiss winning her second Silver medal of the day and Chen winning a bronze medal. In the All Around competition NASA's Lauren Schmeiss won the overall GOLD Medal as the Aloha Gymfest All Around Champion with a score of 36.45 and she was followed in 2nd by Sato of Yamanashi of Japan with a 35.40 and Rich from NASA in 3rd with a 34.975 and Chen in 4th with a 34.85. Pugmire finished 9th in the all around with a 6th on Bars and 7th on Floor.

In the level 5 Senior division NASA's Daniela Burrill earned a Gold Medal on Balance Beam, a silver medal on Floor and a Bronze medal in the All Around finishing behind two Aussie gymnasts Ward from Buritz Gymnastics and Pithers from PLC Sydney.

In level 5 Junior competition, NASA's Madeline Rennie earned a bronze medal on the beam with a score of 9.30 and 7th All Around finish.  

NASA Gymnasts perform even in challenging weather! Dec 20, 2008

Several members of NASA's optional team competed in the Kay Canedy Judges Open Invitational in Tukwilla, WA today. The team had confidence and performed many new skills for the first time in competition. Madison Rich was the picture of consistency on Balance Beam while Lauren Schmeiss tumbled with strength and confidence on Floor and rocked her new Bar Routine. Brittany Chen nailed two nice Pike Tsukahara's and Megan Atkinson unveiled her new bar dismount combination which included a gorgeous clear hip handstand, back giant and sky high layout flyaway with a full twist. Each of the gals worked hard and their effort was recognized by the judges. Great job NASA Gymnasts!

NASA Gymnasts win at 2008 USAG Washington State Championships!
Competing in the 2008 USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Washington State championship, is an
annual event for the gymnasts from the North American Sports Academy in Gig  Harbor. Since 1982, youngsters trained by the coaches of NASA Gymnastics, have been earning recognition in the Junior Olympics and many have won individual titles and All Around titles. This year’s team of NASA gymnasts continued the winning tradition.
 
4 youngsters, who train with, and compete for NASA Gymnastics Gig Harbor,  represented the community with terrific results, on Dec. 6^th at Newport High in Bellevue.

Leading the way for NASA Gymnastic s, was 10 year old, Chloe Dullum, competing in the children’s  age group of the level 6 division. Dullum started her competition out on Balance Beam, and turned in the finest routine of the year, which earned the highest score of her season a 9.40, that score ultimately  won her the State Championship Balance Beam title. She continued onto Floor Exercise and tumbled her way to 9.25, good for a Silver medal on Floor and she performed well enough on Vault and Bars  to earn the overall  and highly coveted, Level 6 All Around State Championship  title.

Competing with all that she had throughout the level 6 state meet was Dullum’s team mate and close friend Nicole Lazar. “Nicole and Chloe are training partners and work with each other on every event, everyday”. Said NASA beam and floor coach, Linda Smith. “They challenge each other to improve on their strength and flexibility and really work well together.” Smith said.  When Lazar took to the Beam she knew that consistency was the key and she turned in one of her finest performances of the year. Her score was a 9.30 a season high mark which put her into First place on the event. Moments later, Dullum mounted the beam and 90 seconds later, after another terrific routine  the score flashed 9.40 and Lazar knew that the Beam championship would not be hers. The next event was Floor Exercise and Lazar performed with outstanding execution of leaps and jumps and precise technique on turns and tumbling skills, which earned her a 9.275. The high score earned Nicole Lazar her own Gold medal at the State Championships and eventually the All Around Champion Runner-up Silver Medal. “It was so rewarding to see this two gal’s support each other, with sincere enthusiasm, while battling for Gold medals on Beam and Floor and ultimately in the All Around.” Said coach Linda Smith

In the level 5 division of the Junior Olympic State Championship, Madeline Rennie and Taylor Frazier turned in solid routines on 3 out of 4 events which earned them a tie for the 11^th place in the All Around competitions. Rennies’ highlights included a marvelous routine on the Beam which earned her a silver medal as the state champion runner up, and she also hit a beautiful bar routine which earned her a 9.10. Frazier had her top performances on Bars and Floor where she scored a 9.275 just out of the medals in 4^th and a 9.05 good for 5^th place. Rennie and Frazier are training partners at NASA, and were Washington state champions in the level 4 division, in 2007.

All four gymnasts along with their 13 team mates at NASA Gymnastics, continue to improve each week and look forward to a successful winter and spring season of competition in Washington, Idaho, Hawaii and British Columbia.

NASA Gymnastics continues a 27 year tradition of providing summer training from June 30-August 14 2008

NASA Gymnastics will continue to provide quality  training throughout the summer and gymnasts enrolled will make remarkable progress without the pressures of school, homework and other sport obligations, Summer is a great time to learn new skills and make progress toward a new level.
PLEASE stop by the gym Monday through Friday between 9:30 and 1:30 to observe training and register for summer classes. Sign up this week and receive one free class to use during the summer of 2008.

NASA NEWS will also include upcoming television schedules which include gymnastics programming.

NASA Gymnastics wishes to congratulate Shaun Johnson from Iowa, Nastia Lyukin from Texas and Chelsie Memmell from Michigan for their amazing efforts at the US Olympic Trials. They are without a doubt three of the fiinest gymnasts in the world and will represent the US in the upcoming Beijing Olympics. 

NASA Level 9 gymnasts Madison, Lauren and Brittany traveled to Funtastics Gym in Idaho to take part in the High Performance Training Camp. The 13, 11 and 12 year olds worked on Double Backs on Bars and Floor while spending time on their flight series on Balance Beam and new Vaults. The coaching staff included Coach Peter from Hill's Gymnastics in Maryland, Coach George from Edmonton, Alberta Canada, Coach Cliff from Los Angelos, Coach Rick from Alberta who is the founder of "gymnasticscoaching.com, Coach Morgan, Coach Kelly and Coach JayCee from Mismo, in Montana, coach Suzie from the Bay Area, Coach Lexi and Coach Janelle from Bend, Coach Jeremy and Coach Sheena from Calgary, Coach Toshi and Coach Yves from Calgary, and the entire coaching staff from Funtastics led by Coach Dave and Coach Lisa.

The optional camp which ran from July 23-27 was a big success with much training provided, new skills learned and huge fun experienced on everyday.

New skills learned by campers included full in's on floor and off the rings, Tumbling of triple full, 2 1/2 twists, double fulls, 1 1/2 twists and many double backs with a few double fronts and front double fulls into the pit. On bars numerous gymnasts performed overshoot handstand and lots of improved toe shoot to catch high bar. Many blind changes were learned and some improved double flyaways. Beam highlights included a flip flop, layout, flip flop combination, and many new leaps, salto's and turns.

Some of the camp experience highlights included a huge camp bon fire with Pizza and "smores" for everyone on the last night. All of the campers went to Silverwood Park and spent hours on the roller coasters, in the swim park, and generally having a ball with their new found gym camp friends. The campers had a wonderful time swimming in a local lake, and enjoying a balloon toss competition and rock jumping experience into the Lake. This year one of the boys from Funtastics attempted a triple front off the 18 foot rock into the Lake. Thought to be a camp record by all who witnessed the effort, the Czech judges indicated a minor degree of under rotation and could not totally validate the record. Still a fine effort by Layton from CDA Idaho.

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2 QUALIFY TO WESTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN O.K.
Madison Rich and Brittany Chen who compete for NASA Gymnastics earned a position on the USA Gymnastics Region 2 team which will compete in the Western US Championships May 7-10 in Bartlesville Oklahoma. Each gymnast placed as a top 6 All Around performer in their age group, which earned them a spot on the PNW Team. Rich finished 2nd in the All Around and 2nd on Beam in the Junior 5 division and Chen finished 2nd on Vault and 5th in the All Around in the Junior 4 division.
Both gymnasts continue to improve as they prepare for a fun yet stressful competition in Oklahoma. The Peninsula gateway, Gig Harbor's local newspaper included a very nice article by Marques Hunter on April 29. Please click on the link to enjoy his coverage and perspective on the upcoming event.
http://www.gateline.com/105/story/4094.html?

 
NASA GYMNASTS SHINE AT PACIFIC NW MEET!4/17-19

Competing with the top athletes in their age groups representing the PNW Six states was challenging,  and rewarding, for the team from Gig Harbor.
Madison Rich was blessed to finish 2nd in the level 9 All Around competition earning Silver Medals on the Balance Beam and All Around. She did finish in the top 5 on Bars and Vault as well. Rich is thrilled to have qualified to compete in her first national level competition May 7-10 in O.K. ( article above)
Brittany Chen, age 13, earned her own silver Medal on the Vault as the champion runner up and finished 5th in the All Around, earning herself a trip to the Western US Championships with  Rich.
Alexandra Pugmire, earned a silver medal in the Junior A Division of Level 8 balance beam with an outstanding performance and score finishing with a 9.75 and a 38.075 which placed her 9th AA.
Megan Atkinson, one of the youngest competitors in the Regional Championship was faced with one of the toughest challenges an athlete can deal with, the day before a competition. 6 hours of  severe Naseua and lower intestinal disorder took it's toll on the outstanding bar worker. The illness could not prevent her from competing. Atkinson hit her routines on all 4 events and performed what was considered by her coach, as the best Floor and Beam routines she had ever produced in competition. Despite the draining effects of the illness, she received her highest optional scores on Beam and Floor and her Bar Routine was outstanding until a short hop and 2 steps on her dismount took her out of the medals. "Superior effort and amazing spirit was displayed by this eleven year old, future champion! Megan's future is really bright." said coach John Smith.