TULSA, Okla. (June 22, 2023) – National titles were awarded following the first day of elite competition at the 2023 USA Gymnastics Championships in Tulsa. Champions were determined in junior and senior divisions across the acrobatic, rhythmic and trampoline and tumbling disciplines.

Felix, McDougall lead acrobatic finals

The acrobatic senior men’s pair of Angel Felix (Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy) and Braiden McDougall (Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy) won their sixth career title in dynamic routine with a score of 29.630. Also taking gold in dynamic was senior mixed pair Cassidy Cu (Castro Valley, Calif./WestCoast Training Center) and Jaylen Ivey (San Jose, Calif./WestCoast Training Center) with a 26.110. The senior pair of Mo Arthur (Rolla, Mo./Mid America Acro Tumbling) and Ariana Katsov (Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer) won the women’s pair balance final with a 27.970, while the women’s group of Mariam Tutberidze (Owings Mills, Md.), Grace Vonder Haar (Laurel, Md.) and Kayla Vonder Haar (Laurel, Md.) from Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer collected balance gold with a 29.380.

The 13-19 women’s group from Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio of Hannah Davis, Ayla Vargas and Gabriella Vathy collected gold for their dynamic routine with a 27.900. The 13-19 mixed pair of Andrew Castro (Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy) and Hailee Wong (Colton, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy) also claimed dynamic gold with a 28.540. In balance finals, Ethan Chang (Columbia, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer) and David Vonder Haar (Laurel, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer) took the 13-19 men’s pair title with a 27.770, while Willow Noble (Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy) and Sydney Padios (Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy) took the 13-19 women’s crown with a 28.550.

Keys, Mizuno pace rhythmic all-around

In junior rhythmic competition, Rin Keys (San Diego, Calif./Pacific Stars Rhythmic Academy) clinched U.S. titles in both hoop (32.150) and ball (31.300). Keys currently leads the junior all-around field with a 63.450. The junior group from North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastic Center of Goda Balsys (Northbrook, Ill.), Annabella Hantov (Northfield, Ill.), Kristina Lee (Woodridge, Ill.), Greta Pavilonyte (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) and Alaini Spata (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) scored a 26.300 in five ropes to earn gold. The group also leads in the all-around after their five ropes performance.

Among the seniors, Jaelyn Chin (Aventura, Fla./Bessonova’s school) took hoop gold with a 32.300 while Lili Mizuno (Northbrook, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics) claimed the ball title with a 34.000. In all-around competition, Mizuno also posted a 64.150 to be Thursday’s all-around leader. The Senior National Group of Izzy Connor (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.), Daria Merkulova (Vernon Hills, Ill.), Gergana Petkova (Barrington, Ill.), Katrine Sakhnov (Glencoe, Ill.), Karolina Saverino (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) and Hana Starkman (Deerfield, Ill.) won five hoops gold with a 30.450 and are on top in the all-around.

Ahsinger and Webster repeat as synchro champions

After taking the senior women’s synchronized trampoline title in 2022, Nicole Ahsinger (Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express) and Sarah Webster (Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express) claimed gold once again with a 46.680. On the men’s side, the pair of Paul Bretscher (Huntsville, Ala./Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy) and Ruben Padilla (Bluffdale, Utah/Wasatch Trampoline & Tumbling) won synchro gold with a 49.620. Four-time U.S. youth and junior women’s synchro champion Avan DeHanes (Holmdel, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy) clinched her fifth title along with partner Alexandra Mytnik (Manalapan, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy) during Thursday’s final, while Nate Erkert (Wildwood, Mo./Elite Trampoline Academy) and Alex Rozenshteyn (Cranford, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy) topped the junior men’s standings.

In qualifications, Aliaksei Shostak (Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express) occupied the top spot among the senior men in individual trampoline competition with a 58.920. Shelby Nobuhara (Mapleton, Utah/High Altitude) led the women’s double mini qualification standings with a 51.870, while Miah Bruns (Jiangxi, China/World Champions Centre) did the same in women’s tumbling with a 51.260.

Competition in the BOK Center continues Friday afternoon with action from all disciplines beginning at 1 p.m. CT. Full results from today’s action are available at usagymchamps.com and arena competition will continue to stream on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel.