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World Class Gymnastics in the News - 2005

Titan Athletics Hall of Fame

Cal State Fullerton recently announced their inaugural class for the Titan Athletics Hall of Fame. One of the seven athletes to be honored is World Class owner, Tami Elliot-Harrison. Attending Cal State from 1984 through 1987, Elliot-Harrison was an All-American a record 10 times. She received the 1987 American Award which is given annually to the nation's top senior gymnast.

The Titan honorees will be inducted at a banquet on November 5, 2005. Click to read the Cal State press release.

2005 Level 4 State Championships!

World Class Gymnastics was proud to host the 2005 Level 4 Virginia Gymnastics Championships on May 21 and 22, 2005 on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Approximately 475 gymnasts from 40 Virginia clubs participated in this exciting championship event.

Gymstrada's Brittany Cromwell had an exceptional meet placing first in each event and All Around in the 13-year-old group. In the age 8 senior division, Amber Miller from Ocean Tumblers won gold in Vault, Bars, Beam, and All Around. Melissa Cameron from World Class had an outstanding meet placing first in Bars, Beam, and All Around in the 12-year-old group. In the 10-year-old division, Ocean Tumblers' Rebeka Johnson placed first in Beam, Floor, and All Around; while her teammate, Madison Hartmann, won Beam, Floor, and All Around in the Age 7 division. Lauren Henry from Excalibur won gold in Vault and Bars in the 9-year-old senior group. In the team competition, Ocean Tumblers placed first followed by World Class and Gymstrada. Complete Level 4 State Meet Results are available at the VAUSAG website. Congratulations, gymnasts!

Mother May I Meet Results

Newport News, Virginia - April 17, 2005 - The Mother May I Meet was held April 17, 2005 at World Class Gymnastics. Over 100 Level 4 through Level 7 gymnasts from six Virginia clubs convened for a spirited competition. World Class gymnast, Annabelle Hovater, had a first-class meet winning all individual events and the All Around in the Level 4/Age 6-7 division. In addition, the following gymnasts won three of the four events and the all around: Trista Sano, Hurricane Gymnastics; Suzanne Schindler, World Class; Kiera Brown, World Class; and Samantha Sours, World Class. A special "Job Well Done" to the Level 5 Virginia International Gymnastics Team participating in their first competition this year. We look forward to having VIGs and all of our competitors back again next year!

Results for the Mother May I  Meet are now available. Click for Level 4, Level 5, Level 6, Level 7, and Team Winners.

World Class Boys Heading to Regionals!

Norfolk, Virginia - March 20, 2005 - The World Class Boys' Team had an outstanding Virginia State Meet on Saturday, March 20, 2005. Level 6 gymnast, Sean Sours, won the Age 12 & Up Floor, Parallel Bars, High Bar, and All Around Championships.  Andrew Dynan and Kyle Brogan placed second All Around in the Level 7 Age 10-11 division and Level 5 Age 10-11 division, respectively.  Kyle also placed first in Floor and Parallel Bars. The World Class Boys' Team earned gold, silver, or bronze medals in 10 individual events. For World Class Virginia State Meet results click here, and for complete 2004-2005 Boys' Team results visit the World Class Gymnastics Parent's Association website.

Girls Level 9 Gymnastics Team Wins Virginia State Championship!

March 20, 2005 - World Class Gymnastics' Level 9 Girls' Team scored an impressive victory at this past weekends Level 9 and 10 Championships in Winchester, Virginia. Leading the way for World Class were Nicole Wright, Allie Wheeler, and Brook Morrison who each took All Around honors in their age groups. Solid performances were also turned in by Elisa Williamson, Elizabeth Durkac, Lindsey Nichol, and Briana Carper in key individual events. World Class's 112.75 team total was almost three points higher than the second place team, Gymstrada. In all, Level 9 gymnasts earned gold, silver, or bronze medals in 21 individual events.

The Level 10 Girls' Team also had a strong meet finishing second overall in the Level 10 State Championships. Leading the way for the team were Hillary Dow, who finished first All Around in the Age 17 division, and Kara Wright, who finished second All Around in the Age 16 division. Solid performances were also turned by Amanda Moyer, Megan Vincent, Whitney Grandy, and Samantha Hartman. Level 10 team members earned gold, silver, or bronze medals in 8 individual events.

World Class Gymnasts Featured in Daily Press Articles

Newport News, Virginia - February 24, 2005 - World Class Gymnasts, Megan Vincent and Briana Carper , were recently featured in several articles in the Daily Press, a Newport News, Virginia newspaper. Megan and Briana are seniors at Menchville High School and members of Menchville Monarchs girls gymnastics team. The Monarchs won their 14th Peninsula District title, 1st Eastern Regional title, and finished 6th in the state. In the state individual competition, Megan tied for 2nd on Bars and placed 6th All Around. Kara Wright from First Colonial High School won the individual All Around title. Kara is also a World Class Gymnast.

Thanks to the Daily Press for letting us reprint these four articles to honor the outstanding accomplishments of Megan, Briana, and the entire Monarch team!

Menchville gymnast ties for 2nd at state
Senior Megan Vincent also places sixth in the all-around competition.

DAILY PRESS
Published February 20, 2005

STAFFORD -- Megan Vincent closed out an outstanding senior season for Menchville by tying for second on bars and placing sixth in the all-around competition at the State Gymnastics Meet on Saturday at Stafford High School near Fredericksburg. Vincent, who led the Monarchs to their first Eastern Regional title in 33 years under coach Skip Mollenhauer the previous week at Western Branch, posted a score of 9.750 on bars to finish tied with Amanda Bressette of Landstown and Rochelle Robinson of Indian River in the individual portion of the two-day meet.

In the all-around competition, Vincent, the four-time Peninsula District champ, had a score of 37.675. For the third consecutive year, the all-around title went to junior Kara Wright of First Colonial. Wright, who trains at World Class Gymnastics in Newport News, had a score of 38.95. Second place went to Sam Brooks of Colonial Forge (38.525), then came Allison Burkett of Stonebridge (38.5), Catie Brooks of Stafford (38.125) and Robinson (37.7). Vincent also tied for ninth on vault (9.6), 17th on beam (9.075) and 27th on floor (9.250). Menchville had two other gymnasts competing, senior Briana Carper and freshman Kelli Wymer. Carper was 22nd on floor (9.35) and bars (9.325). Wymer had a score of 9.0 on beam but didn't make the Top 25.  Copyright © 2005, Daily Press  

Monarchs gymnasts 6th in state
Three Menchville individuals will compete again today.

DAILY PRESS
Published February 19, 2005

The Menchville girls' gymnastics team couldn't match last week's performances in the Eastern Regional and finished sixth in the state meet Friday at Stafford High School near Fredericksburg. Stonewall Jackson of the Northwest Region won the title with 150.025 points, followed by Lake Braddock 147.975, Colonial Forge 147.050, Hickory 146.375, Chantilly 144.025, Menchville 142.4, Atlee 137.675 and Lee-Davis 137.6.

Last Saturday, the Monarchs won their first regional title in 33 years under Coach Skip Mollenhauer with 148.667 points. "Our girls did a real nice job. It just wasn't quite as good a day as last Saturday," Mollenhauer said. "The scoring was a little bit tougher." She said some of the girls performed just as well as last week but didn't get as high a score. "I'm not disappointed in how they performed; they've had a great season and no one can take last week's meet away from them," Mollenhauer said.

The Monarchs, who scored 145.650 points in winning the Peninsula District for the 14th time in 15 years, made their best showing Friday on vault with 35.975 points. Megan Vincent led the way with 9.625 points, then came Briana Carper (8.875), Kelli Wymer (8.75), and Charlotte Daimler (8.725). Vincent scored 9.45 and Carper 9.2 to lead the team on bars (35.8). Vincent and Carper also led the Monarchs on floor (35.375) and beam (35.25). Vincent, Carper, and Wymer will compete in today's individual part of the meet that starts at 1:30 p.m.  Copyright © 2005, Daily Press

Endangered sport?
High costs and a lack of interest could cause gymnastics to disappear from Peninsula District schools.

BY MICHAEL C. WRIGHT
247-4759, Published February 18, 2005

NEWPORT NEWS -- One by one, she pulled them close for a tearful embrace. For the first time in Skip Mollenhauer's 33 seasons as coach, her Menchville Monarchs were regional gymnastics champs. The scene from last Saturday's regional meet is forever burned into Mollenhauer's memory. Unfortunately, for the future of local gymnastics, the picture isn't as grand.

Seemingly every year, pessimists proclaim the end of high school gymnastics on the Peninsula. Citing declining participation, high costs and the inability to find qualified coaches, the cynics might be correct.

At Denbigh high school, uneven bars, balance beams and floor mats sit in the dark, collecting dust. This season, the Patriots didn't have a gymnastics team for the first time since 1974, when the VHSL began crowning team champions. Denbigh coaches Kerry Blazek and Krystal Oliver walked the halls making announcements and passing out conditioning forms. Of 1,450 students, only two were interested in the sport. "It's unfortunate," athletic director Dale Roe says. But the lack of interest isn't confined to Denbigh.

Fifteen years ago, the Bay Rivers District had 10 gymnastics teams. By 1991, eight of those teams replaced gymnastics with volleyball. Now, none of the Bay Rivers schools have gymnastics. Is a similar trend ahead for the Peninsula District? "The numbers are down and that was brought up last year when we talked about cutting funds," said Gary Silvey, supervisor of athletics for Newport News City Schools. "(Discontinuing gymnastics) has been talked about several different times. As the numbers continue to go down and with Denbigh not having a team at all, it's something the school system will definitely take a long look at."

DECLINING PARTICIPATION
Valerie Fauntleroy smiles when she talks about gymnastics. She says it's wonderful, that its beauty and precision is unmatched. Listen closer and uncertainty pierces the soprano in Fauntleroy's voice. She's afraid. After coaching Warwick's gymnastics team for 31 years, Fauntleroy says she is retiring. Her fear is that soon, gymnastics will join her. "I'm ready to give it up," she says, "but I'm not ready for the city to give it up too."

This season, 44 gymnasts from five schools entered the Feb. 4 Peninsula District meet. Newport News City Schools have about 33,000 students, which means less than 1 percent of them are on gymnastics teams. Sports like football may cost more, but the number of participants justifies the money spent. "You can say that gymnastics is not very high on the food chain," Roe said.

Thirteen years ago, 77 of the state's 278 schools had gymnastics teams. During the 2003-04 school year, there were only 68 schools with teams, despite the opening of nearly 20 new schools. VHSL assistant director Joyce Sisson is optimistic. "The number of participants may go up with all the schools coming in," she said.

But Mollenhauer doesn't see it that way. A few years ago, she could tell you how many gymnastics teams dropped out of contention every year. "But the way it's been going, I've lost count," she said. "If it keeps going like it is, I have a feeling gymnastics is on its way out." Despite declining participation on the Peninsula, Menchville has plenty of girls coming out for its team. The Monarchs, who have won 14 of the last 15 PD championships, had more than 30 girls try out this season. Mollenhauer cut six gymnasts. "A winning program can kind of feed itself for a while," she said. "But we've had hard years." Like the year Mollenhauer strolled out into the halls at Menchville, grabbing cheerleaders when the Monarchs had just three gymnasts.

In Hampton, there aren't any high school gymnasts to grab, because the city no longer offers it. Participation in gymnastics gradually tapered off for Hampton's schools in the late '80s and early '90s until the Crabbers were the only team remaining in 1996. Nansemond River and Lakeland in Suffolk opened in 1990 without gymnastics. "There's not much of a demand for the sport anymore," said Findolph Taylor, curriculum specialist for health and physical education for Hampton City Schools.

THE COSTS
Mark Farina is the general manager and part owner of DVF Sports on Warwick Boulevard, which supplies Newport News high schools' athletic programs. Farina says it costs about $25,000 for a school to start a gymnastics program. But after initial costs, schools pay very little, compared with football, where one school can spend about $15,000 in one season on just equipment (not counting balls, uniforms, travel costs or field maintenance). "People think it's really expensive," Farina said. "Just one piece can cost $3,000, but it's not like you're constantly using it. Uneven bars can last 20 years."

Six years ago, Denbigh needed a new floor mat for all-around competitions, and it cost $10,000. Springboard equipment is nearly $5,000 and a balance beam can cost $2,000. Throw in $3,500 for parallel bars, not to mention the cost for safety mats and other protective equipment.

VHSL rule changes siphon away money, too. Schools have to provide vault tables for all competitions beginning next season. Newport News will have to spend nearly $5,000 to comply.  "Right now, we use a horse for vaulting events," Fauntleroy said. "If we can't work out a justifiable way to get that table, they could end up cutting the sport completely."  Silvey isn't sure what the school system will do, saying the tables are "a big expense."

Another expense involves DVF Sports coming in every year to make sure equipment meets safety standards. DVF Sports has a $2,000 blanket contract with the school system and this season, the schools spent just $500. "Sometimes we spend about $1,000 for upkeep and repair and another $1,000 toward new equipment," Farina said. "Beyond that, he'll (Silvey) occasionally buy mats."

ANOTHER PROBLEM
Gloucester "temporarily suspended" its gymnastics program in December after coach Kathy Mixon resigned in September. Four months is plenty of time to find a new coach, some would say. "But finding qualified coaches isn't easy," said Gloucester athletic director Jon Hatch. "There's a lot of liability in making sure those ladies are safe because gymnastics is dangerous. We weren't just going to put a warm body in the position because we needed a coach." Eventually, Mixon, Jeannette Stevens and Kim Paine decided to share coaching duties at Gloucester. Finding qualified coaches is one of the most difficult tasks for schools in this area.

Paralysis and broken necks are a couple of the more serious injuries sustained in gymnastics. Qualified coaches are trained to prevent such injuries by spotting gymnasts. That's why Denbigh, although it doesn't have a team this year, still has Blazek and Oliver. "We're keeping them," Roe said. "If we have a team next year, we'll be lucky to have them. They're qualified, they know what they're doing, and it's never easy to find people like that."

With Fauntleroy retiring after 31 seasons, Silvey faces the challenge of finding another qualified coach for a sport diminishing in popularity. Mollenhauer, after 33 years at Menchville, just hopes to see a Warwick coach and a team standing across from her next season. "We're still hanging in there," Mollenhauer said. "I just don't know how long it will last."
Copyright © 2005, Daily Press 

Hopes and fears
TITLE SHOT: Menchville coach Skip Mollenhauer believes her team could win at state if it performs as it did last week.

BY ED RICHARDS
247-4645,Published February 18, 2005

NEWPORT NEWS -- If the Menchville girls gymnastics team is to win its first state title today, team depth is likely to be a major factor. Competition gets under way at 4:30 p.m. at Stafford High School near Fredericksburg.

Two weeks ago, depth helped Menchville run away with its 14th Peninsula District title in 15 years as the Monarchs had eight entries in each event. None of the other teams could match those numbers. The Monarchs finished with 145.650 points, runner-up Warwick 133.400. In winning their first Eastern Regional title in 33 years under coach Skip Mollenhauer last Saturday, the Monarchs were allowed only five entries per event, but again the depth helped. With four girls scoring in each event, that meant they could throw out the worst score. Take the beam. Senior Briana Carper, the district champion in the event, had a fall and was a non-scoring fifth (9.017) for the Monarchs, but that didn't hurt them. Junior Charlotte Daimler (9.117) and freshman Katie Weisflog (9.100) came through as the Nos. 3-4 scorers, and the Monarchs won the event.

 "This is the most depth we've had in my four years on the team," said senior Megan Vincent, who led the team by placing third in the all-around with 38.733 points. "Before, we had a couple of real good people; this year everybody has contributed." Jill Hamadyk, a senior, is part of that depth, although she competes in only one event because of a bad knee. She has torn her anterior cruciate ligament three times. At the regional, she was part of the winning bars team, placing third on the team with 8.967 points.

Hamadyk said Vincent and Carper have led the team this season, but there are a lot of other good people on the team. She cited the help the Monarchs have received from freshmen Katie Weisflog and Kelli Wymer. Other members of the team are Kori Brown, Lori Williams, Lauri Weisflog, Laura Clark and Tabby Whatley. "This is a good gymnastics team," Mollenhauer said. "Their winning the regional wasn't a fluke."

Although the Monarchs have never placed higher than third at state, Mollenhauer believes this team will be in title contention. "We just need to do the same thing we did last Saturday. If we do that again, no matter what happens, we'll be fine," she said.

The Monarchs posted the third-best score from the eight teams in the four regions that qualified for state. Stonewall Jackson (149.6) of Manassas and Colonial Forge (148.9) from the Northwest Region were tops, followed by Menchville (148.667) and Hickory (148.050) from the Eastern Region, Lake Braddock (147.550) and Chantilly (146.7) from the Northern Region and Atlee (132.8) and Lee-Davis (132.45) from the Central. The individual competition will be Saturday, starting at 1:30 p.m. Competing in that are Vincent, Carper and Wymer. Copyright © 2005, Daily Press

2004 News

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