- Coaches: Hannah Webb & Joshua Williams
- Graduating Year: 2025
- Simone Biles once said, " Be the best me." That is what I try to do each day. I am
currently competing level 8 JO in Region 1, at a Northern California gym. I train
6 days a week through the good and bad, and injuries. I keep my goal in mind of being
the best me. I really feel that the gymnastics has found me as much as I found it.
From the time I was swinging in the park, I loved to tumble, swing, and flip. From
the moment my Mom put me into a summer camp, I loved gymnastics. Thank you to all
the amazing coaches who saw that I loved the sport, and worked to train me. I have
been blessed with people who believe in me as much as I believe in my dream too. People
say I am a good teammate, as I want each of my teamates to be the best them. I believe
in team and helping each other and cheer our successes and giving hugs in our times
of need. I remember watching the Olympics and dreaming of the day I get to do the
amazing skills they make look so easy. Practice empowers you and gives you the confidence
to believe in yourself. I believe in my dream of being a College gymnast one day.
I want to study hard, and enjoy flipping as I always have. I have been honored to
be nominated for GOTY. I was 2019 Level 7 #1 AA score in the nation as well as #1
in floor, and #1 in vault. I also was the 2018 Level 6 highest AA score in the nation
too. I am training hard to be better than yesterday and to overcome the obstacles
that come my way.
- Coaches: Alison Vaughn, Staci Stevens
- Graduating Year: 2025
- Ava Griffith got her start in gymnastics at the age of two in mommy and me classes.
When Ava turned four, she started to get bored in recreational classes and was invited
to join the pre-team. Within a few months of pre-team, Ava joined the level 3 team
just as she was turning six. Shortly after, Ava and her family moved due to her father's
job in the Marine Corps. With no gyms closer than an hour, Ava tumbled at a local
dance studio. After over two years of tumbling at the studio, her coach said that
she needs to get into a gym, which is when Ava began training at Aftershock. Ava began
competing Xcel Bronze in the spring of 2016 and finished first on vault, second all
around, and third on beam and floor at the SoCal State Championships. After competing
Xcel Bronze, Ava was moved up to level 3. Ava competed three meets of level 3 during
the fall 2016 season, winning two of them. Halfway through her level three season,
Ava's family moved to Brazil. After training for nine months in Brazil, Ava's family
decided to send her to live with her aunt in Florida and train at Evo Athletics. During
the 2018 season, Ava competed level 6 with Evo. At her first meet, the CGA Coaches
Spectacular, Ava won the beam and all around titles. Ava continued to have a great
season and went on to win the Florida State beam and all around titles. From state,
Ava advanced to the Region 8 Championships where she won the beam and floor titles.
Following her 2018 season, Ava's family moved to Rome, Italy and Ava joined them.
During her time in Rome, Ava trained at Gymnastics Romana. In the fall of 2018, Ava
and her family returned to California and Ava began training at Aftershock Gymnastics
once again. Ava competed level 7 during the 2019 season and opened up her season at
the Arizona Grand Invitational where she won the bars and all around titles. In March,
Ava competed level 8 at International Gymnix and finished second on beam. One week
later, Ava competed at the SoCal State Championships as a level 7 where she brought
home a bronze medal on floor and fifth place finish in the all around. Ava concluded
her season at the Region 1 Championships with a fantastic performance, earning her
season highs on vault, bars, beam, and in the all around and winning the bars, beam,
floor, and all around titles. Currently, Ava trains 34 hours per week under coaches
Alison Vaughn and Staci Stevens at Aftershock Gymnastics. Ava is working on perfecting
her Hopes skills and has a goal to qualify Hopes in 2020. In the future, Ava hopes
to qualify elite and earn a college scholarship for gymnastics.
- Coaches: Kathy Strate, Gibran Campos, Danielle Albright, Ryan Covo
- Graduating Year: 2025
- I am a 15 year old Level 10 gymnast at SCEGA Gymnastics. I came to SCEGA Gymnastics
in 2015 as an 8 year old level 4 and a TOPs kid. My first year I made it to TOPs National
Testing, and completed my Level 4 season as the SoCal State Beam and Floor Champion.
In 2017 I scored out of Level 5 and moved to Level 7, and continued my TOPs journey.
My second year I made TOPs B Team and invited to Development Invite Camp. For Level
7, I was the SoCal State Beam Silver Medalist and Region 1 Regional Beam Champion.
I performed a 9.95 beam routine at the Long Beach Open!
- In 2018, I moved on to Level 8 and did my last year in TOPs as a 10 year old. I was
a TOPs A Team Member, attended A Camp and won Physical Abilities. I was the Level
8 SoCal State Bar Champion, and Floor Silver Medalist, and the Region 1 Regional Bar
and Beam Champion, and the Floor and AA Silver Medalist. 0
- In 2019, I competed as a Level 9. What a great season! I was the Level 9 SoCal State
Beam Champion, Bars and AA Bronze Medalist. I went on to Regionals and had my best
meet of the season! I was the Region 1 Regional Beam, Floor and AA Champion, Bars
Bronze Medalist, with an AA score of a 38.275. And I hit my beam routine with a 9.90!
I qualified to Westerns, but unfortunately due to illness, I was not able to attend.
1
- In 2020, I worked hard to compete as a Level 10. I had all my routines ready to go,
but broke 4 toes right before season started. In order to get back out there, my coaches
made the decision to compete level 9 again, and I was excited to try for Westerns,
since I missed it the year before. I competed bars and beam in 3 meets, winning beam
each time (high score of 9.825) and bars once (high score of 9.60). Unfortunately,
right as I was ready to add vault and floor back in before State meet, the country
shut down for Covid. As we all know, post season was completely canceled. 2
- Here we are at the beginning of 2021, and I made it to Level 10! So far, I started
the season at Fiesta Bowl and competed all 4 events. I hit all routines, and won bars
(9.725) and floor (9.775), 2nd on beam (9.60). It was especially exciting because
I debuted a new floor routine that I love! I came in 2nd AA (37.90). My hope is to
have a successful season and make it to Nationals as a first year level 10.
- Coaches: Ryan Kirkham, Jessie McDonough, Tasmin Finn
- Graduating Year: 2023
- I'm 14 years old, I'm competing my first year of Level 10 this season, I train at
Olympus Gymnastics in South Jordan, Utah. I’m honored to have been selected as a Gymnast
of the Year nominee and thank all those that have helped me get to this point.
- I had a great Level 9 season finishing first on Vault and third All Around at the
Utah State Championships. I then qualified to the Western Championships after placing
second on Vault, Bars and All Around at the Region 1 Championships. I then earned
gold medals on vault and bars, a bronze medal on floor, and sixth all around at the
Western Championships. A few other fun notable Level 9 accomplishments: 2019 Winter
Classic I took 1st place, in my age division, with a 37.0 which also happened to be
the highest all-around score of all Level 9’s in the entire meet. At the 24th Annual
Northern Lights Classic I qualified to the event finals on bars and took 1st place.
- I’m a hard worker, been told I’m easy to coach, I’m extremely humble and take pride
in all that I do. I go to public school, in 9th grade, am enrolled in several honors
classes, a straight A student, I have 4 sisters, love doing their hair, spending time
with my family, camping, fishing, biking, and most of all just being a kid. Oh and
I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than 2 minutes. I love going to and watching college
gymnastics meets. I've not yet decided what I want to be when I get older, though
I do know I want to attend college, hopefully on a scholarship, where I can also continue
my love for gymnastics by competing at that level. Good luck to all the nominees,
it's an amazing honor to be considered for such a notable award.
- Coaches: Ashot Gasparyan and Melia O’Quinn
- Graduating Year: 2023
- Genesis got started in gymnastics at the age of seven as she showed an interest in
the sport and was very energetic as a child. Genesis began competing in the fall of
2015 as a level 4. At her first meet, Genesis won the floor title and took second
on beam and in the all around. Three months later at the NorCal State Championships,
Genesis took home silver medals on beam, floor, and in the all around. As a level
5 in 2016, Genesis had a fantastic season and won the vault, beam, floor, and all
around titles at the NorCal State Championships. Genesis began her optional career
in 2017 as a level 6 at the Red Heart 10.0 Invitational where she took second on bars
and floor, and third all around. Genesis finished up her season at the NorCal State
Championships where she had a great meet and won the vault, floor, and all around
titles as well as second on bars and beam. In 2018, Genesis competed level 7 and went
on to defend her state championship all around title as well as first on vault at
state. Genesis also qualified to be a member of the NorCal State Team for the Region
1 Championships. At regionals, Genesis took second on vault and third on floor and
in the all around. As a level 8 in 2019, Genesis began her season at the Lady Luck
Invitational and came home with the vault title. Two months later at the NorCal State
Championships, Genesis came in first on floor, second on vault, and third all around
and qualified for the Region 1 Championships. Genesis had her best meet of the season
at the Region 1 Championships taking first on vault, beam, floor, and in the all around
and taking second on bars, concluding a great season. Currently, Genesis trains 24
hours per week under coaches Melia O'Quinn and Ashot Gasparyan at San Mateo Gymnastics.
In the future, Genesis' goal is to earn a college scholarship to a top Division 1
gymnastics program.
- Coaches: Chris Brashier & Beatrice Mihaila-Crivineanu
- Graduating Year: 2026
- Kendall Torrens got her start in gymnastics at the age of four in a recreational class.
Shortly after beginning classes, Kendall was asked to join the team program at Empire
Gymnastics Academy. Less than one year after beginning gymnastics, Kendall began competing
in 2013 as a level 1. The following season, Kendall competed level 3. Kendall quickly
progressed throughout the season and finished first on vault, bars, and floor at the
District Championships. One month later at the Texas North State Championships, Kendall
won the vault title with a 9.725. In 2016, Kendall competed just one meet of level
4 where she finished second on vault. Kendall tested out of level 5 to prepare for
the 2017 season.
- Kendall began her optional career as a level 6 at the Friends Of Achievers Meet. Here,
Kendall finished in the top 5 on bars and floor. Kendall had a great level 6 season
and concluded her season with a win on floor at the Texas State Championships scoring
a huge 9.925. Competing level 7 during the 2018 season, Kendall began her season at
the Alamo Classic where she finished third on bars, floor, and in the all around.
Three months later at the Texas State Championships, Kendall brought home the bronze
medal on beam. From state, Kendall qualified to the Region 3 Championships. Kendall
finished up her season at regionals winning the floor title and finishing third all
around.
- As a level 8 in 2019, Kendall kicked off her season at the Alamo Classic winning the
beam title and taking second all around. In February, Kendall competed at the Biles
National Elite Qualifier where she earned her Hopes compulsory score. Kendall had
her best meet of the season at the Rose City Classic where she scored a perfect 10.0
on floor, winning the event as well as winning the bars and beam titles. In March
at the Texas State Championships, Kendall won the bars and beam titles and finished
second on floor and in the all around. For the second year, Kendall advanced to the
Region 3 Championships. Here, Kendall concluded her season winning the bars title
and brought home bronze medals on floor and in the all around.
- Kendall began her 2020 level 9 season with an amazing meet at the Alamo Classic winning
the floor title with a 9.800 and finishing third all around.
- Currently, Kendall trains 25 hours per week under coaches Chris Brashier and Beatrice
Mihaila-Crivineanu at Empire Gymnastics Academy. Kendall's goal for the 2020 season
is to qualify for the Hopes Classic. In the future, Kendall hopes to earn a college
scholarship to a Division 1 school for gymnastics. She is extremely honored to be
elected for Meet Scores Online Gymnast of the Year!
- Coaches: Hanah Egan
- Graduating Year: 2025
- Hello, my name is Lilla and I am very excited to be nominated for Gymnast of the Year
amongst so many great gymnasts. I am a full time middle school student and attend
gymnastics practice 6 days a week. I am currently competing level 8 for San Mateo
Gymnastics. I started in mommy and me gymnastics at age 2 while watching my older
sister at regular practice and knew gymnastics was for me! Luckily I got the chance
to join the JO team and started competing level 3 at age 6.
- Some highlights have been representing Norcal at the National Judges Cup as a level
7, and being on the Norcal State teams (Level 6 and 7) at Region 1 Championships.
My favorite times have been traveling with the Norcal Judges Cup team where I got
to be on a team with other gymnasts from Northern California, and watch great gymnastics
from all around the country. I also love traveling with my own club team and visiting
other parts of the country!
- Gymnastics has affected so many parts of my life. I have learned to focus and not
give up on skills that are challenging to me. I have learned to work through injury
and how to balance a full school schedule and sports. I always try to improve my gymnastics
for each day, meet and level. In my opinion, gymnastics is a sport that requires perseverance
because even if you don’t do as well as you wanted there is always a chance to get
better. The best reward of being a gymnast is working hard and seeing results and
getting to learn new skills.
- I am thankful to my coaches, family, and team mates for their support and hard work
in helping me be the best gymnast I can be!
- Coaches: Bart and Lori Roskoski
- Graduating Year: 2024
- My name is Lily Pederson, I am a 13 year old Junior Elite gymnast. I train at Flips
in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. My coaches are Bart and Lori Roskoski. I train approximately
25 hours per week while still attending public school. I started gymnastics when I
was 5 years old. I was moved to the level 3 team when I was 6 years old. Once I competed
in my first real meet as a level 3 I was hooked! I achieved my goal of becoming an
elite gymnast in January of 2020. I hope to make it all the way to the US Championships
and place well enough to make the Junior National Team!
- I started taking classes at Flips when I was 6 years old. I made it to team level
3 when I was 7 years old. At 8 years old I moved to level 4 and qualified for state.
When I was 9 years old I moved up to level 5 and again qualified for state, where
I won the floor state championship for my age group. That same year I skipped level
6 and was moved to the level 7 team, which had already started their season. I trained
with the level 7 team for about 2 weeks before competing in my first level 7 meet,
where I qualified for state again! After level 7 state I moved to level 8. Our level
8 team had an undefeated season, capping it off by winning the state championship,
Flips first ever!0
- I was also named to the Minnesota Super 8 team that year. After level 8 regionals
were over I began working on my level 9 skills, with my goal to compete as a level
9 and make it back to regionals and then to Westerns. I ended up scoring out of level
9 at my first meet of the season and moving directly to level 10. I was 11 years old,
Flips youngest ever level 10 gymnast! While competing as a first year level 10 I was
also training for my first year in HOPES. I managed to not only qualify to regionals
as the youngest level 10 in the state of Minnesota but I also made it to nationals!!
I placed 5th in the all around at my very first ever nationals!! I also qualified
to the HOPES Classic, where I placed 2nd and advanced to the HOPES Championship.
- At the HOPES Championship I placed 4th and was named to the HOPES National Team!!
That summer I was invited to the USAG developmental training camp in Tennessee. I
have been attending camp ever since. My goals for 2019 are to make it back to nationals
again and this time finish even higher. I have already qualified to the HOPES Classic
for the second year. My goal for HOPES is to win the HOPES Classic and the HOPES Championship.
My goals for 2020 are to qualify as a Junior Elite and make it to the USAG Championships
and to be invited to national training camp. My long-term goals are to receive a scholarship
to a D1 school and to compete for the USA at the Olympics in 2024 or 2028!!!
- Coaches: Pete Arenas, Myia Hambrick
- Graduating Year: 2023
- Whitney Michelle Bjerken was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 4, 2005. She was a
speedy delivery and has not slowed down since. Whitney has two brothers and one sister,
Sterling (18), Braxton (13), and Blakely (11). She also has a dog named Houston. Whitney
played soccer and took ballet like everybody else when she was 3 and 4 years old,
and then her mom put her into cheerleading. Whitney loved cheerleading and found out
she was pretty good at doing cartwheels and the splits. As a result, Whitney decided
to try gymnastics after the cheerleading season was over...and she has never looked
back. Whitney is now a level 10 gymnast at Georgia Elite Gymnastics and is in the
gym 5 days a week. Whitney loves gymnastics and she has always been a hard worker.
These two facts combined with excellent coaching has led Whitney to great success
in the sport to date. Whitney has won the All-Around Georgia State Championship 4
times and has won the Region 8 All-Around Championship twice. When Whitney was just
5 years old, her family started uploading videos of her gymnastics meets on YouTube
so that her grandparents, who live in Minnesota, could watch her compete. Whitney’s
videos were discovered on the internet and some of her videos started to go viral.
Whitney continued to make videos and now her YouTube channel has more than 1.24 million
subscribers with over 465 million views. Whitney tries to make videos that will help
girls understand the world of gymnastics, or at least her experience in it. Whitney
is also a talented musician who plays the piano, guitar, and writes her own songs.
She released her debut album in December, 2019 entitled Disappear. Like almost every
competitive gymnast, Whitney has had her share of injuries through the years. Unfortunately,
she acquired osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum in her right elbow in 2018
which eventually let to surgery. She missed the 2018 competition season and had to
endure a year long recovery from the surgery. She fought back and returned to form
just in time for the 2019 competition season. Whitney had an incredible year winning
the All-Around at The Gala, her first meet back. In fact, she hit every routine of
the entire season, until her final bar routine at JO Nationals where she overshot
her pak. Unfortunately, Whitney’s osteochondritis dissecans returned in her right
elbow and she had reconstructive surgery in December of 2019. Whitney was presented
with the option to retire from the sport, but laughed at the thought of it and plans
to be back and better than ever in 2020. "You may see me struggle, but, you will NEVER
see me QUIT."
- Coaches: Tammy and Sorin Salcianu, Trevor Rubino, Cheri Shipp
- Graduating Year: 2023
- Born in Richland, WA in January 2004, Tirzah started attending gymnastics classes
with her daycare provider at age two because “she had too much energy” and was climbing
the door frames. She started in toddler gymnastics at Garland’s Gymnastics Academy
in Kennewick, WA and progressed with Coach Brett Garland and Coach Erin Piel to their
pre-team class. When she was five, she transitioned to the TOPs program at Mid-Columbia
Gymnastics with Coaches Todd Sawyer and Jeanine Ruby and began homeschooling through
Seton Home Study School starting with kindergarten. She began competing in level five
when she was seven. Tirzah qualified for TOPs National Testing and traveled to the
Karolyi Ranch at ages 8, 9, 10 and attended TOPs development camp at the ranch at
age 9.
- As Tirzah moved up through J.O. levels 7, 8, and 9 she never lost sight of her dream
to become an elite gymnast. With the help of Coach Angie Jefferson at All-American
Gymnastics in Richland, WA, and at the advice of national coaching staff, in 2016
she attended a try-out at Salcianu Elite Gymnastics in Henderson, NV. Subsequently,
she and her family moved to Nevada in September of 2016 to begin training with Tammy
and Sorin Salcianu and their team in Henderson, NV. In February 2019, she qualified
junior elite compulsory at the Rocky Mountain Qualifier in Salt Lake City, UT. She
qualified elite compulsory again at the Peppermint Twist Qualifier in Minneapolis
in December 2019. Currently she is training level 10/elite with coaches Tammy and
Sorin Salcianu, Trevor Rubino, and Cheri Shipp, and working towards junior elite optional
qualifiers in 2020.
