“The Profiles Are Coming” “The Profiles Are Coming”

Amazing gymnasts walk the land. The reviews of nominees for the 2007 MSO Gymnast of the Year reflect amazing talent, incredible courage, and enviable character. Beginning this month MSO will profile gymnasts from all over the US for an ongoing column. First, MSO will profile the profiler. Amy Presan is the subject of the initial interview and she in turn will profile succeeding gymnasts.

Second Generation Sunrays

Danyra Varela, Pam Schmidt, Amanda Goins, Meghan McGuire, and Courtney Hibler are all former Arizona Sunrays gymnasts now coaching at their Alma Mater. Can these young coaches, under the direction of Head Coach Dan Witenstein, and seasoned Coach Pam Evans lead the Sunrays to glory? With a strong group of Compulsory gymnasts MSO would bet yes.

Brown Strikes Gold

Alicia Sacramone, NCAA 2007 Rookie of the Year, is doing remarkable things at Brown University. One of the top schools in the country where only the academic elite need apply, Brown was fortunate that Alicia selected scholastic achievement over athletic pedigree. Brown may be another Cornell in the making where brains does not necessarily mean second tier in gymnastics. Head Coach Paul Beckwith, and Assistant Coach Melanie Dilliplane have built Cornell into a collegiate champion, without awarding a single athletic scholarship.

Your Competitive Schedule

It is official; the MSO calendar of events has become the #1 resource clubs in America are using for building their team’s competitive schedule. Here are some things to keep in mind:

- Even if you do not intend to post your scores on MSO be sure and register your event. Doing so will promote your invite to coaches representing 5000+ clubs across the country.

- The more information you provide with the registration the better the chance a club will add your event to the list of meets they will compete in.

- If you want a full historical record of your gymnasts for the 2007/08 season, let the host gym know you want the results posted to MSO. Understand that the Top Teams in America, and the MSO Gymnast of the Year must have verifiable results on MSO.

On behalf of MSO we wish all competitors a safe and successful season.

Last Call

MSO is getting ready to publish MSO’s annual list of the best clubs in America. MSO will then turn to the MSO Gymnast of the Year. Please do not forget to send in your nominations. A simple email with a summary of the gymnast’s results, Level, club, and coach’s name is all that is needed.

Nina No Way

Perhaps a better name for the Level 8s at the Nina Gymnastics Center is Nina No Way. As in: No way is any one going to beat us. These girls remain undefeated; remarkable.

The Number 1 Question in June?

The number one question MSO is asked this time of year is: Who are the Top Ten Teams in America? MSO has begun the analysis of this year’s results so if you think your club should be considered make sure your scores have been posted to MSO. Although the process is pretty straight forward, (meaning did you get it done?) there are still thousands of clubs, competitions, and gymnasts to review.

A New Big Name in Town?

Ocean Tumblers, Marvateens, Lehigh Valley, Cincinnati, and Parkettes: Names with a pedigree that may have to make room for a new powerhouse. Diamond Elite Gymnastics has completed a remarkable year. But, will it be enough to land them on MSO’s annual list of Top Ten Teams? Stay tuned.

Who’s Hot?

Kassandra Lopez of Tumbleweeds Gymnastics (Tucson, AZ) that’s who. The Level 9, who is a 2 time nominee for MSO’s Gymnast of the Year Award finished 1st All Around at the 2007 Level 9 Westerns. Watch for her at future JOs.

Moving On

Last weekend our beloved “Coach Sam” had her final home meet as head coach of the Boise State University Women’s Gymnastics Team. After 20 years of leading the Broncos to awards and titles too numerous to list here, Yvonne Sandmire is moving on. On behalf of the 16 million MSO fans MSO wishes her the best, and thanks her for thousands of hours of great gymnastics.

How Do You Spell “RESULTS”?

If you are the Leading Edge Gymnastics Academy (LEGA) it is with over 35 Level wins this season. Coach Tony Ammons, who has worked with Olympians and World Champions, has built quite a team in the Pacific Northwest. If LEGA’s gymnasts can keep these kinds of results going watch for LEGA at future JO Nationals…and of course on MSO’s List of Top Teams.

Deltchev's Does It!

First there was Brestyan’s, then Nina Gymnastics’ of New York, but now look to Deltchev's level 4's for a glimpse of future Gold Medalists. With a total team score of 115.70 (2nd place trailed by almost 9 points), these girls scores both an impressive victory at the 2007 Great West Gym Fest, and claimed a spot on MSO’s roster of Up and Comers!

Qualifiers, Qualifiers, Qualifiers

As the teams gear up for State, Regional, and National Qualifiers MSO wants to wish all competitors a save and successful run at true greatness. Keep your eyes open for the 2007 Top Ten Teams Final List; will your team be on it?

Speaking of Laura Horne

If you weren’t you will be. The Level 9 from Leading Edge Gymnastics Academy caught MSO’s attention this weekend at the 2007 HardRock Invitational. Last year Laura won the AA as a Level 8 at the 2006 Hardrock, and most recently was the Level 9 1st AA at the 2007 National Judges Cup. Laura was still competing Sunday so there are no results as yet; but now MSO’s expectations are high.

Leading Edge is where talented gymnast Ruby Engrietz trains. Ruby was also an AA winner at last year’s Hardrock. And Leading Edge hosts one of the meets you will definitely want to put on your competitive schedule for 2008. The Seattle Open is predicted to become the premiere event in the Pacific Northwest. By whom? …MSO.

A Preview of Things to Come

During MSO’s research for the top teams to watch this season, MSO noticed some up and coming competitors. All of these gymnasts are impressive:

Cade Bennett, Anchorage Gymnastics

Austin Hodges, Buffalo Grove

Lisavette Soto, Southestern

Alex Yoder, DeVeau’s

Sean Melton, Orlando Metro

Bridgette Caquatto, Aerial

Stephanie Canizaro, Gymstars

Rafael Javellana, Universal

Matt Foster, Premier

Sarah Miller, Berks East

- MSO Calendar -

Win a MeetScores' Cyber Cafe

Win a MeetScores sponsored Cyber Cafe at your Qualifier or Invitational for the Optional season in 2007. Send MeetScores an email with the name of the event, location, and why your event should be selected and MeetScores will enter your name into consideration.

One of the

Presan: What is your favorite thing about gymnastics?

Presan: Do you prefer larger or smaller meets?

Peko: Larger.

Presan: Then you must have loved competing at Nationals. How was it?

Peko: I was very surprised, but also very happy with the results (She finished 2nd All-Around). The only time I felt a little nervous was on beam.

Presan: What are some of your goals from here?

Peko: To compete at J.O. National Elite and at World's. For the future my goals are to go to a good college and participate in the 2012 Olympics. I am working really hard for these goals.

Presan: What are your coaches like?

Peko: I enjoy my coaches and they are very positive. My step dad used to be my gymnastics coach when I was younger, and I really enjoyed that. Whenever I get down, my coaches always turn it into a positive thing.

Presan: How big is your team?

Peko: There are five level 10 gymnasts on my team. We are all very close, and we are like family. We hang out together outside of the gym.

Presan: What about life without gymnastics?

Peko: Hard to say. If I wasn't doing gymnastics I would most likely still be involved in another sport because I enjoy being very active.

Presan: Tell me about outside of gymnastics?

Peko: In school my favorite subject is science. I get good grades. I have to balance my time with school and gymnastics. I go to school, which ends at 2:45, and then I go straight to practice, which starts at 3:30. My practice ends at 8:30 and I don't get home until 9 pm. When I get home, I do my school work. My practices are Monday-Friday, and also on Saturdays from 9-2pm. I usually don't have time for school functions, such as football games, or much of a social time, but when I do it's on the weekends.

Presan: Any brothers or sister?

Peko: I have two brothers. My older brother is turning 15 in December and plays football for his high school. My younger brother is turning 3 in December.

Presan: Now that you are moving up in the sport what is it like?

Peko: I like it, at the US Challenge I met Chellsie Memmel (M&M) and Shayla Worley (Orlando Metro).

MSO Note: With a personal goal to become an International Junior Elite National Team Member life for this 13 year old 8th grader from Henderson, Nevada is about to get very exciting. Peko’s is coached at Brown’s Las Vegas, by Dayna Isaacs-Waroe and Marcelo Figueiredo former National Team Coach of Brazil. Coach Dayna told MSO, “Asi is a special gymnast who works hard”. And, in this sport, that is more important than skill.

UP NEXT: Travel with MSO to Region 5, historically home to many of the nation’s legendary gymnasts, and where we will find the next gymnast on MSO’s Profiles.

Top Ten Men’s Clubs In America

The Beauty of a Nickname

Imagine a Bars routine so beautiful it reminds people of the Chinese gymnasts, and it earns you the nick name: Mao. Her coach calls Mao a solid gymnast, and yet she has also been described as extremely flexible. While these two terms are seemingly anomalous, they can and should be used in the same sentence when one is describing MSO’s 2007 Gymnast of the Year: Madison Estell.

MSO’s selection of the academic All-American is an example of a well rounded individual who can serve as a role model to every gymnast across the country regardless of gender, level, or achievement. Recognized for her poise (she is known as “non-flappable” in tough competitive situations), her intelligence (Mao is extremely well-read), and her quiet demeanor (“…she just gets it done”), Madison is what MSO feels all gymnast should strive to be.

Madison is currently training Level 9 at Kansas Gymnastics and Cheer (KGDC) in Olathe, KS. Since starting at KGDC in 2004 she has placed 2nd All-Around at State as a Level 4, went undefeated her Level 5 season (2005), which also includes placing 1st All-Around at the State qualifier. There is no record of her ever having competed Level 6, and in 2006 as a Level 7 she qualified at the Kansas Judges Cup to represent Kansas at the National Judges Cup. Among her many Level 7 accomplishments is her 2nd place All-Around at State. As a Level 8 she qualified to Regionals her first year. In addition to training Level 9 Madison is also testing Elite. Please note that this phenomenal gymnast is only in the 7th grade.

Madison is active in extracurricular activities and has received 3 consecutive Community Service Awards at school. A recipient of Exemplary Academic Awards in Math, Science, and English, twice named as Student of Week, and a member of the school’s prestigious Ambassador Program, Madison school credentials are as solid as her gymnastics ones. Perhaps what best exemplifies Madison as worthy of being named MSO’s 2007 Gymnast of the Year is this anecdotal of a meeting between Madison and the school counselor. In reply to the question “What is the hardest part of gymnastics?” Madison replied, “Its’ hard when I win because that means someone else loses”.

MSO would be remiss if in honoring Madison for being such a wonderful student-athlete we did not recognize the support of her parents, teacher, and coaches: Three of the main reasons she claims to be so successful.

Congratulation to

Madison “Mao” Estell

, A scholar, an accomplished athlete, and

MSO’s 2007 Gymnast of the Year!

.

The Top Teams in America

This year is no different. While looking for the top clubs MSO came across specific gymnasts that impress: Frederick Gymnastics’ Kayla Sienkowski, Diamond Elite’s Kristin Furukawa, Azarian’s Donothan Bailey, and Gym Nevada’s Jake Dalton.

MSO also took note of the large number of Florida teams that dominate meets they compete in. IF, and that’s IF with a capital “F”, MSO were to name the nation’s top state for gymnastics; the “F” would stand for Florida.

No Ohio, MSO did not overlook you. Thanks in large part to Ohio the top region would have been: FIVE!

Honorable Mention: For a relatively small and young club Carter’s of Arizona (Women) again put on a notable run to the Top Ten Teams list. Let by gymnast Christina Woods every Carter gymnast that made it to national level competition did well.

Also Rans: Normally this term carries a somewhat negative connotation. Not in this case. All of these clubs just missed being named #10 and rightly so. Producing strong competitors with great results all year long, good showings at Regional and National level events; these women’s teams are noteworthy: DeVeau’s, Midwest Twisters, Gym East, and Texas Tumblers. For the Men: Houston Gym, OSU, and Golden Bear.

Private note to OGA and Coach Matt: MSO is watching.

MSO has been asked if MSO has results showing who the top teams in the East and the West are. Yes. In fact based purely on results MSO could list the top teams per region, state, etc. However, due to MSO’s limited resources it won’t be this year.

The Top Ten Teams in America are chosen by results. MSO starts with Nationals and work backwards via Regionals, Easterns/Westerns, down to the state qualifiers. MSO then looks at those teams, 40+ teams total, and then reviews individual results, overall club results for the entire year, and how each level did. Not an easy task. Along the way we are distracted by individual gymnasts, specific Levels, and in one case a club’s amazing record of placing competitors into collegiate level gymnastics. Here they are:

MSO’s 2007 TOP TEN TEAMS LIST

MEN

#10 San Mateo

#9 Cypress Academy

#8 Premier

#7 World Cup

#6 Buffalo Grove

#5 Hocking Valley

#4 Black Hills

#3 SCATS HB

#2 WOGA

#1 Universal - Thanks to Danell Leyva and Edward Mesa (MSO’s 2006 Gymnast of the Year) Universal did very well all season long.

WOMEN

#10 – Byers (Sacramento)

#9 – Cincinnati

#8 – La Fleur’s Tampa

#7 – Colorado Aerials

#6 – WOGA

#5 – Arena

#4 – Airborne

#3 – Great American

#2 – Hills

#1 – La Fleurs (WI) - La Fleurs could be a dynasty in the making. This family of gym owners knows how to develop champions, and the granddaddy is in Wisconsin.

About MSO

Karl Stubsjoen founded MeetScoresOnLine.com, also known as MSO, in 2000. Karl a former gymnast and coach is married with three children and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. It was shortly after Karl built the MSO software that Karl asked Del Ruiz to join him in launching MSO for general public use. Del a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona is also married and also a father of three, one of which is a gymnast. Del’s contribution is a strong background in business development and new product launch.

MSO started as a web-based software application for displaying results on the internet. From the start MSO has been a free service for any club wanting to post men’s or women’s scores on the internet. From 2001 when a handful of gyms used the service to today when over 1000 meets get posted annually, MSO has grown to become the leading website for club gymnastics. In the past seven years as MSO has moved from compiling basic scores to comprehensive analytics of overall results and standings, MSO has been able to identify America’s best performing programs with MSO’s Top Ten Teams List. The MSO Gymnast of the Year Award is recognition of exemplary gymnastics and is truly the only award in the sport that looks at over 5000 clubs and 35,000 gymnasts to find the competitor that is a role model to others.

As our fans base matures and moves into collegiate competition, MSO is committed to continuing to support the club program while following our best gymnasts to the university level. And, it will remain a free service.

We hope this write-up gives you some understanding of MSO. Please visit the site often and see for yourself why gymnastic fans love MSO.

About MSO

Karl Stubsjoen founded MeetScoresOnLine.com, also known as MSO, in 2000. Karl a former gymnast and coach is married with three children and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. It was shortly after Karl built the MSO software that Karl asked Del Ruiz to join him in launching MSO for general public use. Del a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona is also married and also a father of three, one of which is a gymnast. Del’s contribution is a strong background in business development and new product launch.

MSO started as a web-based software application for displaying results on the internet. From the start MSO has been a free service for any club wanting to post men’s or women’s scores on the internet. From 2001 when a handful of gyms used the service to today when over 1000 meets get posted annually, MSO has grown to become the leading website for club gymnastics. In the past seven years as MSO has moved from compiling basic scores to comprehensive analytics of overall results and standings, MSO has been able to identify America’s best performing programs with MSO’s Top Ten Teams List. The MSO Gymnast of the Year Award is recognition of exemplary gymnastics and is truly the only award in the sport that looks at over 5000 clubs and 35,000 gymnasts to find the competitor that is a role model to others.

As our fans base matures and moves into collegiate competition, MSO is committed to continuing to support the club program while following our best gymnasts to the university level. And, it will remain a free service.

We hope this write-up gives you some understanding of MSO. Please visit the site often and see for yourself why gymnastic fans love MSO.

The 2008 Top Ten Women’s Teams in America

Young Guns Wanted

MSO is looking for outstanding junior coaches as part of MSO’s “Future Leaders of Gymnastics Highlighted” profile. If you meet, or have a coach in your program that meets the following qualifications please send MSO their names, the name of the club or university where they are currently coaching, the name of the club and college where they competed gymnastics (if applicable), and the level or event they coach.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. 7 or less years as a coach

2. Is an assistant at the club or collegiate level

3. At least one (1) full season as a coach

4. Has coached at least one (1) Sectional, State, or Conference Champion

Special Note: If you own your own gym then qualification #2 is waived, meaning you can be the Head Coach.

Thank You Coach

Shawn Johnson of Chow’s Gymnastics in West Des Moines, Iowa found a special way to thank her coaches, Lian Chow and Liwen Zhang. Shawn has their names inscribed in the coaches’ native Mandarin on her competitive leotard. Now that is creative.

Welcome to the New MSO

As MSO enters our 8th year we express our gratitude to the thousand of clubs and tens of thousands of gymnasts and their families that have made MSO the #1 website in the country for club gymnastics. The new design is set up by features:

Current Issues and Old News has replaced the old MSO home page. This is where MSO will post anything that is brought to MSO’s attention. Visit MSO often and stay on top of what is happening in club gymnastics across the country.

Calendar and Results is where you can find a list of upcoming meets, and the results for those meets people have sent in scores for. Can’t find your meet, or don’t see the results for a specific meet? Contact MSO.

Cheer. As more clubs build out impressive cheer programs MSO is going to help promote their effort. This week for example, MSO helped produce a Dance, Cheer, and Pom clinic sponsored in part by the Phoenix Mercury WNBA team. Want to promote a cheer related event nationally? Camp? Clinic? Send MSO the information and we will post it in our new “Cheer” section.

Who are the Top Ten Teams in America? Who is the 2007 MSO Gymnast of the Year? Check out Honors.

MSO’s favorite section, and MSO believes soon your as well is Profiles. This is where we will look at gymnast from across the country. Read about what makes a gymnast great, hard working, or just plain special. The first profile is a write up on the person who will conduct the interviews; Amy Presan. Who should Amy be talking to? Let MSO know.

Senior Watch is not about high school seniors. Well, not entirely. Senior Watch is about club gymnasts who are starting to consider college level gymnastics. Find out who is going where. What schools are in play. And, anything else about the gymnasts who are competing in their final years of club competition.

Meet Links is a webpage that will promote and link clubs to your events. This is a limited number of small banners at a low cost of $500.00 annually. The section was added by special request, and the cost includes the cost of your banner, and a link to your gym’s website. These banner spots are sold on a six month basis and are great for promoting Comulusory, Optional, or Qualifiers host by your club. Running a special summer camp or technical clinic? Think Meet Links. MSO hopes you find the redesigned Website easier to use, and that you will continue to support MeetScoresOnLine.com.

Have Cheer Team, Will Travel

Cheer is big and getting bigger...in the club gymnastics community. If your club has a cheer program MSO wants to know about it. Do you have a camp or clinic we can recommend to other cheer programs? Does your cheer team travel? What honors, awards, or other recognitions have your cheer staff earned for themselves or the team? Let MSO hear from you.

Who Are They?

The Signings Have Started:

,/p>

The Newest Gopher

Kristin Furukawa with four top-10 finishes, a fourth-place showing in the All Around at Nationals, and a spot on the Junior Olympic National Team is headed to the University of Minnesota. Kristin will be the first Junior Olympic National Team Member to attend the University of Minnesota since Leigh Dixon competed for the Gophers (2000-03).

The Newest Gopher

Kristin Furukawa with four top-10 finishes, a fourth-place showing in the All Around at Nationals, and a spot on the Junior Olympic National Team is headed to the University of Minnesota. Kristin will be the first Junior Olympic National Team Member to attend the University of Minnesota since Leigh Dixon competed for the Gophers (2000-03).