News

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 28, 2019 – The USA Gymnastics men’s program has announced the gymnasts who will represent Regions 3, 5 and 8, the first three of nine teams, at the 2019 Elite Team Cup, which features the country’s top junior elite male gymnasts in a regional team competition. Slated for March 2 at 6 p.m. ET at the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum Complex, the Elite Team Cup is part of the Triple Cup Weekend that includes the 2019 American Cup, an International Gymnastics Federation World Cup event that features some of the world’s biggest names in gymnastics, at 11:30 a.m. ET and the Nastia Liukin Cup, which showcases many of the country’s best Junior Olympic female gymnasts on March 1 at 7 p.m.

The members of the three teams are listed below.

Region 3
Lazarus Barnhill Houston, Texas Cypress Academy of Gymnastics	Fuzzy Benas Richmond, Texas EnRich Gymnastics and Dance Academy	Garrett Braunton Olympia, Wash. Cypress Academy of Gymnastics	Jack Freeman Palestine, Texas Cypress Academy of Gymnastics	Daniel Simmons Cypress, Texas Cypress Academy of Gymnastics	Colt Walker Cedar Park, Texas AcroTex Gymnastics
Region 5
Landen Blixt Fowlerville, Mich. Infinity Gymnastics Academy	Will Hauke Indianapolis, Ind. DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics	Michael Jaroh Northville, Mich. Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy	Michael Kogan Vernon Hills, Ill. Buffalo Grove Gymnastics	Rithik Puri Chicago, Ill. Lakeshore Academy of Art Gymnastics	Tyler Rockwood Lancaster, Ohio Hocking Valley Gymnastics
Region 8
Ethan Boder Knoxville, Tenn. GymTek Academy	Crew Bold Delray Beach, Fla. TAG USA Gymnastics	Steven Lukasik Lutz, Fla. LaFleur’s Tampa	Donte McKinney Cameron, N.C. Triumph Gymnastics	Kameron Nelson Jackson, Tenn. Arrow Athletic Center	Travis Wong Miami, Fla. TAG USA Gymnastics

The Elite Team Cup features nine men’s Regional Teams, each consisting of six junior elite gymnasts. Team scores for the Elite Team Cup will be based on five athletes competing on each event with the top four scores on each event counting. The country’s best junior elite male gymnasts are representing their respective regions. The junior elite gymnasts must be between 13-18 years of age as of May 31, 2019, and were selected from the Regional Elite Team Program. The junior elite gymnasts will follow USA Gymnastics Level 10 Age Group rules for the competition. The event, first held in 2016, was staged in Newark, N.J, 2016-17, and Hoffman Estates, 2018.

In addition to all-session ticket packages that range in price from $89-$149, single session tickets are available for all three events: American Cup, $59-$79; Nastia Liukin Cup, $39 general admission; and Elite Team Cup, $29 general admission. Ticket prices, which are plus applicable fees, vary according to seat location. All-session ticket packages include tickets to all three of the weekend’s events. To purchase tickets, call Ticketmaster’s charge-by-phone line at 800-745-3000, or visit ticketmaster.com or the Greensboro Coliseum Complex Box Office. Group tickets may be purchased by calling 336.373.7433. Discounted tickets are available through gymnastics clubs participating in the gym club ticket program. For more information, go to americancup.com.

The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is also hosting the 2019 Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational Feb. 27-March 3, turning the city into “gymnastics central.” One junior and one senior gymnast will advance to the Nastia Liukin Cup from the 2019 Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, the final qualifying event for the Nastia Liukin Cup. This is the second time the Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, hosted by Flip Force Gymnastics, has been part of the Nastia Liukin Cup Series. In addition, designated women’s sessions for the invitational’s finals will use the equipment and podium brought in for the American Cup.

The Nastia Liukin Cup made its debut in 2010. Past sites include 2018, Hoffman Estates, Ill.; 2016 and 2017, Newark, N.J.; 2015, Arlington, Texas; 2014, Greensboro, N.C.; 2013 and 2010, Worcester, Mass.; 2012, New York City; and 2011, Jacksonville, Fla. The Elite Team Cup debuted in 2016 in Newark, N.J., returned to Newark in 2017, and was in Hoffman Estates in 2018.

Background information

• Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is an independent, non-profit governmental authority whose mission is to aggressively market Greensboro’s assets, maximizing economic impact while providing excellent visitor service. Guilford County ranks third in the state in travel and tourism expenditures, with over $1.2 billion generated in 2015 and more than 13,000 people employed in travel-related jobs. For more information: www.visitgreensboronc.com.
• Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is a multi-building facility designed to serve the citizens of Greensboro and the surrounding area through a broad range of activities, including athletic events, cultural arts, concerts, theater, educational activities, fairs, exhibits, and public and private events of all kinds including conventions, convocations and trade and consumer shows. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is one of the most actively booked facilities in the country hosting more than 1,100 events on an annual basis. With its incredible versatility, the Complex has gained worldwide acclaim from promoters, producers, event planners and patrons. For more information; www.greensborocoliseum.com.
• Sports & Properties, Inc. SPI is a sports marketing and sports development firm concentrating in four primary areas of business: major sponsorships, including naming rights; sports tourism; sports & entertainment facilities; and major events. SPI recent projects include the Raleigh-Durham market’s Major League Soccer Application, the USA Masters Games, greater Hickory, NC, sports tourism, St. Pete Pier naming rights, and the Seminole County Sports Complex. Event projects include the National Collegiate Table Tennis Championships, U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and the American Cup. SPI clients include Capitol Broadcasting Company, the City of St. Petersburg, FL, the North Carolina Football Club, and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, among others. For more information on SPI, visit sportsproperties.com.
• Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational (GGI) – Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2019, the Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, hosted by Flip Force Gymnastics, is one of the largest gymnastics events on the East Coast. The event includes competition in men’s and women’s gymnastics, and power tumbling and trampoline. In 2018, GGI hosted over 3,000 athletes and was a Nastia Liukin Cup senior and junior qualifying event. 2018 was also the inaugural year of the GGI State Men’s Team Competition. Held annually at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in February, GGI is directed by Chris Young (Flip Force Gymnastics), Esau Huang (Flip Force Gymnastics), and Sarah Myers (Flip Force Kidsport Gymnastics). GGI is a sponsor of Big Brothers Big Sisters, raising $25,000 for the local chapter. For more information, go to www.greensborogyminvite.com.
• International Gymnastics Federation. The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international federation of an Olympic sport and has participated in the Olympic Games since its revival in 1896. The FIG governs eight sports: gymnastics for all, men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline (including double mini-trampoline and tumbling), aerobics, acrobatics, and Parkour. It counts 148 national member federations and has its headquarters in the Olympic capital of Lausanne, Switzerland.
• USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has already taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.