Bridgewater Gymnast Qualifies For USAG Level 10 Nationals

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Stella Fischer, 14, Bridgewater is among those to qualify nationally for the USAG National Women’s Development Program.

After intense competition, six Level 10 gymnasts and six Level 9s from North Stars Gymnastics qualified at the USAG Region 7 Regionals held at the Nittany Valley Sports Center in State College, Pa. April 11 to 14.

The gymnasts are trained by Head Team Coach Ashley Umberger, Faith Baranowski, Heather Moroz, Shenice Martin, Melissa Jones and Brielle Benoski.

The USAG Gymnastics Women’s Program is comprised of eight regions throughout the nation, representing all 50 states. Region 7 Gymnastics is the governing body of USAG gymnastics representing Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

The top seven all-around finishers and one alternate from each age group qualify to represent Region 7 nationally. Ten is the top score gymnasts could receive for each event including balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercise and vault.

All-around scores are comprised from all four events with 40 as the highest.

"We are proud to have so many of our talented athletes qualify to compete at these prestigious events," said Ashley Umberger, CEO, part owner and head coach North Stars Gymnastics Academy. "Their hard work, dedication and perseverance have paid off, earning them an opportunity to compete and showcase their skills on a national level."

The Level 10s will compete in the USAG Development Program 2024 National Championship May 9 to 12 at the Volusia County Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The top four all-around athletes from each age division will make up the USA Development Program National Team and receive an invitation to participate in a special training camp. The event will be streamed live via a subscription service.

North Stars’ Level 10 National qualifiers include:

• Olivia Kelly, 17, Mahwah (Bergen County) Class of 2024, Sr. D
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, senior
  • University of Missouri Women’s Gymnastics Team commit
  • AA champion, first place 39.4250
  • Beam, first place 9.900
  • Bars, first place 9.850
  • Floor, first place 9.950
  • Vault, 9.725
• Leah Higgins, 13, Boonton (Morris County) Class of 2029, Jr. A
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, 7th grade
  • AA, fifth place 37.4250
  • Bars, 9.500
  • Beam, 9.000
  • Floor, fifth place 9.575
  • Vault, 9.350
• Stella Fischer, 14, Bridgewater (Somerset County) Class of 2027, Jr. B
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, 8th grade
  • AA, fourth place 36.8250
  • Bars, fourth place 9.400
  • Beam, second place 9.625
  • Floor, 8.725
  • Vault, 9.075
• Sophia Rocca, 14, Blairstown (Warren County) Class of 2028, Jr. B
  • (All-Star Session/event specialist-beam)
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, freshman
  • Bars, 9.275
  • Beam, first place 9.650
• Kai Mattei, 17, Melville, N.Y. (Suffolk County) Class of 2025, Sr. B
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, junior
  • AA, fourth place 37.4500
  • Bars, 8.975
  • Beam, first place tie 9.625
  • Floor, 9.400
  • Vault, 9.450
• Alana Walker, 17, West Orange (Essex County) Class of 2024, Sr. D
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, senior
  • Stanford Women’s Gymnastics Team commit
  • AA, second place 38.5250
  • Bars, 9.375
  • Beam, fourth place 9.500
  • Floor, second place 9.850
  • Vault, second place tie 9.800

In Level, 9, gymnasts will compete individually in their respective age groups and as part of the Region 7 National Team from May 2 to 5 at the USA Gymnastics Women’s Artistic Level 9 Eastern Championships at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center in South Carolina.

Easterns consists of Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8 — representing 26 states in the Eastern part of the U.S. The other half, Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4, will compete at Westerns the same weekend in Coralville, Idaho.

North Stars’ Level 9 qualifiers for Easterns include:

• Mira Kalra, 15, Basking Ridge (Somerset County) Class of 2026, Sr. 3
  • Ridge High School, sophomore
  • AA champion, first place 38.1750
  • Beam, first place 9.450
  • Bars, first place 9.500
  • Floor, first place 9.675
  • Vault, first place 9.550
• Olivia Cuff, 14, Denville (Morris County) Class of 2027, Jr. 7 (first alternate)
  • Morris Knolls High School, Rockaway, N.J., freshmanAA 35.900
  • Beam, 8.525
  • Bars, 8.375
  • Floor, fourth place 9.525
  • Vault, third place 9.475
• Ashlyn Cummings, 12, Oak Ridge (Morris County) Class of 2029, Jr. 2
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, 7th grade
  • AA, sixth place 36.950
  • Beam, 8.725
  • Bars, second place 9.450
  • Floor, 9.500
  • Vault, 9.275
• Lia DiNapoli, 15, Butler (Morris County) Class of 2026, Sr. 3
  • North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, sophomore
  • AA, third place 36.5750
  • Beam, 9.200
  • Bars, 8.600
  • Floor, 9.300
  • Vault, second place tie 9.475
• Keira Schwarz,14, Basking Ridge (Somerset County) Class of 2028, Jr. 6
  • William Annin Middle School, Basking Ridge, 8th grade
  • AA, third place 37.600
  • Bars, first place 9.400
  • Beam, 8.950
  • Floor, first place tie 9.700
  • Vault, third place 9.550
• Sh’Nai Thompson,16, Dunellen (Middlesex County) Class of 2025, Sr. 5
  • Dunellen High School, junior
  • AA,second place 37.6250
  • Bars, 8.800
  • Beam, second place 9.425
  • Floor, second place 9.600
  • Vault, first place tie 9.800

To learn more about North Stars, visit northstarsgymnastics.com.

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