Westfield Gymnast To Compete Nationally In USAG

WESTFIELD, NJ — A Westfield athlete from the North Stars Gymnastics Academy is among 12 National Qualifiers in the USAG National Women’s Development Program.

There are six Level 9 gymnasts and six Level 10s who qualified at the Region 7 competition held at Virginia Beach Sports Center April 13-16. Region 7 Gymnastics is the governing body of USAG gymnastics in six states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

The USAG Gymnastics Women’s Program Committee is comprised of eight regions throughout the nation.

"Our athletes put in countless hours of training, year-round, to get ready for their season and they powered through stiff competition to compete at maximum level of performance," said Ashley Umberger, part owner and head coach North Stars Gymnastics Academy. "We are excited for them to perform at this incredible annual event, where they will be among the best of the best in our country."

The top seven all-around finishers and one alternate from each age group qualified to represent Region 7 nationally.

In Level, 9, those gymnasts now will compete individually in their respective age groups and as part of the Region 7 National Team from May 4-7 at the USA Gymnastics Women’s Artistic Level 9 Eastern Championships to be held at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla. Easterns is comprised of 26 states in the Eastern part of the nation.

The other half will compete at Westerns during the same weekend in Boise, Idaho. The six North Stars’ Level 9 qualifiers for Easterns include:

• Alexa Ciliotta, 16, Montville, Class of 2025
  • Montville High School, sophomore
  • First place AA champion, 38.225
  • First beam, 9.5
  • Second bars, 9.675
  • Third floor, 9.450
• Lia DiNapoli, 14, Butler, Class of 2026
  • Homeschool, freshman
  • Alternate (Jr. 7)
  • Second place bars, 9.475
• Mira Kalra, 14, Basking Ridge
  • Homeschool, freshman
  • First place AA champion, 37.225
  • Third place vault, 9.425
  • Third place floor, 9.35
• Brooke Kurinec, 15, Montville, Class of 2025
  • Montville Township High School, sophomore
  • Sixth place AA, 36.450
  • Second place floor, 9.5
• Abigail Silverman, 15, Westfield, Class of 2025
  • Westfield High School, sophomore
  • Third place AA, 36.85
  • Second place tie, floor: 9.5
• Sahana Vasan,14, New Providence, Class of 2027
  • New Providence Middle School
  • Sixth place AA, 36.850
  • Second place tie bars, 9.75

In Level 10, the top seven all-around finishers from each age group, plus an alternate, from Regionals in Virginia Beach move onto the national stage. The stakes are even higher for Level 10s as these athletes will compete against gymnasts from all eight U.S. regions, representing the 50 states.

The Level 10s will compete in the USAG Development Program 2023 National Championship May 9-14 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

The top four all-around scoring athletes from each age division at Level 10 Nationals will make up the USA Development Program National Team and receive an invitation to participate in a special training camp. The USAG national league maxes out at Level 10.

Only those who train and qualify at Elite competitions rank higher.

The six North Stars’ Level 10 National qualifiers include:

• Alexa Chuy, 17, Scotch Plains, Class of 2023
  • Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School, senior
  • Fifth place AA, 37.625
• Leah Higgins, 12, Boonton, Class of 2029
  • Homeschooled
  • Fourth place AA, 37.075
  • Second place bars, 9.275
• Olivia Kelly, 15, Mahwah, Class of 2024
  • Homeschool, junior
  • University of Missouri Women’s Gymnastics recruit
  • Third place AA champion, 38.250
  • Bars regional champion, 9.8
  • Second place vault, 9.7
• Karina Lankamer, 18, Flemington, Class of 2023
  • Hunterdon Central Regional High School, senior
  • Central Michigan University Women’s Gymnastics commit
  • Fourth place tie AA, 38.000
  • Second vault, 9.750
• Jessica “Jess” Marie Schmitz, 17, Wayne, Class of 2024
  • Homeschool, junior
  • Alternate, AA 36.300
• Madison “Maddie” Vitolo, 18, Basking Ridge, Class of 2023
  • Ridge High School, senior
  • University of Illinois Women’s Gymnastics commit
  • Third place AA, 37.900 (Sr. F)
  • Second place beam, 9.525

North Stars Gymnastics Academy has been a national training center in Morris County for 50 years with female gymnasts earning placements and awards at the national and international levels. It boasts medalists in USA Championships, Goodwill Games, Pan American Games, Pacific Alliance Championships and competitions in France, South Korea, England, Russia, Bulgaria,
Colombia, U.S. Olympic Trials, and more.

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