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Meet the Team
These Level 7 gymnasts will represent Maryland at the 2020 National Judges Invitational in California!
Kendall Brown
Club: Harford Gymnastics
Coaches: Teresa Walstrum, Becky Schaller, Joe Vrzalik, Tina Kratzmeier, Ron Lievendag, Brendon Crevecoeur
Floor music:: "Conga" by Miami Sound Machine
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Front Giants
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Making the Maryland Team for the 2020 National Judges Cup and 1st AA at the 2019 Level 6 State Championship.
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: I attended an open gym at Harford when I was four years old and Coach Katie told my mom she should enroll me in classes.
Favourite class in school:: Science
Favourite TV show:: Raven's Home
Favourite movie:: Simone Biles " Courage to Soar"
Other hobbies:: Drawing and Step-Team at School
Favourite music:: Hip-Hop
Charity involvement:: Toys for Tots
Etc: I want to compete gymnastics and or track at UCLA or LSU and I want to be a lawyer when I grow up.
Iz'Abella Buckmon
Club: 1st Class Gymnastics
Coaches: Shone Taglisferi
Floor music:: Freeze Frame
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Double Backs
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Qualifying for 2020 Judges Cup
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: Started out in classes and excelled in skill progressions, so I joined team!
Favourite class in school:: Math
Favourite TV show:: Greenhouse Academy
Favourite movie:: Matilda
Other hobbies:: Cooking
Favourite music:: Blank Space
Charity involvement:: Anne Arundel Food Bank, Toys 4 Tots
Etc.:: I love TOPS/HOPES and I love gymnastics!!
Emily Collins
Club: All Pro Gymnastics
Coaches: Shelby Davis
Floor music:: Battle for the beat
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Giants
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Scoring 9.9 on the floor at Maryland states
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: Took a class and was interested and then I tried out for team
Favourite class in school:: Science
Favourite TV show:: Outdaughtered
Favourite movie:: Secret life of Pets
Other hobbies:: Crafts and swimming
Favourite music:: Heaven by Kane Brown
Charity involvement:: Safety at school and donate toys and clothes to others
Etc.:: Stick with your dreams and anything is possible.
Kennedy Cummins
Club: AllPro Gymnastics
Coaches: Shelby Davis, Abdul Mammeri, & Melissa Davis
Floor music:: Cry Me a River
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Round off on beam
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Making the National AllStar Team.
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: My older sister Christina introduced me to the sport. She was the first person to teach me basic gymnastics skills.
Favourite class in school:: Math
Favourite TV show:: Fuller House
Favourite movie:: Elf
Other hobbies:: Arts and Crafts
Favourite music:: Happier
Charity involvement:: Volunteer with Happy Helpers for the Homeless
Emma Friedman
Club: Hills Gymnastics
Coaches: Emily Morrit & Audrey Cash
Floor music:: Pirates
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Front handspring-front layout-front layout on floor
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Making the Maryland Team for the National Judges Cup
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: When I was really young, I was always bouncing around the house and had a ton of energy. My parents signed me up for a gymnastics class and I loved it! The rest is history...
Favourite class in school:: Math
Favourite TV show:: Jessie and American Ninja Warrior
Favourite movie:: Full Out
Other hobbies:: Reading, origami, and bouncing on my trampoline
Favourite music:: Con Calma
Charity involvement:: I made fleece tie blankets for Johns Hopkins Children’s Center; I made meals/donated clothing to a local homeless shelter; I participated in a holiday community service project at my school
Etc.:: I am hard working, determined, and dedicated.
Elianna Hart
Club: MarVaTeens
Coaches: Mike DiLeo and Carrie Smith
Floor music:: "A Million Dreams"
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Giants
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Persisting through obstacles and achieving my goal of qualifying for Nationals.
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: My preschool teacher told me I was climbing too much and needed to take a gymnastics class.
Favourite class in school:: Algebra II
Favourite TV show:: Gilmore Girls
Favourite movie:: High School Musical
Other hobbies:: Diving, Ultimate Frisbee, and spending time with friends
Favourite music:: Pop and Country
Charity involvement:: Raising money for Fisher House Foundation
Etc.:: While gymnastics is not a lifelong sport, it has taught me lifelong lessons
Zoey Romero
Club: All Pro Gymnastics Elite Training Center
Coaches: Shelby Davis, Abdul Mammeri
Floor music:: Master of Tides
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Fly away
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Making the National Team
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: I don't remember not loving it. I was little and teaching myself cartwheels.
Favourite class in school:: Spanish
Favourite TV show:: Friends and Gilmore Girls
Favourite movie:: Mean Girls
Other hobbies:: Is there anything besides gymnastics?
Favourite music:: One Direction/Harry Styles
Charity involvement:: Currently sponsoring a family for Christmas which is probably my favorite so far. My school always has ongoing charities. Packed lunches on Fridays for the homeless, canned food drives, collecting coats and blankets. I volunteered at a nursing home one summer, too. I liked the older people a lot.
Etc.:: I hope to always be involved in sports. When I get older, I'd like to be a physical therapist for athletes.
Ani Sabounjian
Club: Hill's Gymnastics
Coaches: Emily Morrit
Floor music:: Requiem for a Dream
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Back tumbling pass
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: earning my 38
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: my twin brother and i started together
Favourite class in school:: math
Favourite TV show:: Friends
Favourite movie:: Valerian
Other hobbies:: MMA and Jujitsu
Favourite music:: rap
Charity involvement:: Laps for Lexi
Caroline Taylor
Club: Flips Gymnastics
Coaches: Angela Boyle & Bobby Mitchell
Floor music: Hawaiian Boogie
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform: Giants
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment Winning the Maryland Level 3 State Meet
How did you get involved with gymnastics? My grandma, mom and sister all did gymnastics and shared it with me.
Favourite class in school: English
Favourite TV show: Friends
Favourite movie: Home Alone
Other hobbies: Lacrosse
Favourite music: Memories by Maroon 5
Charity involvement: People Who Need People (www.pwnp.org)
Etc.: Thank you to my coaches and teammates for encouraging me and making gymnastics so much fun!
Emlyn Thomson
Club: Hill's Gymnastics Training Center
Coaches: Igor Kniazev and Kat Clippert
Floor music:: Rock Violin
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform:: Giants to Layout on Bars
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: 2019 National Tops Camp and Maryland Judges Cup Team
How did you get involved with gymnastics?: From watching my older brother practice and compete in gymnastics
Favourite class in school:: Physical Education
Favourite TV show:: Victorious
Favourite movie:: Full Out & Raising the Bar
Other hobbies:: Cooking and Art & Crafts
Favourite music:: Jason Derulo: Colors
Charity involvement:: American Heart Association
Naureen Zagade
Club: Hill's Gymnastics
Coaches: Kat Clippert and Igor Kniazev
Floor music: Tango Passion
Favourite gymnastics skill to perform: giants
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment Making Team Maryland for the Judges Cup and the TOPS National Team
How did you get involved with gymnastics? I used to tag along to my sister's classes when I was little and try to do what she did.
Favourite class in school: Science
Favourite TV show: Victorious
Favourite movie: Lady and the Tramp
Other hobbies: crafts, dancing
Favourite music: pop music
Charity involvement: I donate clothes to my local charity.
Etc.: I am the youngest of 6 kids.