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Team Maryland
2017 National Judges Invitational
Congratulations to Team Maryland on an outstanding showing at the 2017 National Judges Invitational! The state team competition as always was the highlight of the weekend. It was a very tight competition and Team Maryland had an outstanding showing.
Our alternates Vivian Tran (Fairland) and Lian Yale (Harford) competed as Maryland All Stars on Friday night and both went four for four with outstanding performances.
Team Maryland composed of Bianna Wanuga (Baltimore City), Innocent Mensal (Sportsplex), Cameron Smith (Hills), Katya Melendez (Fairland), Cecelia Gover (Top Flight), Emelia Eddy (1st Class) competed on Saturday and they were amazing. All of them went four for four so we had perfect weekend with beautiful and fantastic performances.
The high intensity state team competition was filled with suspense as always. Team Maryland came in THIRD!!!! We are so proud of all these athletes and their excellent representation for Maryland.
Thank you to this special group of athletes, their coaches, their teams, and their families for their hard work and support of this wonderful experience.
Emelia Eddy
Club: 1st Class Gymnastics
Coaches: Mary Thompson, Kim Hermansen, Lucas Graenicher
Instagram: @i_am_emelia
Floor Music: Nutcracker Ballet
Favorite skill: series on beam and giants on bars
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Making it to the Maryland Level 7 State Team!
How did you get involved with gymnastics? I was taking a tumbling class for cheerleading. I would constantly watch the gymnasts performing their routines, so I begged my mom to enroll me in a gymnastics class. I loved it!
Favourite class in school:History
Favourite TV show: How It's Made and American Pickers
Favourite movie: Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music
Other hobbies: Art, Singing, Collecting miniatures
Favourite music: Classical and Contemporary Christian
Charity involvement: Christian Children's Fund, Disabled American Veterans, and Linda's Legacy filling backpacks for the homeless
"My personal motto is, 'Have Courage and Be Kind.' My goal is to be a college gymnast at Arizona State University. For my career, I'd like to be an artistic zoologist working in the field studying endangered species."
Cecelia Gover
Club: Top Flight Gymnastics
Coaches: Dale Kaestner
Instagram: @cece.govs
Favorite skill: Back tuck on high beam
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Making the Maryland State team
How did you get involved with gymnastics? My parents saw that I was able to do the monkey bars on my own at 2 years old and quickly enrolled me in gymnastics.
Favourite class in school: Tech Ed
Favourite TV show: Friends
Favourite movie: Pitch Perfect
Other hobbies: Riding my bike
Favourite music: 70s / 80s Classic Rock
Charity involvement: I participate in the Best Buddies program at my school
"
"I am the youngest of 7 children in my family."
Katya Melendez
Club: Fairland
Coaches: Resi Buell-Size
Instagram: @Katyarose14
Floor Music: The End
Favorite skill: full
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Making it to Nationals Judges Cup and representing Maryland
How did you get involved with gymnastics? parents introduced into the sport
Favourite class in school: Math & Science
Favourite TV show: Cup Cake War
Favourite movie: Soul Surfer
Other hobbies: Swim, Dive, dance, sing, act
Favourite music: pop
Charity involvement: Operation Christmas Chold
Katya is a member of the National Jr. Honor Society!
Innocent Mensah
Club: Sportsplex Gymnastics
Coaches: Jodi Morgan, Sue Gill, Shakira Howard and Rob Battle
Floor Music: Jack's Boogie
Favorite skill: Standing back tucks on beam
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Qualifying for 2017 National Judges Cup
How did you get involved with gymnastics? By watching the 2012 Olympics, I got inspired by Gabby Douglas performances
Favourite class in school: Math
Favourite TV show: K.C Undercover and Cupcake Wars
Favourite movie: Stick It
Other hobbies: Reading
Favourite music: Treat me like somebody by Tink
Charity involvement: Sending gently used clothes to Africa and contribute to the church's food pantry
Innocent can speak French!
Cameron Smith
Club: Hills Gymnastics, Gaithersburg MD
Coaches: Katrina Evanoff and Igor Kniazev
Instagram: @gymnast_cammie
Favorite skill: Front and Side Aerials
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Skipping level 5 and 6 and then Qualifying for the National Judges State Competition.
How did you get involved with gymnastics? I took gymnastics classes for a few years starting at age 4 but I would not stop flipping and leaping so it was time to join a team.
Favourite class in school: Social Studies
Favourite TV show: The Loud House
Favourite movie: The Gabby Douglas Story
Other hobbies: Watching NFL football, going to trampoline parks and hanging out with my friends.
Favourite music: Hip Hop and Pop Songs
"I like to play basketball in my free time. I have an older and younger sister. I LOVE fruit and would choose raspberries and blackberries over candy everyday."
Vivian Tran
Brianna Wanuga
Club: BC Gymnastics, White Marsh, MD
Coaches: Yulia Kovaliova, Glenn Pippen, Ashley Sauer
Instagram: @iflip12123
Floor Music: Catalina Ponor's "Atene" Olympic floor music (cut by my coach)
Favorite skill: Giants on bars
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Qualifying for the 2017 National Judges' Cup Championship.
How did you get involved with gymnastics? My Mom's friend and my babysitter both said they had never seen anyone do such a perfect cartwheel, so my Mom enrolled me in a gymnastics class.
Favourite class in school: Math
Favourite TV show: Cake Wars
Favourite movie: The Hunger Games Trilogy
Other hobbies: Playing the trumpet and singing in my school's Treble Choir.
Favourite music: Shawn Mendes and 5 Seconds of Summer
"I am in the National Junior Honor Society for getting good grades in school. Also, I have an awesome older brother named Zachary and an adorable dog named Raven.
bout this item."
Lian Yale
Club: Harford Gymnastics
Coaches: Teresa Walstrum, Joe Vrzalik, Danielle Kisiel, Ron Lievendag, and Tina Kratzmeier
Floor Music: The Big Bamboozle
Favorite skill: Giants
Most proud gymnastics accomplishment: Being an alternate for the 2017 Maryland team
How did you get involved with gymnastics? I was doing gymnastics inside my house when I was a toddler so my mom enrolled me in gymnastics so I would be in a safer environment
Favourite class in school: Science
Favourite TV show: Survivor
Other hobbies: Reading, drawing, swimming
Favourite music: Pop and motivational
Charity involvement: I do charity activities through my school