BOONTON — The North Stars Gymnastics Academy proudly announces 12 National Qualifiers in its USAG National Women’s Development Program, the largest number of athletes of any gymnastics club in New Jersey.
There are six Level 9 gymnasts and six Level 10s who qualified at the Region 7 competition held at Virginia Beach Sports Center on 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 a maximum level of performance,” said Ashley Umberger, part owner, and head coach of 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
About North Stars: 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. North Stars prides itself on its ability to train athletes to build the necessary skills to secure athletic and academic college scholarships. To learn more about North Stars, click here.
PHOTO CREDITS: Gabe Rhodes of GR Productions
