Twelve North Stars Gymnasts Advance to Nationals

April 18, 2024

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MORRIS COUNTY — The North Stars Gymnastics Academy proudly announces 12 National Qualifiers from its USAG National Women’s Development Program, with one of its gymnasts dominating the national field scoring the highest all-around among all Level 10s at the annual U.S. regional meets.

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 11-14. 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 of all four events with 40 as the highest.

In line with North Stars’ long-standing tradition of excellence, senior Olivia Kelly of Mahwah earned the highest all-around score among all Level 10s from the eight USAG regions with a 39.425. The Missouri Women’s Gymnastics Team commit also won the top spot at the New Jersey Level 10 State Championship last month.

“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 of 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 9-12 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, freshman

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, 8th grade

Bars, 9.275

Beam, first place 9.650

Kai Mattei, 17, Melville,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 2-5 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: