USA Gymnastics names U.S. Team for ’09 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 31, 2009 – 2009 U.S. all-around champion Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill., and Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md., will represent the United States at the 2009 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, Sept. 7-13, in Mie, Japan.  Competing in the group competition for the USA are North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center’s Stephanie Flaksman of Northbrook, Ill.; Megan Frohlich of Marysville, Wash.; Kristin Kaye of Northbrook, Ill.; Sydney Sachs of Deerfield, Ill.; Sofya Roytburg of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; and Marlee Shape of Buffalo Grove, Ill.

 Gehringer, who trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, won the gold medal in the all-around, rope, hoop, ball and ribbon at the 2009 Visa Championships.  Zetlin, who trains at Rhythmflex, was third in the all-around, rope, ball and ribbon.  North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center won the 2008 U.S. national group title.

The 2009 U.S. World Championships Team was selected following a training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.   

Held in Mie’s Sun Arena, the competition schedule is:  Sept. 7-8, rope and hoop, with individual event finals on Sept. 8; Sept. 9-10, competition in ball and ribbon, with individual event finals for both on Sept. 10; Sept. 11, individual all-around; Sept. 12, general group competition; and Sept. 13, group finals (hoop, ribbon/rope).  The individual event competition on Sept.7-10 determines the team rankings and the top 24 gymnasts who advance to the individual all-around. 

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.