Golden City Gymnastic Success
“Exciting things just keep on happening for our TOPs athletes,” said Golden City Gymnastics (GCG) Compulsory Coach Shauna Swartz, while highlighting the recent achievements of several of her young talented and Olympics-bound athletes.
Swartz explained that GCG gymnasts, Rayna Light, 10, Nhi Nguyen, 10, along with Emerson Fisk, 8, traveled to the Olympic Training center to compete in the USA Gymnastics 2015 National TOPs Testing event in Huntsville, Texas and as expected, did not come home empty handed.
All three of girls did well with Light and Nguyen, both placing in the top 50 in the 8-10 age group and were subsequently invited to be a part of the National TOPs A Team, which means that the they will get a chance to attend a special camp at the beginning of December where they will work closely with the National Staff or the group of coaches who work with the National and Olympic Team.
Attending the camp also means that the girls will get to meet and work with Valeri Liukin, father and coach of Olympic All-Around gold winner Nastia Liukin.
“This is a very prestigious and exciting honor,” Swartz said. “We are beyond proud of what these outstanding athletes have accomplished and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for them.”
TOPs (Talented Opportunity Program) helps the girls train and achieve a higher level of flexibility, strength, and ultimately possessing these skills allows them to achieve and perform higher level skills in gymnastics.
USA Gymnastics is the sole national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in the United States.
Golden City Gymnastics is located at 930 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. The facility is currently looking for team and recreational coaches who love gymnastics and working with kids. GCG also need office staff who have experience with data entry.
Visit www.goldencitygymnastics.com.
Local Adult 55 and Over Men’s Tennis Team Finish Second at USTA League 8.0 National Championships
The men’s tennis team from Valrico, representing the USTA Florida Section and whose members include athletes from Brandon, Valrico, Apollo Beach, finished second at the USTA League Adult 55 & Over 8.0 National Championships held last month in Surprise, Ariz.
The team captained by Jay Bortner includes Marshall Veatch, Barry Shollenberger (Valrico), Randy Chapman, James Whitaker, Richard Scott, Richard Assing, Gene Pike, Ronald Massey, Henry Marshall and Jack Vandercook.
The men who play and practice at the Buckhorn Springs Tennis & Swim Club, took on its opponents during an impressive competition at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.
By winning their round-robin flight contests Friday and Saturday, the team took on and defeated its opponents from Topeka, Kansas, 3-0 in the semifinals, ready for the final match.
Unfortunately, with a 2-1 victory, the Championship title went to the team from Marietta, Ga., leaving the Valrico team to have to saddle second.
For the team, however, reaching the title match is as good as winning the whole thing.
For more information about USTA League in Florida, visit www.ustaflorida.com/adulttennis/usta-leagues.
