By Teena Werley
The 2019 Arizona State Men’s Gymnastics Championship will be held at Cienega High School in Vail, Arizona on March 15th through the 17th. Over 350 male gymnasts from throughout the state of Arizona will be traveling to Vail to compete for individual and team titles, as well as qualify for berths at regional and national competitions. Vail, Rita Ranch, and Corona de Tucson gymnasts are well represented in Arizona and are some of the top gymnasts in the state. These athletes train long hours to commit to this exacting and demanding sport.
Competing for Gymnastics World Central Tucson is Jonas Werley (level 6), a student at Ocotillo Ridge, Luke Bender (level 9), Corona Foothills, and Jason Bender, a sophomore at Cienega High School, (a level 10 competing on home turf). GWC athletes are having a strong season with individual and team titles already under their belts.
Old Pueblo Gymnastics Academy is hosting the state championship. Owner and head boys team coach, Randy Sooter, has a stable of outstanding Vail athletes competing this season, including Oliver and Anzel Tounou (levels 4 and 7 respectively), Old Vail, Mason Seader (Level 4), Mesquite, Sam Bishop (level 7), Civano Community, and Peyton and Patrick Nagle, level 7s that attend Hermosa Montessori. OPGA’s teams are having a great season with multiple team titles earned by their Level 7s.
The Arizona Championship is the qualifying meet to advance athletes to the Region 1 Championship in Long Beach, California this April and the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championship in Reno, Nevada this May. Athletes compete in all six Olympic events, floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. The meet is open to the public and provides a unique opportunity to see an exciting sport with high flying skills come to Southern Arizona.
XCEL and TS compete Friday, March 15th, levels 6 – 10, and JD compete Saturday, March 16th, and Levels 4 – 5 compete Sunday, March 17th. Admission ranges from $5 – $25 for single or multiple sessions.
