Rockford-area tumbling and trampoline athletes place at national championships

Two of the area's top tumbling and trampoline training facilities recently competed in national competitions, using the buzz from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris to help fuel a strong run in the junior divisions.

"The Olympics definitely add a next level of excitement to all of our meets," J&J Trampoline and Tumbling head coach and organizer Megan Gearhart said. "And they see what they have to do to get to the Olympic level, and it motivates them. It's a fun time to be involved."

And a month before that, Wight Tumble Academy athletes based out of Loves Park stepped up in the U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Association's National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, with 10 top 10 finishes in the nation.

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J&J's Aliyah Quenzer stars again

The star of the J&J Trampoline and Tumbling Team at last week's USA Gymnastics nationals in Fort Worth, Texas, was German Valley's Aliyah Quenzer, who successfully defended her two titles.

She brought home two national titles for the third year in a row as Quenzer won it all in Level 7 double-mini and Level 7 tumbling for the 11-12 age division.

"I was super excited to get it this year," Quenzer said. "It's a lot of work to get here. We come in three times a week for 2 1/2 hours, that's just to start... But it's all worth it."

Quenzer and others qualified for the nationals by achieving a minimum score at either the state or regional championships. Just over 1,100 athletes from across the United States competed inside the Fort Worth Convention Center, with only the top eight earning a medal and a spot on the podium.

Mary Rolander of Rockford was one of the other six from the J&J Trampoline and Tumbling Team that advanced to nationals, qualifying in all three events. She took fifth in tumbling, placed ninth in double-mini and placed 20th in Level 5 trampoline.

Winnebago's Cora Gille also made the podium in her first time at nationals, placing sixth in Level 5 tumbling for 8 and under. Gretta Glidden of Rockford also competed, as did HaLeigh Rhode of Davis, Pecatonica's Molly Johnson and Winnebago's Melanie Denny.

"We have a very young group this year, but they trained hard and competed hard," said Gearhart, who was a world champion in power tumbling back in 1989 in her own right. "And this was a great experience for all of them."

Wight Tumble Academy medalists

The Wight Tumble Academy based out of Loves Park had athletes ranging in age from 5-20 years old competing this season, as they hauled in a second-place team trophy in the Advanced Trampoline category at last month's national meet.

Here is a list of the top-10 placers at the USTA nationals from the Wight Tumble Academy:

First place: Taylor Mohns and Bri Whalen in advanced synchro trampoline, 17 and over; Riley Schultz in intermediate double-mini, 9-10 boys; Second place: Kyanna Robinson and Rubi Patterson in sub-advanced synchro trampoline, 11-12 yrs old; Abby Galarza in sub-advanced trampoline, 15-16 yr olds; Bri Whalen in age elite trampoline; and Areli Patterson in intermediate double-mini, 10 yr olds; Third place: Ashlynn Robinson and Anneka Pofelski in advanced trampoline, 13-14 yrs old; Ashlynn Robinson in sub-advanced double mini, 13-14 yrs old; and Ashlynn Robinson in advanced trampoline, 13-14 yr olds; Fourth place: Mason Danielson in intermediate trampoline, 9-10 yr old boys; -Lily Mierow in advanced tumbling, 15-16 yr olds; Taylor Mohns in elite double-mini; Riley Schultz in sub-novice tumbling, 9-10 yr olds; Fifth place: Riley Schultz in intermediate trampoline, 9-10 yr old boys; Avery Nelson in novice trampoline, 12 year olds; and Anneka Pofelski in intermediate tumbling; 13-14 yr olds; Seventh place: Abby Galarza in sub-advanced double-mini, 15-16 yr olds; and Audrey Fisher in advanced tumbling, 13-14 yr olds; Eighth place: Abby Galarza in intermediate tumbling, 15-16 yr olds; Kalani Knight in beginner trampoline, 6 yr olds; Bri Whalen in elite double-mini; Ninth place: Mason Danielson in novice double-mini, 9-10 yr olds; and Kalani Knight in beginner double-mini, 6 yr olds.

Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @JayTaft . Sign up for the Rockford High School Sports Newsletter here at rrstar.com . Jay has covered a variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears and Blackhawks to local youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star .

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford-area tumbling and trampoline athletes place at national championships