2019 Winter Cup Challenge Headed for Vegas

2018 World bronze-medalists Sam Mikulak of Newport Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center, and Yul Moldauer of Arvada, Colo./University of Oklahoma, are two members of the 2018 U.S. World Championships Team who are expected to compete at the 2019 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 15-17, at the Southpoint Hotel and Casino.

In addition to Mikulak and Moldauer, the rest of the World Team and alternates are also in the field: Akash Modi of Morganville, New Jersey/Stanford University; Colin Van Wicklen of Magnolia, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics; Alec Yoder of Indianapolis /Ohio State University; and alternates Allan Bower of Chandler, Arizona/University of Oklahoma, Trevor Howard of Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University, and Marvin Kimble of Milwaukee, Wis./Salto Gymnastics.

Twelve members of the U.S. Senior National Team are participating.  Along with the World Championships Team and alternates, the national team members entered are:  Cameron Bock of Tustin, Calif./University of Michigan; Kanji Oyama of Huntington Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics; Eddie Penev of Penfield, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics; and Genki Suzuki of North Wales, Pa./University of Oklahoma.

Nineteen gymnasts on the Junior National Team are also expected to compete:  John Chou, of Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy; Justin Ah Chow of Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics; Caden Clinton of Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy; Lazarus Barnhill of Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior; Fuzzy Benas of Houston, Texas/EnRich Gymnastics; Landen Blixt of Fowlerville, Mich./Infinity Gymnastics; Taylor Burkhart of Morrison, Colo./5280 Gymnastics;  Isaiah Drake of Los Angeles, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica;  Raydel Gamboa of Phoenix, Ariz./North Valley Gymnastics; Spencer Goodell of Tigard, Ore./University of Oklahoma; Asher Hong of Tomball, Texas/Cypress Academy; Joshua Karnes of Erie, Pa./Lakettes Gymnastics; Nicolas Kuebler of Seattle, Wash./Metropolitan Gymnastics; Ian Lasic-Ellis of Dover, Mass./MEGA – Massachusetts; Riley Loos of El Dorado Hills of Calif./Technique Gymnastics; Luke McFarland of East Hartford, Conn./Daggett Gymnastics, junior; Curran Phillips of Naperville, Ill./Stanford University; Khoi Young of Bowie, Md./Sportsplex Gymnastics; and Colt Walker of Cedar Park, Texas/AcroTex Gymnastics.

The Winter Cup Challenge features both junior and senior competitive divisions.  The first day of competition will consist of one session for the junior division and one for the senior division. The finals session will feature the top 28 senior athletes and the top 14 juniors. Junior athletes will advance to the finals according to the all-around ranking from the first day of competition. The senior athletes will advance to the second day according to the Men’s Program Committee’s points-ranking system. For the senior division, all-around ranking will be determined on the first day of competition and individual event champions will be determined via a combined two-day score. For the junior division, all-around ranking and individual event champions will be determined via a combined two-day score. For information on the points ranking system used for advancement to the final round, as well as the one for determining the national team, click here (Attachment B).

The Winter Cup competition schedule is: preliminary rounds, Feb. 15 – 1 p.m., juniors; and 6:30 p.m., seniors; and final round, Feb. 17 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $25 for Feb. 15 (both sessions) and Feb. 17 (finals), with an all-event pass for $50/adults and $40/children and students (which also includes access to the Black Jack Invitational); and for Feb. 17, $25/general public, $20/Black Jack Invitational coaches, and $15/Black Jack Invitational athletes. Tickets may be purchased on site on the afternoon of Feb. 14 and on both competition days. USA Gymnastics will be live-streaming all three competitive sessions via its YouTube channel.

Performances at the 2018 Winter Cup Challenge will help determine the 12 men who will comprise the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team through the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Following the first-day of competition, the top six ranked all-around athletes will automatically qualify for the 2019 senior national team. Using scores from both days of competition, the Men’s Program Committee will select six more gymnasts from the participants at the Winter Cup Challenge using the 10 Points Program or from petitions to the team. Based on his World Championships results, Sam Mikulak will automatically make the national team if he participates at the 2019 Winter Cup and qualifies to the finals.

Approximately 36 juniors and 48 seniors will participate in the event.  The International Gymnastics Federation’s junior and senior level rules will be used. Eligible athletes for the senior division include:  senior level participants from the 2018 U.S. Championships; top 36-junior-ranked gymnasts at the 2018 U.S. Championships who are no longer age-eligible for the junior national team in 2018 and qualified into the senior division; minimum 12 athletes, by all-around rank order, from MPC-approved qualifying events; and petitions.  Only athletes who meet the FIG’s age requirements for the senior level may compete in the senior division.  Eligible junior level gymnasts are the top-top 36-junior-ranked gymnasts at the 2018 U.S. Championships, as well as athletes approved by the Men’s Program Committee from the Level 9 Fall 2018 training camp using the approved MPC criteria.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has already taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures.  The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics).  For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.

Athlete roster for 2019 Winter Cup Challenge

(Alphabetical by state, then last name)

Arizona

Allan Bower, Chandler, Ariz./University of Oklahoma, senior

Raydel Gamboa, Phoenix, Ariz./North Valley Gymnastics, junior

Angel Leon, Tucson, Ariz./Ohio State University, senior

California

Cameron Bock, Tustin, Calif./University of Michigan, senior

Arun Chhetri, Culver City, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica, junior

Adrian De Los Angeles, Long Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior

Isaiah Drake, Los Angeles, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica, junior

Bennet Huang, Palo Alto, Calif./University of Iowa, senior

Riley Loos, El Dorado Hills, Calif./Technique Gymnastics, senior

Zachary Martin, Elk Grove, Calif./Elevate Gymnastics, junior

Samuel Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior

Brandon Nguyen, Elk Grove, Calif./Elevate Gymnastics, junior

Kanji Oyama, Huntington Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior

Samuel Phillips, West Hills, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica, junior

Jordan Williams, Concord, Calif./Arizona State University, junior

Colorado

Taylor Burkhart, Morrison, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, junior

Noah Giordano, Castle Rock, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, junior

Vitaliy Guimaraes, Arvada, Colo./University of Oklahoma, senior

Yul Moldauer, Arvada, Colo./University of Oklahoma, senior

Logan Myers, Morrison, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, junior

Connecticut

Shaun Herzog, Manchester, Conn./University of Minnesota, senior

Luke McFarland, East Hartford, Conn./Daggett Gymnastics, junior

Florida

Justin Ah Chow, Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, junior

Crew Bold, Delray Beach, Fla./TAG USA Gymnastics, junior

Evan Kriley, Tampa, Fla./University of Nebraska, senior

Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla./Ohio State University, senior

Tyler Schaal, Boca Raton, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, senior

Georgia

Andrew Bitner, Buford, Ga./Stanford University, senior

Illinois

Grant Breckenridge, Libertyville, Ill./Stanford University, senior

Alex Diab, Glen Ellyn, Ill./University of Illinois, senior

Bailey Perez, Glen Ellyn, Ill./Stanford University, senior

Curran Phillips, Naperville, Ill./Stanford University, junior

Rithik Puri, Chicago, Ill./Lakeshore Academy, junior

Indiana

Seth Delbridge, Floyds Knobs, Ind./Ohio State University, senior

William Hauke, Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau's Gymnastics, junior

Ellis Mannon, Indianapolis, Ind./University of Minnesota, senior

Anthony Stephenson, Fishers, Ind./University of Nebraska, senior

Alec Yoder, Indianapolis, Ind./Ohio State University, senior

Massachusetts

Matthew Cormier, Milton, Mass./MEGA - Massachusetts, junior

Ian Lasic-Ellis, Dover, Mass./MEGA - Massachusetts, junior

Stephen Nedoroscik, Worcester, Mass./Pennsylvania State University, senior

Maryland

Donovan Hewitt, Burtonsville, Md./Paragon Gymnastics, junior

Donnell Whittenburg, Baltimore, Md./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior

Khoi Young, Bowie, Md./Sportsplex Gymnastics, junior

Michigan

Landen Blixt, Fowlerville, Mich./Infinity Gymnastics, junior

Michael Jaroh, Northville, Mich./MEGA - Michigan, junior

Jacob Moore, West Bloomfield, Mich./University of Michigan, senior

Minnesota

Shane Wiskus, Spring Park, Minn./University of Minnesota, senior

New Hampshire

Michael Fletcher, Nashua, N.H./University of Illinois, senior

New Jersey

Jake Brodarzon, Paramus, N.J./University of Iowa, senior

Cannon Johnson, Teaneck, N.J./US Gymnastics Development Center, junior

Akash Modi, Morganville, N.J./Stanford University, senior

Sebastian Quiana, Oradell, N.J./University of Illinois, senior

Nevada

Emyre Cole, Las Vegas, Nev./University of Michigan, senior

New York

Eddie Penev, Penfield, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior

Kevin Penev, Penfield, N.Y./University of Michigan, senior

North Carolina

William Jeffreys, Raleigh, N.C./Ohio State University, senior

Ohio

Trevor Howard, Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University, senior

Tyler Rockwood, Lancaster, Ohio/Hocking Valley Gymnastics, junior

Oklahoma

Gage Dyer, Yukon, Okla./University of Oklahoma, senior

Oregon

Spencer Goodell, Tigard, Ore./University of Oklahoma, senior

Zachary Tiderman, Wilsonville, Ore./OMEGA Gymnastics, junior

Pennsylvania

Alexander Frack, Nazareth, Pa./Pennsylvania State University, senior

Joshua Karnes, Erie, Pa./Lakettes Gymnastics, junior

Genki Suzuki, North Wales, Pa./University of Oklahoma, senior

Tennessee

Adam Wooten, Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Gymnastics, junior

Texas

Levi Anderson, Spring, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior

Lazarus Barnhill, Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior

Fuzzy Benas, Houston, Texas/EnRich Gymnastics, junior

Cole Casanova, Dallas, Texas/Army Gymnastics, senior

John Chou, Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior

Caden Clinton, Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior

Evan Davis, Houston, Texas/University of Iowa, senior

Jack Freeman, Palestine, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior

Ian Gunther, Houston, Texas/Stanford University, senior

Asher Hong, Tomball, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior

Tanner Justus, Cypress, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior

Griffin Kehler, Frisco, Texas/University of Nebraska, senior

Kyle King, Mesquite, Texas/University of Nebraska, senior

Ryan McVay, Dallas, Texas/U.S. Naval Academy, senior

Daniel Simmons, Cypress, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior

Colin Van Wicklen, Magnolia, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior

Alexei Vernyi, Houston, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior

Colt Walker, Cedar Park, Texas/AcroTex Gymnastics, junior

Matthew Wenske, Houston, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior

Utah

Taylor Christopulos, Layton, Utah/USA Gymnastics World, junior

Johnny Jacobson, Syracuse, Utah/University of Illinois, senior

Virginia

Kyte Crigger, Manassas, Va./University of California - Berkeley, senior

Kiwan Watts, Chesterfield, Va./Arizona State University, senior

Washington

Garrett Braunton, Olympia, Wash./Cypress Academy, junior

Nicolas Kuebler, Seattle, Wash./Metropolitan Gymnastics, junior

Wisconsin

Marvin Kimble, Milwaukee, Wis./Salto Gymnastics, senior

Robert Neff, Brookfield, Wis./Stanford University, senior