6th US Open National Competition in Wheel Gymnastics 2012

Cornell Freeney, champion again!

The Chicago Wheel Weekend (March 9-11, 2012) was a huge success and included the 6th annual US Open 2012.
The event, held at the Willye White park in Chicago - the city of the 2013 World Championships of Wheel Gymnastics - was the largest Wheel Weekend yet and included over 150 participants from 5 nations.
This was also the first official competition for Mono Wheel under the new regulations. In addition to the competition, courses were offered in coaching and judging, wheel workshops, and level testing.
This weekend proved to be good footing for the next 18 months before the athletes are expected to compete in the 10th Wheel Gymnastic World Championship in Chicago.
<< Defending champion Cornell Freeney, from the Gamma Phi Circus in Normal, Illinois again catapulted his first placed victory mainly due to his 1 ½ layout forward vault.

Shayna Swanson from Chikago - Premiere of the Mono Wheel at the US Open

Ido Lebiatov was runner up with a superb straightline routine and the audience favorite Yasu Takahashi placed 3rd overall.

Luisina Rosas from Argentina achieved gold in the womens category ahead of Kat Surgen, a new competitor, from Los Angeles.

Shayna Swanson (Chikago)

In the first ever official Mono wheel competition Eli Cherweznik from Oakland, California won the men’s title ahead of Paul Perreault from Canada. Eli was very impressive, demonstrating several new elements in the wheel.

<< Chicagoan Shayna Swanson, who runs Aloft, won in the women’s category ahead of Charlie Adams, from Knoxville, Tennessee.

The highest level of competition was seen during the junior boys competition. Marvin Homeyer, German Junior World Champion in 2011, Jack Gomberg from Chicago and Dave Ettelson, also from Chicago, presented very high caliber competition that is expected to extend to next year’s World Championship.
All three contenders put on a great performance in difficulty and execution. Marvin became the US Open junior title holder ahead of Jack and Dave.

In the Junior Girls category, Elsa Thompson from Chicago in her first year as a competitor won the title.
The weekend and the competition was a great success.

Over the next 18 months there will be many more competitions held at various locations around the US.
>> Results, all (overview)

** For more information about these events, or for more information about the 2013 World Championships to be held in Chicago, please visit >> www.usawheelgymnastics.com

The USAWGF is actively seeking volunteers to assist in making the 2013 World Championships in Chikago a success!

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