Maryland USAG Class of 2008

 

Alexa Banda

Hills Gymnastics

Alexa has been doing gymnastics at Hills Gymnastics since the age of 3 and has been a member of the team for 11 years. She was State Bar Champion at Levels 6, 8, and 9, and a Maryland State Team member at Level 6. She was a Level 9 Easterns qualifier, and has been captain of the Sherwood High School Gymnastics team for 2 years as well as an All-American, All-Gazette, scholar athlete, and MVP. Alexa will be competing for Southern Connecticut State next season.

 

Melanie Brother

Docksiders Gymnastics

Melanie has been competing with Docksiders for 10 years. She is a 3 time Level 10 Regional Qualifier, and qualifed to Easterns in 2005. She took 1st place All Around in the IGI Chicago Style Meet this season. Melanie will be attending Rutgers University on a gymnastics scholarship where she will be studying Biomedical Engineering.

 

Brandie Dickson

MarVaTeens

Brandie is a 2 time Level 9 Regional qualifier, and 2003 Eastern National qualifier. She was qualified to Level 10 Regionals 3 times. She is undecided as to colleges at this point, but plans to major in either business or broadcasting

 

Danae Johnson

Hills Gymnastics

Danae placed in the top 5 All Around at States from 1997-2005. She was on the TOPs National team for 4 years, and is a 7 time Regional Qualifier. She placed 9th on vault at 2004 Easterns. IN 2005, she placed 2nd on vault and 5th on floor at Level 10 Regionals, and was an alternate to Nationals. IN 2006, she placed 5th on vault at Regionals. She was also named to the Washington Post All-Met Team in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Danae will attend Rutgers University on a gymnastics scholarship.

 

Zoya Johnson

Hills Gymnastics

Zoya has been on the team at Hill’s for 10 years. This is her fourth year at Level 10. She has made it to Level 10 Nationals 3 times. Her sophomore year she placed 3rd in the All Around and made the JO National Team. The following season she was invited to the first Region VII All Star Team at the Cancun Classic in Mexico. Next year, Zoya will start school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full gymnastics scholarship. There she plans to study pre-chiropractic. When Zoya finishes school, she hopes to open her own rehabilitation clinic that would encompass physical therapy, strength training, and anything to help people recover from injury and athletes trying to prevent it.

 

Kelsey Joannides

Frederick Gymnastics

Kelsey was a 2003 US Challenge Qualifier, as well as Level 9 Regional All Around Champion and Easterns competitor. She was Bars and Floor Champion, and a member of the Level 9 Maryland State Team. She is a 5 time Level 10 State qualifier, and 4 time Level 10 Regional qualifier. In 2007, she was State Vault and All Around champion, and was 1st alternate to JO Nationals. Kelsey will be attending University of Illinos at Urbana-Champaign on a full gymnastics scholarship.

 

Lindsey Rose Junge

Clarks Gymnastics

Lindsey was 1999 Maryland Level 5 Bars champion, and traveled to Scotland. She was a member of the Delaware Level 8 Team in 2002, and placed 3rd All Around at Delaware State Championships from 2005-2007. This season she was Level 9 Champion at Harvestfest, and Level 10 Champion at Terrapin Invitational. Lindsey has been accepted to Brockport University and will be on their varsity team while majoring in education.

 

Kareen Kaveh

Hills Gymnastics

Kareen is a 5 time national qualifier. In 2004, she was State and Regional Champion. She repeated that in 2005, and placed 10th at Nationals. In 2006, she was 3rd All Around at Regionals, and at Nationals placed 5th on vault, 8th on bars, and 7th All Around. She also was awarded the State Outstanding Gymnast Award. In 2007, Kareen was State Champion, 3rd All Around at Regionals, and at Nationals took 3rd on Floor, 5th on Beam, and 5th All Around. Kareen will be attending Auburn University on a full gymnastics scholarship and studying kinesiology.

 

Sarah Meiklejohn

Docksiders Gymnastics

Sarah was the 2006 Maryland State All Around Champion at Level 9, and a Maryland State Team member. She would go on that season to place 5th on Floor at Easterns. She is a 4 time Regional qualifier. She plans on doing gymnastics in college for Towson University, where she will study Marketing/Advertising.

 

Lauren Myers

Gymnastics of America

Lauren has been doing gymnastics for 13 years and is a nine-time Maryland State Championships qualifier and 4 time Regional Qualifier. She was 2002 State Bars Champion and 2006 State Vault Champion. Lauren is a member of the International Baccalaureate program at Richard Montgomery High School. Lauren is undecided at this time, but has been accepted to Loyola University of Chicago, Penn State University, Duke University, and Wake Forest University. She is waiting to hear from Yale. She plans to continue competitive gymnastics in college in the fall. She also plans to go to medical school and become a pediatric sports medicine physician.

 

Katie Plummer

Docksiders Gymnastics

Katie is a 3 time Regional qualifier. She was Maryland State Vault Champion in 2007, and then placed 2nd at Regionals on Vault. She was 4th place All Around at states in 2007. Katie will be attending NC State University and joining the gymnastics team there. She plans on studying Biology or Zoology.

 

Allyson Sandusky

Hills Gymnastics

Allyson has been at Hill’s for 12 years. She was on the TOPs Team for 3 years, qualified to JO Nationals 3 times, and was on the Region VII All Star Team twice. In 2004, she was Level 9 State Bar Champion, and Easterns National Bar champion. In 2005, she was Level 10 Regional Bars and Beam Champion and 4th place All Around, and 7th on Bars at Nationals. In 2006, she repeated as Level 10 Regional Beam Champion and took 2nd place on Floor and All Around. She would go on to take 2nd place on Bars at Nationals, and 9th All Around.  In 2007, she was Level 10 State Champion on beam, 2nd place on Bars and Beam at Regionals, and 7th on Bars and Beam at Nationals. Allyson will be attending Auburn University on a full gymnastics scholarship.

 

Lilly Siems

Docksiders Gymnastics

Lilly has qualified to Level 10 Regionals in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, she was 1st place All Around at the Maryland Classic, and was named Maryland State Outstanding Gymnast. Lilly will be attending Brown University and competing on their team, where she will be studying medicine.

 

Amy Varella

Hills Gymnastics

Amy was a JO Nationals qualifier in 2006 and 2007, and a nationals alternate in 2005. She placed 2nd in the All Around at Level 9 Easterns in 2004. Amy will be attending the Univeristy of Pittsburgh on a full gymnastics scholarship.

 

Kenesha Watts

Hills Gymnastics

Kenesha has been a member of Hill’s Gymnastics Team for 12 years. Over her career she has won several individual and All Around Maryland State Championships. She has been the Maryland State Vault Champion at Level 7, Level 8, and Level 9. Kenesha is currently undecided to college but will be pursuing a career in the medical field. She has been accepted into University of Pittsburg, Rutgers Univeristy, George Washington University, University of Maryland Honor’s program, and St. John’s College in New York.

 

Juliana Hoolihan

Columbia Gymnastics

Juliana was 2005 State Outstanding Gymnast of the Year. She placed 3rd on bars at Level 8 States. In 2005, she traveled to China and trained with the Chinese National eam. She was a USA Team member at the World Gymnaestrada held in Dornbrin, Austria. The Columbia Gymnastics Spirit of Star Award winner is also a Maryland Distinguished Scholar and Chamber orchestra member. Juliana will attend either Ithaca College, Rhode Island College, or University of Vermont and continue gymnastics with their collegiate or club teams. She will be majoring in animal sciences.

 

Emily Parkerson

Rebounders Gymnastics

Emily participated in the TOPs program in 2000 and 2001 and qualified to the National test. Last season Emily was the beam State Champion at Level 9, and qualified to Easterns by placing 11th at Regionals.  Emily will be attending West Virginia University.

 

Michelle Patricelli

Docksiders Gymnastics

Michelle was Maryland State Champion at Level 5 and Level 7. She is two-time Maryland State Vault Champion at Level 8, and placed 2nd on vault at Level 8 Regionals in 2006. In 2007, she was 5th place on vault at Regionals after finished 3rd in All Around at States. Michelle will be attending Penn State University and majoring in Veterinary Medicine.

 

Mariana Rius

Gymnastics of America

Mariana is a Level 9 that has been doing gymnastics for 14 years. She also maintains a 3.89 GPA. She was the 2007 Level 9 State Champion on floor and 2nd place All Around, and qualified to Regionals. Mariana has been accepted to the College of Charleston, University of Tampa, Eckerd College, and the University of Maryland. She would like to major in Marine Biology and minor in Psychology.

 

Stacey Sova

Delmarva Gymnastics

Stacey was a Member of the Level 8 Maryland State Team in 2005 and 2006. She was Maryland State Beam champion in 2006, and placed 2nd in the All Around. In 2005 she was 2nd on bars and vault, and 3rd All around. Stacey has been named a National Distinguished Scholar, she is Treasurer of National Honor Society, member of Mu Alpha Theta, received the High School Academic Award freshman through senior year and is graduating with a cumulative GPA of 4.5. Stacy will be attending University of Maryland, College Park as a Biochemistry major.

 

Melissa Aplan

Gymnastics of America

Melissa is a Level 8 and has been doing gymnastics for 13 years. She also maintains a 4.0 GPA. Melissa was a Level 7 State Champion on Bars and All Around, and was also a Level 8 and 9 Regional qualifier. Melissa has been accepted to Penn State University and the University of Maryland Honors program.

 

Elizabeth Bedell

Gymnastics of America

Elizabeth is a Level 8 and has been doing gymnastics for 10 years. She has also maintained a GPA of 4.0. She has won several awards throughout her career from Level 4 to Level 8. Elizabeth has chosen to attend the University of Maryland and would like to join the club team there.

 

Ashley Lessans

Gymnastics of America

Ashley is a Level 8 that has been doing gymnastics for 7 years. She has maintained a 3.75 GPA, and was Level 7 State Champion on Beam. Ashley will be attending the University of Maryland to study Kinesiology and become an Occupational Therapist.

 

Julie Lustbader

Columbia Gymnastics

Julie took 2nd place on Beam at Level 7 States, and 5th in the All Around. She was the Columbia Gymnastics Spirit of Star Recipient in 2003. She is Editor-in-Chief of the Atholton High School Newspaper, a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Maryland Distinguished Scholar, and volunteers with Head Start. Julie will be attending the University of Pennsylvania and competing on the club team there.

 

Christine Niles

Carroll Gymnastics

Christine is a three-time Maryland State Bar Champion, and at the 2008 State Championships swept every event and won the All-Around title, qualifying her to Regionals for the third time. She placed 3rd on vault and bars at the 2007 Regional Championships.  Christine has been accepted to Ithaca College as a Doctor of Physical Therapy Major, with a minor in coaching. She hopes to compete for the college team and continue to coach gymnastics as long as possible.

 

Alison Romano

Columbia Gymnastics

Alison has been on the team at Columbia for 7 years, and an employee at Columbia for three years. She was the 2004-5 winner of the Spirit of Star Award. Alison is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar, National Honor Society member, AP Scholar, French club member, Varisty Tennis Team member, and member of the Young Republicans Club. She organized a school-wide and gym-wide military drive in memory of a 19-year old cousin killed in the line of duty which sent 462 pounds of food overseas.  Alison will start college in the Fall at either Virginia Tech, Washington College, or St Marys College for a possible career in Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy.