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lWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
MEN'S JUNIOR OLYMPIC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS By Robert Cowan
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n 1974, the first Junior Olympic Nationals for boys was held outdoors at the Fox River Grove Camp in Algonquin, Illinois.
This event attracted 26 athletes from across the United States. Tiger Taylor, Bart Conner and Kurt Thomas were among some of the more notable names. Coaches and participants remember various aspects of that historic event ... such as having to cover the high bar between competitors to cool it down for the next gymnast, or having an athlete dismount rings and fall backward into the root system of a tree. This year was the 20th anniversary of that first effort to assemble the best of our nation's youth. The 1993 USGF Junior Olympic Nationals was quite a departure from the 1974 event. More than 300 athletes representing more than 200 programs assembled indoors at the University of Michigan Keen Arena to do battle for three days and attempt to earn a spot on one of three national teams-Junior Elite I, JWlior Elite II or Class ill. For
the first time a Class II 16-18 age group division also competed.
CLASS I 16·18 ALL·AROUND Daggett's Gold Medal Gym/ Springfield, Mass. 1. Jeffrey laVallee Southern California Gym/ Santee, Calif. 2. John MccReody Galimore's Gymnasti[s/Tallahassee, Fla. 3. Keith Wiley Surgents Elite/ Roselle Park, N.J. 4. Joseph Duda World Cup Gymnostics/ Marlboro, N.J. 5. Peter Masu[ci Golimore's Gymnasti[s/Tallahassee, Fla. 6. David Kruse Daggett's Gold Medal Gym/ Springfield, Moss. 7. Aaron Vexler California Suns/Simi Valley, Calif. 8. Gewin Sin[haroen
A cooperative effort by Sandra E. MacDonald of the Blake's Gymnastics Booster Club and the coaches at the University of Michigan, Bob Darden and Mike Milldonis, culminated in a very successful event. Over 90 volwlteers did an outstanding job of providing hospitality and organization. The highlight of the competition, besides the 20th anniversary wliforms provided by Alpha Factor, was the 12-13 Age Group of Class ill's. These athletes competed a modified optional program, wllich saw a tremendously increased attention to execution and high level optional skills. This was the first year for a National Championsllips utilizing the new age group compulsory program and the athletes, coaches and judges are to be commended for embracing the concepts and excelling in this new direction for the Boys' Junior Olympic Program.
CLASS II 14·15 ALL·AROUND Gymnastrum/ lehigh Valley, Po. 1. Mike Dutka Gymnastrum/ lehigh Volley, Po. 2. Robert Nesbitt Gymnastrum/ lehigh Valley, Po. 3. lindsey Fang Weyandt's/ Charlotte, N.C. 4. Chris Anderson Queen City Gymnostics/ Cincinnati, Ohio 5. Michael Morgan Tallahassee Gymnasti[s/Tollahassee, Fla. 6. Sanjuan Jones CA Sports Center/San Jose, Calif. 7. lateef Crowder Oklahoma Gold/ Edmond, Okla. 8. Mike Sullivan
99.00 97.90 97.65 97.25 96.85 96.60 96.35 96.25
CLASS II 16·18 ALL·AROUND Gymnasti[s World/T u[son, Ariz. 1. Josh Nelson Top Flight/ Fremont, Calif. 2. Nathan Ramos las Vegas Flyers/ las Vegas, Nev. 2. Mike Denning Eastern Gymnasti[s/ Nesconset, N.Y. 4. John Schroeder Gymnasti[s Warld/T u[son, Ariz. 5. lance Steenson Pan[otes Gymnastics/ Frozer, Po. 6. Kyle Zak las Vegas Flyers/ las Vegas, Nev. 7. Jerremy Herman Cypress Acodemy/ Houston, Texas 8. Bret Charles
95.85 94.30 94.30 93.50 92.10 91.90 91.80 91.75
CLASS III 12·13 ALL·AROUND Gymnostics World/Tucson, Ariz. 1. Yewki Tomito Fit 'n Fun Gym/ Gaithersburg, Md. 2. Aaron Floyd Sportan Gymnasti[s/ San Jose, Calif. 3. Freddie Umali Atlanta S[hool of Gymnastics/Atlanta, Ga. 4. Jason Burgoon Gymnastrum/ lehigh Valley, Po. 5. Scott Vetere Capital Gymnastics Center/ Burke, Va. 6. Jason Furr HUGS/ San Antonio, Texas 7. Daniel Furney
49.20 47.45 46.90 45.85 45.75 45.32 45.00
Photograph above right: ( lass I 16-18 all-around winners USA
GY M
AST I CS
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107.45 107.35 106.60 106.55 106.40 106.10 105.50 104.60
J ULY / AUGUS T
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