Victory Gymnastics

The Victory Boy’s Team officially started their 2010-2011 season with the Level 4 and Level 5 team competing at the Judges Cup in Aliso Viejo.  Our new Level 4 Team, Armando Visitacion, Caden Stillwell, Nathan Laventure and Matthew Osgood competed for the first time and did a great job.  Our Level 5 Team was led by returning gymnasts Hunter Brunett and Eli Bute, and were joined by two new Level 5’s Bo Caviezel and Vince Daurio.  Check out the hardware these guys brought home! 

Congratulations to our entire Girl’s Team for their great showing at the State Championships! It’s a great achievement to make it to the State Finals, especially for so many of our girls who are in their first season.  What an accomplishment!  Top 10 finishers included:

• Level 6: Bailey Stillwell 6^th All Around, 5^th on Bars, 8^th on Floor ; Hannah Dye 3^rd All Around, 3^rd on Vault and Beam; Laura Jacob 8^th All Around, 4^th on Beam, 7^th on Floor; Penny Daurio 8^th on Vault
• Level 5: Juliet Balkian 3^rd on Vault, 4^th on Bars; Alexa Solomon 8^th on Vault, 9^th on Bars, 9^th on floor
• Level 4: Cate Saylors 10^th on Beam; Erika Hoang 9^th on Bars; Gabi Gromlich 10^th All Around, 9^th on Beam, 9^th on Floor; Julia Hernandez 3^rd All Around, 2^nd on Bars, 5^th on Beam, 6^th on Floor; Makayla Meherin 9^th on bars, 9^th on floor; Sierra Swanson 6^th on Bars

Way to go Team!

NEWBURY PARK, CALIF.–All 28 members of the Victory Gymnastics Academy girls’ team qualified to compete at State Championships after participating in the Level 4-6 Sectional Championships, October 23 and 24, in Camarillo. Victory Gymnastics in Newbury Park was the only Ventura County gym to have all of its team members qualify for the State Championships. A total of 440 gymnasts and 25 gyms competed in the Sectionals. Girls on the Victory Gymnastics team won 41 medals.

Individually, gold medalists were Julia Hernandez on balance beam and floor exercise, Arianna Godinez on floor exercise, Juliet Balkian on vault and Erika Hoang on floor exercise. All-around silver medals went to Julia Hernandez,  Arianna Godinez and Hannah Dye. All three of Victory teams (Level 4, ages 6-13, Level 5, ages 7-9 and Level 6, ages 10-12), won team titles, the only gym in Ventura County to do so. Teams are grouped by ability, with Level 6 the most advanced.

“Our girls worked hard and stayed focused throughout the meet,” says Ray Jiang, Victory Gymnastics coach and a former member of the Chinese National Team. “I’m proud of every single team member. I’m confident they’ll continue to excel at the state level.”

Victory Gymnastics team members are Julia Hernandez, Arianna Godinez, Juliet Balkian, Hannah Dye, Jacqueline Ciminera, Gabi Gromlich, Makayla Meherin, Sierra Swanson, Morgan Dye, Bailey Stillwell, Lindsay Cortes, Laura Jacob, Shylah Bucher, Erika Hoang, Alexa Solomon, Cali Schwetz, Kaylee Brown, Emelyn Chenette, Cate Saylors, Sydney Paulson, Chloe Klaas, Autumn Chenette, Raz Liani, Tatum Fouts, Taylor Pearson, Penny Daurio, Emily Paulson, Emma Jaggi. Coaches are Jiang, Corinne Luderer, Autumn Epstein, Lara McCallum and Ronny Camacho.

State Championships will be held November 12-14 in Bakersfield.

Chadds Ford, Pa. – Tom Kovic, former University of Pennsylvania Head Gymnastics Coach and current president of Victory Collegiate Consulting will speak at The Victory Gymnastics Center, Tuesday, November 2, 2010 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM.

Kovic spent 19 years as the Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach at the University of Pennsylvania, where he led the Quakers to eight Ivy League championships, two ECAC titles while mentoring 46 individual conference champions. He launched Victory Collegiate Consulting in 2006 as an educational advisement service that assists families and their children in navigating the college athletics recruiting search. Kovic has assisted over 100 families in the last 4 years alone in finding the right college match.

“I believe the college experience is probably the most important time in the life of our children in that it will strongly shape their purpose and direction for the rest of their lives. The goal of the seminar is to provide families with pertinent information that will help them organize efficiently and develop the confidence needed to arrive at their “best-educated” college choice.”

The 90 minute presentation will provide a practical approach that families may utilize in developing individual plans for the high school student-athlete.

Victory Gymnastics is located at 2330 Teller Road in Newbury Park. For further information on this seminar and to register for the event contact Howard Laguna at: howard@victory-gymnastics.com.

The following article appeared in the Ventura County Star, August 30, 2010:

Youth sports roundup: Robin takes silver medal in gymnastics

By From staff reports

Monday, August 30, 2010

Alec Robin, a senior at Calabasas High and a student at Newbury Park’s Victory Gymnastics Academy, took the silver medal in vault competition at the USA Gymnastics VISA Championships in Hartford, Conn., in August.

Robin, now 16, competed in the 14-15 age division. It marks the first time a locally trained gymnast participated in this national competition. Robin also finished sixth in the floor competition.

Robin had to beat out thousands of gymnasts to compete in the VISA Championships.

“He qualified in state competitions and then in regional competitions,” said Ray Jiang, his Victory Gymnastics coach and a former member of the Chinese National Team. “Alec then went to the Junior Nationals in Knoxville, Tenn., where he was one of only 18 gymnasts selected to compete in nationals. He represents the elite of the elite in today’s gymnasts. Kids in older age groups at the national level are selected to the National Team representing the U.S. at the coming World Championships.”

Robin can be seen practicing at Victory Gymnastics at least 20 hours each week. He credits his coach for his success. “I see Coach Ray a lot like a father,” said Robin. “I couldn’t imagine anyone else but him as my coach.”

Jiang began coaching Robin when Robin was four. “My mom signed me up for gymnastics when she noticed I would watch TV upside down on the couch and was always tumbling,” said Robin.

Robin hopes to attend the University of Michigan or Ohio State on a gymnastics scholarship.

“Both have very strong gymnastics programs,” he said.

“Not everyone will be as successful as Alec,” said Jiang. “But the benefits that gymnastics bring to those who participate are tremendous. Balance, coordination, agility and flexibility are just some of the physical benefits. Concentration, confidence and mental toughness are the mental and emotional rewards.”

Next up for Robin and the rest of the Victory Gymnastics’ boys team is the West Coast Team Challenge in January in Bakersfield. Victory is the three-time defending champion. Victory’s girls team will see its first action of the season at a preliminary meet Sept. 11 in Chatsworth and again Septe. 25 in Culver City and Oct. 9 in Santa Clarita.

Information: Victory Gymnastics at 76-9059 or http://www.victory-gymnastics.com.

Our Level 10 Boy’s Team traveled to Colorado Springs and competed at the US Olympic Training Center.  Our guys competed with and against former, current and future Olympians Joe Hagerty, Danell Leyva and Alexy Bilozertchev.  What a great experience to march in alongside the US National Team as well as some of the top Collegiate teams in the country including Stanford, Illinois, UC Berkeley, Minnesota and National Champion University of Michigan. Brendan got to meet some of his soon to be teammates from Temple University.  Hard to believe these guys started out as teammates on the pre team and have progressed all the way to the top.  Congratulations Alec, Brendan, Damon, Danny and Coach Ray!

Coach Tony Tang was named 2010 Judge of the Year by the Southern California Gymnastics Judges Association. Congratulations Tony!

The Thousand Oaks Rotary Club hosts the Youth Citizenship Awards Program.  This annual event recognizes exemplary young citizens in the Conejo Valley.  We are proud to announce that Hannah Dye has been awarded Outstanding Young Citizen of Lang Ranch Elementary School.  Hannah is a terrific student, and awesome gymnast, and an all-around great kid.  Way to go Hannah!

Brendan Williams, Level 10 gymnast and senior at Westlake High School, has earned a gymnastics scholarship to Temple University!

Brendan has been coached by Coach Ray since the age of 5.  His most recent accomplishments have included 2008 State and Regional pommel horse champion, 2008 and 2009 State All-Star, and 2008 and 2009 Region 1 Select Team Member.

The highlight of his gymnastics career was being a member of Team USA for the 2009 World Maccabiah Games in Israel.

As Captain of Victory Men’s Team, Brendan has been a hard worker, a strong leader, and a great friend.  Brendan will pursue a degree in International Studies, and we wish the best!

Check out the Temple University Men’s Gymnastics Team website at www.olwlsports.com.

Teammates since pre-team: Damon, Josh, Coach Ronny, Brendan, Shane, Coach Ray & TJ

Shane Laguna, Joshua Gong and Damon Laguna, three of our Level 10 gymnasts have been named Academic All-Americans by USA Gymnastics!  USA Gymnastics’ mission statement states, “The Junior Program is designed to provide a training ground for the development of young athletes. While physical development is obviously important, the program must also stress development of values, morals and social skills, which will remain with these future citizens all their lives.  Encouraging a high level of academic achievement in our young athletes is as important as encouraging their athletic achievement.”

In order to be eligible for this award, high school age gymnasts must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 as verified by their official high school transcript, and submit two letters of recommendation from their coach and from a high school teacher, counselor or principal.

This is Shane’s third award, Joshua’s second and Damon’s first.

Congratulations guys!