Home : Media : 2002 Sports Acrobatics - "Acrobats Compete for National Titles"

Acrobats Compete for National Titles
September 1 , 2002

Members of the Elmwood Gymnastics Academy who won 15 gold medals and three silver medals at the recent 2002 Sports Acrobatics National Championships held in Kenner are, front row from left, Leslie Chisholm, Jara Crear, Jordan Coughlin, Carley Faucheaux, Jennifer Bertram, Alexi Bordlee, Nicole Barrilleaux, Rebecca Hudson, and Suzanne Zelenka. Second row: Jessica Lawrence, Cole Tarzetti, Margot Beerman, and Sarah Oster. Back row: Lindsay Potter, coach Raisa Galper, Kaitlyn Moser and Christine Matthews. Not pictured is coach Anthony Bullard.

LOCAL GYMNAST WIN GOLD, SILVER MEDALS

A group of young athletes from the Elmwood Gymnastics Academy in Jefferson used a combination of hard work and dedication to win a total of 15 gold medals and three silver medals at the 2002 Sports Acrobatics National Championships recently held at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner. "The members of our team worked hard," coach Raisa Galper said. "They trained dailt for at least eight hours, and that helped them to do an outstanding job."

Sports acrobatics uses a combination of dance, tumbling, gymnastics and acrobatic skills.

"With the championships being held here (in Kenner) they really wanted to do well and show everyone what they were capable of doing," Galper said.

Athletes competing in the event came from across the country and represented such states as Maryland, California, Texas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Missouri.

The Elmwood athletes who won gold medals were Jordan Coughlin, Sarah Oster, Christine Matthews, Margot Beerman, Jessica Lawrence, Lindsay Potter, Cole Tarzetti, Suzanne Zelenka, Carley Faucheux, Jennifer Bertram, Alexi Bordlee, Rebecca Hudson, and Nicole Barrilleaux.

Leslie Chisholm, Kaitlyn Moser, and Jara Crear won silver medals.

Bertram has been competing in sports acrobatics for six years.* This was her fourth national championship.*

"It's always exciting to compete in national championships," said Bertram, 16, a junior at St. Mary's Dominican high school. "And having the championship here in the New Orleans area made it lots of fun."

At the national championship, Galper, who has coached at Elmwood 10 years, was named the national Gymnastics Coach of the Year.

---- Correction ----
I have only been competing in Acro 5 years, not 6 as the Article says.

See Other Newspaper Articles from 2002:
Pre-Nationals
USAG Article

* See Corresponding Pictures *