KUPETS LEADS GEORGIA TO 5th NCAA TITLE

LINCOLN, Neb., April 18, 2009 – 2004 Olympic team silver-medalist Courtney Kupets, a senior at the University of Georgia, added three individual event titles to her 2009 NCAA team and all-around crowns at the 2009 National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships, held at the University of Nebraska’s Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. Kupets won uneven bars and balance beam, and tied for first on floor exercise with Louisiana State University’s Ashleigh Clare-Kearney. Clare-Kearney claimed the vault crown.

Kupets now has nine career NCAA individual titles, surpassing the mark of eight set by the University of Kentucky's Jenny Hansen in 1993-95. Her individual titles are: three in the all-around (2006-07, 2009), two on uneven bars (2006, 2009), two on balance beam (2006, 2009), one on vault (2007) and one on floor exercise (2009). She also won three team national championships (2006-07, 2009). Kupets missed the 2008 NCAA Championships with a torn Achilles tendon.

On uneven bars, Kupets scored a 9.9500 to finish first, with Stanford University’s Carly Janiga placing second at 9.9125 and the University of Florida’s Alicia Goodwin and the University of Utah’s Kristina Baskett tying for third at 9.9000.

Kupets and Georgia teammate Courtney McCool, also a 2004 Olympic team silver-medalist, placed first and second, respectively, on balance beam with scores of 9.9875 and 9.9500. Sharing third place with scores of 9.9000 were Baskett, the University of Alabama’s Ashley Priess and University of Arkansas’ Sarah Nagashima.

Kupets and Clare-Kearney each posted a 9.9500 to top the field on floor exercise. Florida’s Corey Hartung finished third with a 9.9000. Clare-Kearney won vault with a 9.9000, followed by LSU teammate Susan Jackson in second with a 9.8938. Kupets and Baskett shared third place after each scored a 9.8563.

GIBSON Athletic is a proud sponsor of the NCAA. Please visit www.gibsonathletic.com or call 1-800-275-5999 for all your gymnastics needs. Congratulations to all men's and women's NCAA Gymnastics participants on a great season!

Source: www.usa-gymnastics.org

10 things you should know before putting your child in gymnastics

1. Gymnastics is a progressive sport. It is a long road ahead and is a building process so nothing happens over night.

2. Parents must be patient and supportive when child is overcoming obstacles. Whether it is fear, frustration, coaching conflicts, injury etc. always support your child in a positive manner. There should be no punishments just guidance.

3. It is a commitment not only from the child but the parents.

4. You can start at any age! There are different benefits to the sport even if they have a late start or progress slowly. Gymnastics is great for focus, motor function skills, coordination, strength, and flexibility.

5. If a child becomes “fearful” always remain positive.

6. Never criticize or “coach” your child. Leave that to the coaches.

7. It can be a financial burden to a family if not prepared. Take into account enrollment, equipment, fees, travel, etc.

8. Competitive gymnastics can involve a lot of traveling.

9. Gymnastics requires a lot of commitment in and out of the gym. It is a lifestyle sport. Gymnasts give up a lot of extracurricular activities for training. There is little time for other sports and social activities. The demand for mental and physical toughness is high.

10. Do not put your child in gymnastics because you want them to be the next Olympian. Six girls are selected every four years and too much pressure can be placed on kids with that intention. This can lead to burn out and resentment. The athlete should be in the sport because she loves it and reaps the benefits of the sport not solely because she wants to be an Olympian. A very small percentage ever make it that far.

The benefits of gymnastics are well worth the hard work. If you have questions you should stop by a local club and ask to speak with a professionally certified coach. A lot of gymnastics clubs offer free trial lessons as well. Look at the quality of the facility as well as competitive background. Some gymnastics clubs offer strictly recreational gymnastics as opposed to high level athletics. Review your child’s goals and make the best decision for their needs together!

Author: Courtney Butler- Gibson Athletic

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Joining a Gymnastics Club

1. Is the gymnastics club USAG registered?
-Registered member clubs are also available at www.usa-gymnastics.org

2. Is the equipment in the facility up-to-date and safe?
-The equipment should all be in good enough condition where the safety of the athlete is not jeopardized. Mats should be in good shape, all equipment looking sturdy and stable

3. Are the coaches professionally certified?
-Coaches should be registered USAG members

4. What is the history of the gymnastics program there?
-Some gyms provide very high level gymnastics coaching and others recreational. Know the history of the gym, type of program they have, and the type of program you are personally looking for

5. Do they treat their athletes with respect?
-Coaches should sound knowledgeable; provide professional critique and understanding of the skill

There are many questions and concern when either joining or switching gymnastics clubs. Gymnastics is a high commitment level sport so we suggest you explore your options carefully before selecting your gym. There are many factors to consider when choosing a facility and coaches. It is much easier to make the right decision early on than to have to switch gymnastics clubs in the middle of an athlete’s career.

Author:
Courtney Butler
Gibson Athletic

Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson Advances

2008 Olympic balance beam gold-medalist Shawn Johnson and partner Mark Ballas continued to recieve high marks from judges and the necessary fan votes to advance to week seven of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”.

Gymnastics fans can vote by phone, text or online beginning at the start of each performance show. To vote for Johnson, call 800-VOTE4-09 (800-86834-09), text the word “VOTE” to 3409 (AT&T mobile customers only) or visit the “Dancing with the Stars” Web site. Phone and text lines will stay open for 30 minutes after the end of the program, and online voting will remain open until 12 p.m. ET on the day after the performance show.

The seven celebrities that remain in “Dancing with the Stars” eighth season, including Johnson: Lil’ Kim (singer), Gilles Marini (actor), Melissa Rycroft (reality show personality), Lawrence Taylor (football), Ty Murray (rodeo), and Chuck Wicks (singer). Five celebrities have been eliminated from competition: Belinda Carlisle (singer), Holly Madison (reality show personality), Denise Richards (actress), Steve Wozniak (Apple Computers), David Alan Grier (comedian), Steve-O (comedian). Steve-O was elimited in week six.

The remaining season eight schedule for “Dancing with the Stars” is: performance show is on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, April 13 through May 18; the results show is on Tuesdays, at 9 p.m. ET, April 14 through May 12; and the season finale is Tuesday, May 19, at 9 p.m. ET.

Gibson Athletic is the leading provider for gymnastics, ballet, and cheer equipment. Please visit www.gibsonathletic.com or call 1-800-275-5999 for any future needs.

Source: www.usa-gymnastics.org

BIG TEN Men's Gymnastics Championships

The University of Illinois–Champaign, the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois–Chicago earned automatic berths in the men’s National Qualifier on April 16 by winning their respective conference championships on April 3-4. Illinois – Champaign and Michigan tied for the team title at the Big Ten Championships, held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Illinois - Chicago earned the team crown at the Eastern College Athletic Conference
Championships, held at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. The remaining teams and athletes for the NCAA Qualifier will be determined on Tuesday, April 7.

A total of 12 teams will compete in the National Qualifier on April 16. The Big Ten Conference and Eastern College Athletic Conference champions receive automatic berths, and the remaining teams are chosen according to the National Qualifying Average (NQA). The top six all-around competitors who are not members of a qualified team, and the top six individuals on each event not selected as part of a team or for the all-around will also compete in the National Qualifier. No more than 12 competitors may represent any one institution.

The NQA is based on a team’s, an all-around competitor’s and an individual event specialist’s four best regular-season meet scores, two of which must be contested at an away meet. The high score is eliminated and replaced with the conference meet score, which is included twice. These five scores are averaged to obtain the NQA.

The last time the Big 10 has a tie for the team championship title was in 1983 when the University of Illinois tied with Ohio State University with identical scores of 276.650.

Gibson Athletic is a proud supporter of Men's and Women's NCAA Gymnastics. We manufacture both male and female gymnastics products. For all your gymnastics and equipment needs please visit www.gibsonathletic.com or call us toll free at 1-800-275-5999.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL MALE AND FEMALE NCAA GYMNASTICS NATIONAL COMPETITORS !

Source: usa-gymnastics.org

WILL SHE WIN IT?

Former Olympian and elite gymnast Courtney Kupets of the University of Georgia is predicted to win the all around this coming NCAA Championship. Can she do it? With Kristina Baskett of Utah and Ashley Clare-Kearney of LSU right behind her in the rankings, it will be a tight meet. The winner of this NCAA National Championship in Lincoln, Nebraska will be the athlete closest to perfect.

Here's a glimpse of what we'll see-



The NCAA Womens National Gymnastics Championships willl be held at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln April 16-18. Stay tuned for more information after this weekends Regional Championships!


Gibson Athletic is a proud supporter of NCAA gymnastics and its athletes. For all your gymnastics and equipment needs please visit http://www.gibsonathletic.com/ or call us at 1-800-375-5999.

NCAA GYMNASTICS REGIONALS THIS WEEKEND !

What are your predictions? What regionals could have potential upsets?

Top 2 at the end of the night move on to NCAA Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 16th-18th!

West Region - Seattle
No. 2 Utah
No. 11 Auburn
No. 14 Illinois-Champaign
No. 19 Boise State
Washington
San Jose State

North Central Region - Iowa City, Iowa
No. 6 Florida
No. 7 UCLA
No. 18 Minnesota
No. 20 Denver
No. 23 Iowa State
Iowa

Central Region - Columbus, Ohio
No. 5 LSU
No. 8 Oregon State
No. 17 Ohio State
No. 22 Kent State
No. 25 Kentucky
Michigan State

Northeast Region - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
No. 3 Alabama
No. 9 Oklahoma
No. 15 Missouri
Central Michigan
New Hampshire
Maryland

Southeast Region - Raleigh, N.C.
No. 1 Georgia
No. 12 Penn State
No. 13 Nebraska
No. 21 West Virginia
North Carolina State
North Carolina

South Central -- Fayetteville, Ark
No. 4 Stanford
No. 10 Arkansas
No. 16 Michigan
No. 25 Arizona
Arizona State
Southern Utah