Region 3 Championships WOGA June 6, 2009

[Alex Douglas]

Yesterday I attended the Region 3 Championships in Acrobatic Gymnastics at the Frisco, Texas facility of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. Brandi Lewis, the Region 3 Director, and coach for the WOGA Acro Team hosted the meet.

I was stunned and shocked by the level of acrobatics that has developed in Texas. And I was delighted to see the Louisiana clubs rising from the ashes of Hurricane Katrina. According to Rumen Latchkov from Boerne Gymnastics Center, Texas now boasts the most acrobatic gymnastics athletes in any state in the country. I will have to check with USAG to know that for sure, but we have come a long way from the humble beginnings of my one program in Texas back in 1997.

Representing Texas were these clubs:

• BGC: Boerne Gymnastics Center coached by Rumen Latchkov and Radostina Latchkova
• Browns Gymnastics coached by Vladimir Vladev and Michelle Merwarth
• GOSA: Gymnastics of San Antonio coached by Ivan Ivanov
• KAF: Kilgore Acro Flyers coached by Aida Wells
• TAAG: Texas Academy of Acrobatics and Gymnastics coached by Anna Smirnova and Chris Westra
• USAAA: USA Aireal and Athletics coached by Jennifer Banowski
• WOGA: World Olympic Gymnastics Academy coached by Brandi Lewis

Representing Louisiana were these clubs:

• ASG: All Star Gymnastics coached by Kelly Dawson
• CCG: Crescent City Gymnastics coached by Gawain and Julie Dupree
• CSA: Cheer Sport Acro Team coached by Courtney LeJeune
• Flip: Fliptastics coached by Selena and Mike Peco
• GPAT: Gymnastics Plus Acro Team coached by Jurek Pol
• LBA: Leaps and Bounds Acro coached by Kiril Kirov and Shannon Ducote

What had amazed me is that the clubs in Texas were lower level teams when l left off competition back in 2005, yet in 4 short years the state boasts Senior Elites Men's Pair of Inserra and Osborne from WOGA, (not in attendance) a Junior Elite Women's Group from BGC, Level 10 Women's Group of Jones, Banowski & Miller from USAAA, Level 10 Women's Pair of Traina & Jones from USAAA, and many level 9's, 8's and 8I's.

I have to admit that I felt remorse that I had not been in the competitive scene for the last four years, but my part in life is laying foundations for others to build upon. Neither am I certain that I will resume competition since my own program is taking a different direction, but I am proud to be associated with all these fine coaches and athletes. You all have made Texas Acro a nationally recognized contender!

[Alex Douglas]

I am glad you were working, but was regretful that I did not see you. I ran into Katrina. I explained to her that I have only enough children in my program to keep me employed, so could not hire her. She said that she was leaving for Mexico on Sunday. The entire meet was videotaped. You can watch the meet online at: http://www.gymnastike.org/.

[Coachgeo]

Glad to hear it went so well. Wish I could have attended myself.

Was training stilt jumping athletes from up and down the east coast and a few Texans the whole weekend. Hey ....... it's ANTI-GRAVITY Zone here; what do you expect LOL