RISING STARS TEAMS KICK OFF 2013 COMPETITIVE SEASON

Rising Stars Gymnastics Academy gymnasts launched their 2013 compulsory competitive season with solid results at the First Minnesota State Qualification Gymnastics Meet held Oct. 5-6 in Saint Paul Park. 

Rising Stars’ Level 5 team gymnasts finished fourth with a score of 105.675. Allexa Larson led the team, earning sixth place All Around (10 and under age group), with a total individual score of 35.275, and achieving third place on balance beam. Lauren Olson medaled with a third place finish on floor exercise and fifth on balance beam.

Marina Emms secured a sixth place finish in the All Around (age 11 group), with a total score of 33.65, and placed fifth on floor exercise. Marissa Muller contributed on balance beam, where she earned fourth. Katrina Frendt turned in a solid performance with sixth place on vault.

The Rising Stars Level 4 team secured third place in their session with a score of 107.225. Makena Goodman led the group with a total individual score of 35.725, winning the All Around (age 11 and up group), as well as first place medals in uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. She also turned in a solid fourth place performance on vault.

In the age 10 group, Rochelle Meisterling contributed strongly with a total score of 34.6, earning a fifth place spot in the All Around; a second place award on floor exercise; and fourth on vault. Hailey Anderson earned a third place medal on balance beam, while Ella Chavez achieved third place on vault.

For gymnasts ages 9 and younger, Molly Peterson delivered a solid performance, earning 34.6 in the All Around, placing her fifth overall, as well as winning the vault event. Kathryn Fritz achieved a third place medal on uneven bars.

Every gymnast on the two squads achieved individual scores above 32.00 to qualify for the USA Gymnastics Minnesota State Meet to be held in December.

Representing the communities of Lake Elmo, Oakdale, Stillwater, Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Hugo and Woodbury, the gymnasts train under the guidance of head coaches Pavel and Elena Miligoulo, as well as event coaches Cassie Moltzan, Tiffany Mclean, Alyssa Fedor, Maria Ortiz and San-Jin Song.

The Miligoulos, originally from Belarus, both trained as elite gymnasts of the Belarussian and USSR National Gymnastics Team and earned Master of the Sport rank from the former USSR prior to coming to the United States.

The couple has coached gymnastics for more than 30 years, producing international, western, regional and state champions and medalists. In 2013, standout Rising Stars gymnast Mary Jane Rott joined Auburn University’s gymnastics team on a full athletic scholarship. Rott’s teammate Brittany Hadj-Romdhane recently committed to join Southeast Missouri State University’s gymnastics team on full scholarship next year.

Rising Stars Gymnastics Academy is located in Oakdale and serves the Saint Paul/East Metro area. Celebrating its 15-year anniversary this year, the gym is home to a robust recreational program for ages 2 through high school, and a highly competitive USA Gymnastics team program for compulsory levels 3 through 5 and optional levels 6 through 10.