World bronze-medalists Mikulak, Moldauer headline field for the 2019 Winter Cup Challenge


INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 31, 2019 – 2018 World bronze-medalists Sam Mikulak of Newport Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center, and Yul Moldauer of Arvada, Colo./University of Oklahoma, are two members of the 2018 U.S. World Championships Team who are expected to compete at the 2019 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 15-17, at the Southpoint Hotel and Casino.

In addition to Mikulak and Moldauer, the rest of the World Team and alternates are also in the field: Akash Modi of Morganville, New Jersey/Stanford University; Colin Van Wicklen of Magnolia, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics; Alec Yoder of Indianapolis /Ohio State University; and alternates Allan Bower of Chandler, Arizona/University of Oklahoma, Trevor Howard of Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University, and Marvin Kimble of Milwaukee, Wis./Salto Gymnastics.

Twelve members of the U.S. Senior National Team are participating. Along with the World Championships Team and alternates, the national team members entered are: Cameron Bock of Tustin, Calif./University of Michigan; Kanji Oyama of Huntington Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics; Eddie Penev of Penfield, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics; and Genki Suzuki of North Wales, Pa./University of Oklahoma.

Nineteen gymnasts on the Junior National Team are also expected to compete: John Chou, of Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy; Justin Ah Chow of Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics; Caden Clinton of Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy; Lazarus Barnhill of Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy; Fuzzy Benas of Houston, Texas/EnRich Gymnastics; Landen Blixt of Fowlerville, Mich./Infinity Gymnastics; Taylor Burkhart of Morrison, Colo./5280 Gymnastics; Isaiah Drake of Los Angeles, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica; Raydel Gamboa of Phoenix, Ariz./North Valley Gymnastics; Spencer Goodell of Tigard, Ore./University of Oklahoma; Asher Hong of Tomball, Texas/Cypress Academy; Joshua Karnes of Erie, Pa./Lakettes Gymnastics; Nicolas Kuebler of Seattle, Wash./Metropolitan Gymnastics; Ian Lasic-Ellis of Dover, Mass./MEGA – Massachusetts; Riley Loos, El Dorado Hills of Calif./Technique Gymnastics; Luke McFarland of East Hartford, Conn./Daggett Gymnastics, junior; Curran Phillips of Naperville, Ill./Stanford University; Khoi Young of Bowie, Md./Sportsplex Gymnastics; and Colt Walker of Cedar Park, Texas/AcroTex Gymnastics.

The Winter Cup Challenge features both junior and senior competitive divisions. The first day of competition will consist of one session for the junior division and one for the senior division. The finals session will feature the top 28 senior athletes and the top 14 juniors. Junior athletes will advance to the finals according to the all-around ranking from the first day of competition. The senior athletes will advance to the second day according to the Men’s Program Committee’s points-ranking system. For the senior division, all-around ranking will be determined on the first day of competition and individual event champions will be determined via a combined two-day score. For the junior division, All-around ranking and individual event champions will be determined via a combined two-day score. For information on the points ranking system used for advancement to the final round, as well as the one for determining the national team, click here.

The Winter Cup competition schedule is: preliminary rounds, Feb. 15 – 1 p.m., juniors; and 6:30 p.m., seniors; and final round, Feb. 17 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $25 for Feb. 15 (both sessions) and Feb. 17 (finals), with an all-event pass for $50/adults and $40/children and students (which also includes access to the Black Jack Invitational); and for Feb. 17, $25/general public, $20/Black Jack Invitational coaches, and $15/Black Jack Invitational athletes. Tickets may be purchased on site on the afternoon of Feb. 14 and on both competition days. USA Gymnastics will be live-streaming all three competitive sessions via its YouTube channel.

Performances at the 2018 Winter Cup Challenge will help determine the 12 men who will comprise the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team through the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Following the first-day of competition, the top six ranked all-around athletes will automatically qualify for the 2019 senior national team. Using scores from both days of competition, the Men’s Program Committee will select six more gymnasts from the participants at the Winter Cup Challenge using the 10 Points Program or from petitions to the team. Based on his World Championships results, Sam Mikulak will automatically make the national team if he participates at the 2019 Winter Cup and qualifies to the finals.

Approximately 36 juniors and 48 seniors will participate in the event. The International Gymnastics Federation’s junior and senior level rules will be used. Eligible athletes for the senior division include: senior level participants from the 2018 U.S. Championships; top 36-junior-ranked gymnasts at the 2018 U.S. Championships who are no longer age-eligible for the junior national team in 2018 and qualified into the senior division; minimum 12 athletes, by all-around rank order, from MPC-approved qualifying events; and petitions. Only athletes who meet the FIG’s age requirements for the senior level may compete in the senior division. Eligible junior level gymnasts are the top-top 36-junior-ranked gymnasts at the 2018 U.S. Championships, as well as athletes approved by the Men’s Program Committee from the Level 9 Fall 2018 training camp using the approved MPC criteria.

Athlete roster for 2019 Winter Cup Challenge
(Alphabetical by state, then last name)

Arizona
Allan Bower, Chandler, Ariz./University of Oklahoma, senior
Raydel Gamboa, Phoenix, Ariz./North Valley Gymnastics, junior
Angel Leon, Tucson, Ariz./Ohio State University, senior

California
Cameron Bock, Tustin, Calif./University of Michigan, senior
Arun Chhetri, Culver City, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica, junior
Adrian De Los Angeles, Long Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior
Isaiah Drake, Los Angeles, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica, junior
Bennet Huang, Palo Alto, Calif./University of Iowa, senior
Riley Loos, El Dorado Hills, Calif./Technique Gymnastics, senior
Zachary Martin, Elk Grove, Calif./Elevate Gymnastics, junior
Samuel Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior
Brandon Nguyen, Elk Grove, Calif./Elevate Gymnastics, junior
Kanji Oyama, Huntington Beach, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior
Samuel Phillips, West Hills, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica, junior
Jordan Williams, Concord, Calif./Arizona State, junior

Colorado
Taylor Burkhart, Morrison, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, junior
Noah Giordano, Castle Rock, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, junior
Vitaliy Guimaraes, Arvada, Colo./University of Oklahoma, senior
Yul Moldauer, Arvada, Colo./University of Oklahoma, senior
Logan Myers, Morrison, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, junior

Connecticut
Shaun Herzog, Manchester, Conn./University of Minnesota, senior
Luke McFarland, East Hartford, Conn./Daggett Gymnastics, junior

Florida
Justin Ah Chow, Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, junior
Crew Bold, Delray Beach, Fla./TAG USA Gymnastics, junior
Evan Kriley, Tampa, Fla./University of Nebraska, senior
Sean Melton, Orlando, Fla./Ohio State University, senior
Tyler Schaal, Boca Raton, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, senior

Georgia
Andrew Bitner, Buford, Ga./Stanford University, senior

Illinois
Grant Breckenridge, Libertyville, Ill./Stanford University, senior
Alex Diab, Glen Ellyn, Ill./University of Illinois, senior
Bailey Perez, Glen Ellyn, Ill./Stanford University, senior
Curran Phillips, Naperville, Ill./Stanford University, junior
Rithik Puri, Chicago, Ill./Lakeshore Academy, junior

Indiana
Seth Delbridge, Floyds Knobs, Ind./Ohio State University, senior
William Hauke, Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau’s Gymnastics, junior
Ellis Mannon, Indianapolis, Ind./University of Minnesota, senior
Anthony Stephenson, Fishers, Ind./University of Nebraska, senior
Alec Yoder, Indianapolis, Ind./Ohio State University, senior

Massachusetts
Matthew Cormier, Milton, Mass./MEGA – Massachusetts, junior
Ian Lasic-Ellis, Dover, Mass./MEGA – Massachusetts, junior
Stephen Nedoroscik, Worcester, Mass./Pennsylvania State University, senior

Maryland
Donovan Hewitt, Burtonsville, Md./Paragon Gymnastics, junior
Donnell Whittenburg, Baltimore, Md./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior
Khoi Young, Bowie, Md./Sportsplex Gymnastics, junior

Michigan
Landen Blixt, Fowlerville, Mich./Infinity Gymnastics, junior
Michael Jaroh, Northville, Mich./MEGA – Michigan, junior
Jacob Moore, West Bloomfield, Mich./University of Michigan, senior

Minnesota
Shane Wiskus, Spring Park, Minn./University of Minnesota, senior

New Hampshire
Michael Fletcher, Nashua, N.H./University of Illinois, senior

New Jersey
Jake Brodarzon, Paramus, N.J./University of Iowa, senior
Cannon Johnson, Teaneck, N.J./US Gymnastics Development Center, junior
Akash Modi, Morganville, N.J./Stanford University, senior
Sebastian Quiana, Oradell, N.J./University of Illinois, senior

Nevada
Emyre Cole, Las Vegas, Nev./University of Michigan, senior

New York
Eddie Penev, Penfield, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center Gymnastics, senior
Kevin Penev, Penfield, N.Y./University of Michigan, senior

North Carolina
William Jeffreys, Raleigh, N.C./Ohio State University, senior

Ohio
Trevor Howard, Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University, senior
Tyler Rockwood, Lancaster, Ohio/Hocking Valley Gymnastics, junior

Oklahoma
Gage Dyer, Yukon, Okla./University of Oklahoma, senior

Oregon
Spencer Goodell, Tigard, Ore./University of Oklahoma, senior
Zachary Tiderman, Wilsonville, Ore./OMEGA Gymnastics, junior

Pennsylvania
Alexander Frack, Nazareth, Pa./Pennsylvania State University, senior
Joshua Karnes, Erie, Pa./Lakettes Gymnastics, junior
Genki Suzuki, North Wales, Pa./University of Oklahoma, senior

Tennessee
Adam Wooten, Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Gymnastics, junior

Texas
Levi Anderson, Spring, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior
Lazarus Barnhill, Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior
Aydon Benas, Houston, Texas/EnRich Gymnastics, junior
Cole Casanova, Dallas, Texas/Army Gymnastics, senior
John Chou, Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior
Caden Clinton, Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior
Evan Davis, Houston, Texas/University of Iowa, senior
Jack Freeman, Palestine, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior
Ian Gunther, Houston, Texas/Stanford University, senior
Asher Hong, Tomball, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior
Tanner Justus, Cypress, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior
Griffin Kehler, Frisco, Texas/University of Nebraska, senior
Kyle King, Mesquite, Texas/University of Nebraska, senior
Ryan McVay, Dallas, Texas/U.S. Naval Academy, senior
Daniel Simmons, Cypress, Texas/Cypress Academy, junior
Colin Van Wicklen, Magnolia, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior
Alexei Vernyi, Houston, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior
Colt Walker, Cedar Park, Texas/AcroTex Gymnastics, junior
Matthew Wenske, Houston, Texas/University of Oklahoma, senior

Utah
Taylor Christopulos, Layton, Utah/USA Gymnastics World, junior
Johnny Jacobson, Syracuse, Utah/University of Illinois, senior

Virginia
Kyte Crigger, Manassas, Va./University of California – Berkeley, senior
Kiwan Watts, Chesterfield, Va./Arizona State, senior

Washington
Garrett Braunton, Olympia, Wash./Cypress Academy, junior
Nicolas Kuebler, Seattle, Wash./Metropolitan Gymnastics, junior

Wisconsin
Marvin Kimble, Milwaukee, Wis./Salto Gymnastics, senior
Robert Neff, Brookfield, Wis./Stanford University, senior