Jr. Olympic Skills Competition finalists head to California to compete
July 13, 2009
Photo: USOC
Last year's Junior Olympic Skills Competition finalists gather around the flame in Chicago.
America's Top Young Athletes Head to Chula Vista, Calif. for the U.S. Jr. Olympic Skills Competition National Finals
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. Jr. Olympic Skills competition, the official youth skills competition of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), will convene on the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. July 23-26 for the National Finals. Seventy-two athletes ages 8-13 will compete in four fundamental sports - basketball, soccer, tennis and track & field - for the opportunity to be crowned champions of their sport and for the first time in the program's history, the U.S. and Puerto Rico Olympic Committees have joined together in this event and three athletes from Puerto Rico have qualified.
The competition will be streamed LIVE on www.TeamUSA.org July 24. Fans can also track the day's action by following "JrOlympicSkills" on www.twitter.com.
The finalists represent the event's top 72 young athletes from the United States and Puerto Rico who advanced to the National Finals by winning their age and gender category at one of 130 regional events. More than 1.6 million competitors participated in nearly 8,000 local qualifying events hosted by 2,500 community organizations throughout the country.
Now in its fourth year, the U.S. Jr. Olympic Skills competition, with the help of sponsors McDonald's, Oroweat and the U.S. Tennis Association, introduces America's youth to the excitement of a multi-sport competition, encouraging participation in Olympic sport, emphasizing fair and friendly play, and promoting an active lifestyle.
"The U.S. Jr. Olympic Skills finalists represent the future of the Olympic Movement," said Acting USOC Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Streeter . "With the assistance of our sponsors and extensive community network, the program helps young people so they can showcase their athletic ability and share the ideals and values of the Olympic Movement. We happily welcome Puerto Rico to this year's final and are excited that the event will be streamed live online giving family, friends and Olympic fans the chance to catch a glimpse of these talented young athletes in action."
Cobi Jones, American soccer icon, 1992 Olympian, former player and current assistant coach for the LA Galaxy, will serve as the 2009 U.S. Jr. Olympic Skills National Spokesperson for the event. Jones will appear at the Opening Ceremony on July 23 in Chula Vista to share his story and inspire the competitors.
"It's an honor to speak with these talented finalists before their big competition," Jones said. "I hope to inspire these athletes by sharing my Olympic experience but also look forward to being inspired by the ambition and energy of these young people."
The athletes who qualified for the 2009 Jr. Olympic Skills National Finals can be found below.
For more information on the Jr. Olympic Skills program, please visit www.jrolympicskills.com.
About the USOC
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. Learn more about the U.S. Olympic Team and USOC at www.usolympicteam.com.
For more information, please contact the USOC Communications Division at 719-866-4529.
2009 NATIONAL FINALISTS - BASKETBALL
8-9 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Orry Clements-Owens Douglasville, Ga. East
Tra'Qwan Cox Marion, Ind. Central
Juan Carlos Garate Jr. Whittier, Calif. West
8-9 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Rhyne Howard Hixson, Tenn. East
Haley Schubert Powell, Tenn. Central
Taylor Robertson McPherson, Kan. West
10-11 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Riley Toolen Waldwick, N.J. East
Juwuan Banks Detroit, Mich. Central
Paul With Brentwood, Calif. West
10-11 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Maggie Kuntz Ridgewood, N.J. East
Lindsey Mayle Geneva, Ohio Central
Katelyn Martin Lomita, Calif. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Avery Zuber Easton, Md. East
Martyce Kimbrough Lima, Ohio Central
Rolaun Dunham Riverbank, Calif. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Ashley Butler St. Petersburg, Fla. East
Remy Davenport Blue Springs, Mo. Central
Cayla Nava San Ramon, Calif. West
2009 NATIONAL FINALISTS - SOCCER
8-9 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Kerrick Cavanaugh Naples, Fla. East
Francisco Reyes Primera, Calif. Central
Daniel Najafian San Diego, Calif. West
8-9 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Kendall Herbaugh Woodstock, Va. East
Kate Daus St. Louis, Mo. Central
Alexis Yates Folsom, Calif. West
10-11 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Collin Cup Rochester, N.Y. East
Brett Hulsmeyer Hopkinsville, Ky. Central
Ryan Friedman San Diego, Calif West
10-11 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Sotiria Tsilionis Springhill, Fla. East
Caylon McMillan Mesquite, Texas Central
Natalie Brown Longview, Wash. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Richard Vazquez Cayey, Puerto Rico East
Bradley Thomas Newcarlisle, Ohio Central
Isaias Cisneros Sacramento, Calif. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Kaylee Polk St. Petersburg, Fla. East
Meredith Myers Hoover, Ala. Central
Jordyn Rutherdale Gardenerville, Nev. West
2009 NATIONAL FINALISTS - TENNIS
8-9 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Case Tolliver Bluefield, W.Va. East
Matt Munoz Findlay, Ohio Central
Daniel Baturyn San Leandro, Calif. West
8-9 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Skylar Lancaster Pittsburgh, Pa. East
Sola Akinniyi Baton Rouge, La. Central
Sarah Swider Hayden, Idaho West
10-11 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Javier Melendez-Munoz Cayey, Puerto Rico East
Vincent Rettke Madison, Ala. Central
Josh Aughenbaugh Laie, Hawaii West
10-11 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Cyd Melendez-Munoz Cayey, Puerto Rico East
Erin Young Huntsville, Ala. Central
Maddie Anderson Thompson, N.D. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Chisu Edwards Morristown, N.J. East
Ryan Fedewa Spring Lake, Mich. Central
Greg Wischer Grand Forks, N.D. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Anna Barber Moultrie, Ga. East
Ty Ana Williams Milwaukee, Wis. Central
Cindy Lim Grand Forks, N.D. West
2009 NATIONAL FINALISTS - TRACK & FIELD
8-9 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Mason Leonard Lyndonville, Vt. East
Edward Burruss Steger, Ill. Central
Mitchell Quinn Kailua, Hawaii West
8-9 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Jaid Jacobs Bethel Park, Pa. East
Arianna Wilson Portage, Ind. Central
Hannah Dunbar Casper, Wyo. West
10-11 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Omar Jamaladdin Philadelphia, Pa. East
Christian Miller Monroe, La. Central
Tanner Ramsey Gridley, Calif. West
10-11 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Jacy Van Arkel Rolesville, N.C. East
Jasmine Finch Birmingham, Ala. Central
Aftynne Lujan Alamosa, Colo. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Boys
Name Hometown Region
Davion Teaheartt St. Petersburg, Fla. East
Jeffrey Lara Schulenburg, Texas Central
Brandon Harvey Ft. Irwin, Calif. West
12-13 Year Old Division - Girls
Name Hometown Region
Jasmine Rosales Sarasota, Fla. East
Charlotte' Hampl Troy, Ill. Central
Christina Ellis San Diego, Calif. West
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Comments
Comments RSSOn July 18, 2009 Ellen Curran wrote
Good Luck Collin
On July 20, 2009 jamilee Iddings wrote
Jamilee Iddings wants to say, "GO WEST"
On July 23, 2009 Stefani Smith wrote
GOOD LUCK MARTYCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're already so proud of you! Haev the time of your life!
On August 12, 2009 Bryan Williams wrote
Congratulations to all the Finalists. I wish I would have seen this article a month ago, I would have followed it more closely.
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