SAN ANTONIO August 26, 2016 — AGSA @ FlipCity has been selected for the 2016 Best of San Antonio Award in the Gymnastics Center category by the San Antonio Award Program. This is the fourth year AGSA has been given the award for their exemplary performance, and constant improvement in the field of customer service and community involvement.

Each year, the San Antonio Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the San Antonio area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2016 San Antonio Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the San Antonio Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About San Antonio Award Program

The San Antonio Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the San Antonio area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The San Antonio Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: San Antonio Award Program

CONTACT:
San Antonio Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@awardsystem.org
URL: http://www.awardsystem.org

In 2014, USA Gymnastics combined the national championships for acrobatic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline & tumbling into a single USA Gymnastics Championships. One of the goals was to give better visibility to each of these growing sports, and the integration has created the opportunity for change and evolution as the three disciplines seek to unite into one seamless, exciting event. One such enhancement was incorporated at the championships held in Providence, RI, this June with the addition of an award for Acro Sportsperson of the Year.

Sportsperson of the Year had previously only been awarded for rhythmic and trampoline & tumbling, but was extended to acrobatic gymnastics in 2016. The award is chosen by the athletes themselves, and is intended to recognize the senior elite athlete who best represents high character, encouragement of other athletes and positive representation of the sport of acrobatic gymnastics overall.

The inaugural recipient of the Acro Sportsperson of the Year award was Jessica Renteria, a senior elite women’s pair base who trains with Vladimir Vladev at Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio. Jessica and her partner, Maren Merwarth, were the first women’s pair in Team USA history to medal in a World Cup event, and they also finished fourth at the 2016 World Acrobatic Championships in Putian, China. In addition to competitive success, however, Jessica’s peers felt she also epitomized the ideal in character and representation of the sport off the floor.

Jessica began acro as a level 5 women’s pair top, and has had a storied career since. She represented USA in the World Age Group Championships as a junior elite women’s pair base in both 2012 and 2014 and has numerous national and international titles. Jessica and Maren also earned a berth to the 2017 World Games, the Olympic Games equivalent for non-Olympic events, to be held in Wroclaw, Poland.

“I was shocked, surprised and honored to be the first recipient of this award in Acro History,” remarked Jessica. From all of us at Texas Acro, thank you for representing our state, our country and our sport so well!

Jessica Renteria – Acro Sportsperson of the Year 2016. Photo by Lisa Estep.

Texas Acro had another impressive showing at the 2016 USA Gymnastics Championships in Providence, RI, finishing on the podium no fewer than 46 times. In addition, Texas Acro captured 5 out of 6 national team awards (by level) as well as both the JO and Rookie coaches of the year, and placed pair/groups onto all levels of USA Gymnastics national teams. Congratulations to everyone who represented our state and sport so well! Full meet results are available from USA Gymnastics.

Texas Acro elites athletes at the conclusion of USA Gymnastics Champions following the Elite Routine performance with Acro Army. Photo by Lisa Estep

Texas Acro Award Totals

• 46 Podium finishes
• 15 Gold Medal Pair/Groups
• 9 Silver Medal Pair/Groups
• 10 Bronze Medal Pair/Groups
• Levels 6, 7, 8, 10 and International 11-16 Team Awards
• JO Coach of the Year
• Rookie Coach of the Year
• Sportsperson of the Year

JO Coach of the year – Jennifer Banowsky (AGSA) Photo by Lisa Estep

Rookie Coach of the Year – Michael Hassey (AGSA) Photo by Lisa Estep

Sportsperson of the Year in Acrobatics – Jessica Renteria (AGSA). Photo by Lisa Estep.

Acrobatic Gymnastics Senior National Team

Acrobatic Gymnastics Junior National Team

Senior National Team

• Maren Merwarth, Jessica Renteria (AGSA) – Women’s Pair

Junior National Team

• Riley Chimwala, Sarah Williamson (WOGA) – 13-19 Women’s Pair

Age Group National Team

• Devon Merwarth, Aidan Merwarth (AGSA) – Mixed Pair
• Hannah Alonzo, Jordan Liberto (BGC) – Women’s Pair
• Maia Berry, Camilla Hernandez, Makena Ludeman (AGSA) – Women’s Group
• Caitlyn Mackrell, Schyler Shults, Satia Wilson (AGSA) – Women’s Group (alternate)

International Club Team

• Savannah Stutevoss, Jessie Phillips, Emily Davis (AGSA) – 11-16 Women’s Group
• Satia Wilson, Schyler Shults, Caitlyn Mackrell (AGSA) – 11-16 Women’s Group
• Makayla Vasquez, Caley Teague (BGC) – 11-16 Women’s Pair
• Reagan Dubbels, Briana Foster, Abigail Rosilier (AGSA) – Jr Elite 12-18 Women’s Group
• Christina Troy, Zari Carlisle (AGSA) – Jr Elite 12-18 Women’s Pair

Acrobatic Gymnastics Development Team

• Tim Massa, Taylor Kozelsky (AGSA) – Level 8 Mixed Pair
• Tori Jones, Valerie Jones, Angelina Gardner (AGSA) – Level 8 Women’s Group
• Averi Hughes, Remi Nguyen, Aubrey Nguyen (BGC) – Level 8 Women’s Group
• Daniela Romaniello, Genesis Sosa Montilla (GOSA) – Level 8 Women’s Pair
• Angela Atkins, Rebekah Ochsner (AGSA) – Level 8 Women’s Pair
• Makayla Jacobs, Hannah Davis (AGSA) – Level 8 Women’s Pair (alternate)
• Kyra Dowling, Quincie Moran (AGSA) – Level 9 Women’s Pair
• Anabelle Wells, Ryenn Gonzales (AERIALS) – Level 9 Women’s Pair
• Paige McCormick, Sarah Ramage (WOGA) – Level 9 Women’s Pair
• Emily Davis, Rebekah Davis (AGSA) – Level 10 Women’s Pair
• Zoe Massa, Libby Earnest, Lauren Mackrell (AGSA) – Level 10 Women’s Group (alternate)