J&J athletes return from nationals with two titles

    Seven athletes from the locally-based J&J Trampoline and Tumbling Team recently attended the Stars and Stripes National Championships in Fort Worth, Tex., July 19-21. The athletes competed in the events of tumbling, trampoline, and double mini trampoline in levels 5-7 for each event.

    Bringing home two National Champion titles was Aliyah Quenzer, of German Valley. Quenzer was crowned the National Champion for Level 7 Double Mini and Level 7 Tumbling for the 11-12 age division.  She was the defending National Champion for the same events in L6 and was successful in defending her title at the next higher level amongst a competitive field of 46 athletes in her age division.

    Athletes qualify for the national event by achieving a minimum score at either the State or Regional Championships in the event they are competing in. Nearly 1,100 athletes from across the United States attended the competition held at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Only the top eight athletes in the overall results for their age division and level are awarded on the podium.

    Accompanying Quenzer were her teammates who also attended the first Nationals event. Mary Rolander, of Rockford, competed in all three events in her first year of qualification. She placed 20th in Level 5 Trampoline, made the podium in fifth place in Tumbling, and just missed the top eight, placing ninth, in Double-Mini Trampoline in a huge field of 69 athletes in her division. Also attending her first nationals was Cora Gille, of Winnebago. She also made the podium her first time at nationals in Level 5 Tumbling eight and under age division, placing sixth out of 25 athletes. Gretta Glidden, of Rockford, also had a successful first Nationals experience. She was able to return to training shortly before the competition, as she had been recovering from an injury, and was able to compete in a very challenging Level 5 Trampoline group to place 28th and Double-Mini division placing 36th.

    Returning athletes to the national event included HaLeigh Rhode, of Davis, who competed in the 13-14 year old division of Level 7 Trampoline and placed 28th with a solid routine in a tough field of athletes. Molly Johnson, of Pecatonica, competed in all three events, placing 42nd in Level 5 11-old division, 52nd in Tumbling, and 30th in Level 6 11-12 year old Trampoline. Wrapping up the group was 15-year-old Melanie Denny, of Winnebago. She made the podium on all three of her events, including L6 Trampoline in eighth place, Level 6 Double-Mini Trampoline in sixth place, and Level 7 Tumbling in fifth place.

    J&J is extremely proud of all of their athletes who represented their club and state at this event. They are excited to be opening spots on their competitive Pre Team and Team for the 2024-25 season and look forward to taking an even larger group of athletes to the Stars and Stripes Nationals in 2025.

    For more information on the J&J Team, please call 815-979-4672.