SOFIA, Bulgaria (November 23, 2022) – U.S. gymnasts collected three medals, including gold in men’s and women’s 17-21-year-old double mini trampoline, on the first day of the 2022 T&T World Age Group Competitions in Sofia, Bulgaria. Dylan Kline and Kira Schwartz topped the podium in their respective divisions, while Josie Bain added silver in the women’s 17-21 double mini category. Another four Americans advanced to finals Wednesday at Arena Sofia.

Schwartz (Glendale, Calif./So Cal TTC) garnered a 24.900 on her second finals pass to edge teammate Bain (Litchfield Park, Ariz./North Valley Gymnastics) by half a point (24.400). Great Britain’s Sophie Moir (23.200) rounded out the medal stand. Schwartz’s 50.200 during qualifications advanced her to the final atop the standings. Bain won her group with a 49.300 to claim the second available U.S. finals spot. Bain (25.200) and Schwartz (25.100) were second and third after the opening round of the final before scores reset for the winner-take-all second run. Finley Merker (West Chicago, Ill./DuPage Cheer and Power Tumbling) notched the day’s third-highest qualification score, but did not compete in the final due to the two-athlete-per-country limit. Grace Harder (Winston Salem, N.C./Carolina Elite Trampoline Academy) finished 12th with a 47.100.

In the men’s 17-21 double mini division, Kline (Syracuse, Utah/Flipside Tumbling) and Alex Pelezo (Magnolia, Texas/World Champions Centre) each secured a second finals pass after posting scores of 27.000 and 26.900 on their first go. Kline clinched gold with a 27.400, and Pelezo took fourth with a 25.700. Kline qualified in the top spot with a 54.700. Pelezo’s 52.300 advanced him in the fifth position. Brendon Newton (Midlothian, Texas/Tumble Tech) landed 18th (49.400), and Carver Stennett (Lake Barrington, Ill./Carolina Elite Trampoline Academy) was 39th (26.100). Great Britain’s Kendrick Moore (26.000) and Spain’s Alejandro Toribio (26.000) were second and third.

The U.S. also advanced three gymnasts to the 13-14-year-old individual trampoline finals Wednesday. Reigning champion Alexandra Mytnik (Manalapan, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy) qualified first with a 95.830 but came up just short in her title defense after an unfortunate interruption late in her routine, finishing eighth in the medal round with a 42.670. Bella Ursu (Holmdel, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy) joined her in the final, slotting in fifth with a 49.380. She was eighth in qualifications (90.880). Grace Danley (Millstone, N.J./Garden State Trampoline Academy) was 20th (89.480), and Tessa Christopher (Middletown, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy) was 58th (47.940). Italy’s Letizia Radaelli earned top honors with a 50.860 followed by The Netherlands’ Thalissa Wijkstra (50.330) and France’s Juline Hesse (49.940).

Nate Erkert (Wildwood, Mo./Elite Trampoline Academy) was seventh in the men’s 13-14 individual trampoline category with a 48.180. He qualified in the sixth spot with a 91.820. France’s Celian Auge snared the title with a 52.490, and Azerbaijan’s Ali Niftaliyev took silver (51.540). Italy’s Leonardo Cagnasso (50.660) rounded out the podium. Alex Rozenshteyn (Cranford, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy) just missed the final despite posting a top-10 finish with a 90.350. Joseph Borders (Austin, Texas/Champions Westlake) was 25th (74.560), and Mick Seyler (Flower Mound, Texas/Southlake Gymnastics Academy) was 33rd (65.710).

The competition continues tomorrow with qualifications set to begin at 3 a.m. ET followed by division finals, starting at 1 p.m. ET. Champions will be crowned across men’s and women’s 13-14 synchronized trampoline, 15-16 individual trampoline and 17-21 tumbling.