Gymnastics is a sport of skill, determination, and the desire to be on top. Every year gymnasts around the country expand their abilities and sharpen their skills with the hope of making it to the big leagues. For those in the Men's Junior Olympic program, the big leagues happened a couple weeks ago.

Long Beach California was the site of this year's JO National Championship, an annual competition that puts the best of the best against each other to see who are America's top young gymnasts. Young men from 11 to 18 years of age must qualify to participate in this 5 day test of skill, strength, and resolve, and this year about 750 made it to this national competition. This program is usually the way gymnasts are chosen for the US National Team to represent the country in international competition.

This year South Coast sent two of our own to Nationals and are proud of what they have accomplished. Casey Cummings, a middle-schooler from Tustin, competed as a level 8 in the 12 year old division of this year's national championship. He finished 4th on the Floor Exercise and 21st All Around, which are excellent results, especially considering how large this meet is.

Alex Escalara, one of our level 10 gymnasts, managed to balance the demanding schedule of a high-level gymnast with his first year as a high school student. He qualified to nationals as a Pommel Horse specialist and made us all proud at the competition.

Great job boys! Keep up the good work!