USA GYMNASTICS
MARCH 24, 2006

22 GYMNASTS ATTEND SELECTION CAMP FOR 2006 PACIFIC ALLIANCE

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 24, 2006 – 2005 world all-around champion Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis.; 2006 Tyson American Cup and 2005 world balance beam and uneven bars champion Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas; and 2005 world floor exercise champion Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., headline the roster of 22 women who will participate in the U.S. Women’s Team selection camp (April 4-7) for the 2006 Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships, April 13-15, in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The U.S. Women’s Team for the Pacific Alliance Championships will include four senior and four junior women and will be named on April 7.

China, Japan and the United States are among the Pacific Rim countries that have confirmed participation in the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships, one of the world’s premier international events.  The three-day event includes artistic gymnastics at the Neal Blaisdell Center, as well as rhythmic gymnastics and, for the first time, trampoline will be at the Hawaii Convention Center. This year’s Pacific Alliance Championships is one of the first international events in the world to use the new scoring system for artistic gymnastics that allows gymnasts to earn scores above the traditional 10.0.

All members of the U.S. National Team, the women attending the selection camp are listed alphabetically below.

Senior Age Division
Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla./Boca Twisters Gymnastics Academy
Morgan Evans, Norfolk, Va./Excalibur Gymnastics
Nastia Liukin, Plano, Texas/WOGA
Kayla Hoffman, Union, N.J./Rebound Gymnastics
Natasha Kelley, Katy, Texas/Stars Gymnastics Houston
Hilary Mauro, Westchester, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy
Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis./M&M Gymnastics
Kassi Price, Plantation, Fla./Orlando Metro
Ashley Priess, Hamilton, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy
Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics
Randy Stageberg, Chesapeake, Va./Excalibur Gymnastics
Makayla Stambaugh, Sacramento, Calif./Byers Gymnastics Academy
Amber Trani, Richlandtown, Pa./Parkettes
Shayla Worley, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro Gymnastics 

Junior Age Division
Rebecca Bross, Ann Arbor, Mich./World Olympic Gymnastics
Sarah DeMeo, Overland Park, Kan./Great American Gymnastics Express
Bianca Flohr, Creston, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy
Ivana Hong, Laguna Hills, Calif./Great American Gymnastics Express
Shawn Johnson, Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics
Shantessa Pama, Dana Point, Calif./Gym-Max Gymnastics
Samantha Peszek, McCordsville, Ind./Deveau’s Gymnastics
Bridget Sloan, Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy

In addition to the United States, China and Japan, the remaining countries are Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines and Russia. Participating athletes will be announced closer to the event. 

Artistic and rhythmic gymnastics will have team, all-around and individual event competitions for both juniors and seniors.  Individual trampoline will also have competition for both juniors and seniors.

Tickets are $15 and $30 for artistic gymnastics, with all-session packages for $45 or $75.  For rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline, tickets are $15.  Tickets may be purchased at the Neal Blaisdell Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-750-4400 (charge-by-phone).  Applicable service fees may apply. NBC Sports is broadcasting action from the Pacific Alliance Championships on April 16 at 4 p.m. ET.

The 2004 Pacific Alliance Championships was held in Honolulu.  Paul Hamm and Allyse Ishino won the all-around titles. The U.S. Senior Men won seven medals, and the U.S. Senior Women claimed eight medals, including sweeping the gold medals for the team, all-around and the four individual event finals. China’s Lu Bo won the title in the parallel bars and still rings, while Taipei’s Lin Hsiang Wei won the pommel horse. In the team competition, Japan and China finished behind the USA for the men, while Australia and China finished second and third, respectively, behind the USA’s women. The USA led the total medal count, followed by China and Canada.  In 2001, Honolulu’s Blaisdell Center hosted the Pontiac American Team Cup.

This year’s Pacific Alliance Championships is locally presented by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and OHANA Hotels & Resorts and sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Chevron and KHNL/Channel 8 News.  A Tom Moffatt Production, Inc., is a promotional partner for the event.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.