Flipstar dominates AAU state meet, wins six team titles

April 21, 2026

Xcel Bronze & Shining Star. Back row, from left: Lily Wagner, Emma McDermott, Sloane Alway, Rae Rabe, Brynn Grothause, Ellie Odegaard, Loren Fisher, Evie Witkowski, Kinsey Sanders, Davony Glenn. Middle Row: Fiona Ewing, Eliza Quinn, Ophelia Quinn, Bella Bennett, Hensley Chavalia, Kylin Vanderputte, Josephine Ryan, Svenja Siems. Front Row: Ryah Nichols, Hannah Mackin, Carmela Moma, Weslynn Sanders, Stevie Trejo, Lexi McLain

LOWELL — Flipstar Gymnastics of Ludington delivered one of the most dominant performances in program history Saturday, April 18 at Lowell High School, capturing six team championships and posting record-setting scores at the Michigan AAU State Championships.

Flipstar claimed team titles in Xcel Copper, Bronze, Gold, Platinum, Boys 4×4 and Xcel Gold Ladies, while the Xcel Silver team narrowly missed a seventh title, finishing runner-up by just 0.5 points. The program sent a record 63 athletes to the state meet, and those competitors combined for 219 top-three podium finishes, including 99 individual state championships.

Several teams not only won titles but also reset the standard within the program. The Xcel Bronze team posted a 116.15 — a notably high gymnastics score — while Xcel Platinum (113.95) and Xcel Copper (113.85) also established new Flipstar records.

“Their hard work and dedication paid off,” coach Aimee Goff said. “There were first state meet jitters, some recent illnesses and injuries, and even a few uncharacteristic mistakes to overcome. These athletes rallied and supported each other and ended with highlights and smiles during a very successful day.”

The meet showcased depth across every level, from first-year competitors in Xcel Copper and Bronze to experienced upper-level athletes and the program’s boys and ladies divisions. Multiple gymnasts posted meet-high all-around scores, while others competed through injuries or balanced multiple spring sports commitments.

Flipstar will next host its Spring Fling meet May 2 before sending 25 qualifiers to the Midwest Regional Championships in Ohio.


Xcel Platinum. Back Row, from left: Cara Siemiaszko, Abby Dodson, Nina Frick. Front Row: Grace Hasenbank, Finley Watson, Alyssa Landino

Xcel Platinum

  • Finley Watson — 1st all-around; 1st bars, beam, floor; 2nd vault
  • Abby Dodson — 1st all-around; 1st bars, beam; 2nd vault, floor
  • Cara Siemiaszko — 3rd all-around; 2nd (1 event), 3rd (2 events), 4th (1 event)
  • Nina Frick — 4th all-around; 3rd (1), 4th (2), 5th (1)
  • Alyssa Landino — 5th all-around; 2nd (1), 5th (3)
  • Grace Hasenbank — 5th all-around; 4th (1), 5th (3)

Xcel Gold. From left: Oliva Brandt, Millie Boyd, Oriana Hill, Braelynn Sanders, Maple Prescott, Emma Burgess, Rylee Revolt

Xcel Gold

  • Millie Boyd — 1st all-around; 1st vault, bars, beam; 2nd floor
  • Oriana Hill — 1st all-around; 1st bars, beam, floor; 5th vault
  • Maple Prescott — 1st all-around; 1st beam, floor; 2nd, 5th other events
  • Olivia Brandt — 2nd all-around; 1st floor; 2nd, 3rd, 4th other events
  • Rylee Revolt — 2nd all-around; 2nd (2), 3rd (2)
  • Braelynn Sanders — 5th all-around; 1st bars; 5th (2), 7th (1)
  • Emma Burgess — 7th all-around; 3rd (1), 7th, 8th, 9th

Xcel Silver, from left: Gretchen Reed, Natalie Lloyd, Elyse Lindbloom, Caitlyn Dean, Olivia Machen, Porter Lane, Nola Randle, Elyse Tucker (not pictured)

Xcel Silver

  • Gretchen Reed — 1st all-around; 1st all 4 events
  • Nola Randle — 1st all-around; 1st vault, bars, beam; 2nd floor
  • Porter Lane — 1st all-around; 1st beam; 2nd (1), 3rd (2)
  • Elyse Tucker — 1st all-around; 1st bars; 2nd (2), 5th (1)
  • Caitlyn Dean — 2nd all-around; 1st floor; 2nd (3)
  • Natalie Lloyd — 3rd all-around; 1st bars; 2nd, 3rd, 4th
  • Olivia Machen — 4th all-around; 2nd (1), 3rd (2), 4th (1)
  • Elyse Lindbloom — 5th all-around; 5th (4)

Xcel Bronze

  • Brynn Grothause — 1st all-around; 1st all 4 events
  • Kinsey Sanders — 1st all-around; 1st bars, beam, floor; 3rd (1)
  • Sloane Alway — 1st all-around; 1st floor; 2nd (2), 3rd (1)
  • Carmela Moma — 1st all-around; 1st bars, floor; 2nd (1), 6th (1)
  • Hensley Chavalia — 1st all-around; 1st bars, floor; 2nd (1), 6th (1)

All-around runners-up:

  • Weslynn Sanders — 2nd AA; 2nd (2), 3rd (1), 4th (1)
  • Svenja Siems — 2nd AA; 2nd (2), 3rd (1), 5th (1)
  • Josephine Ryan — 2nd AA; 1st vault; 4th, 5th
  • Kylin Vanderputte — 2nd AA; 1st vault; 2nd, 3rd, 7th
  • Lily Wagner — 2nd AA; 2nd (3), 4th (1)

3rd all-around:

  • Rae Rabe — 3rd AA; 2nd (1), 3rd (2), 4th (1)
  • Hannah Mackin — 3rd AA; 2nd (1), 3rd (2), 4th (1)
  • Evie Witkowski — 3rd AA; 2nd (1), 3rd (3)
  • Ryah Nichols — 3rd AA; 1st vault; 2nd, 6th
  • Stevie Trejo — 3rd AA; 2nd (1), 3rd (2), 4th (1)
  • Ophelia Quinn — 3rd AA; 1st beam, floor; 4th, 7th

Other finishers:

  • Ellie Odegaard — 4th AA; 2nd (1), 4th (2), 5th (1)
  • Emmalyn McDermott — 4th AA; 1st beam; 2nd, 4th, 5th
  • Eliza Quinn — 4th AA; 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th
  • Fiona Ewing — 5th AA; 1st bars; 5th, 6th
  • Davony Glenn — 5th AA; 3rd (1), 4th, 5th, 6th
  • Bella Bennett — 6th AA; 4th, 5th, 6th
  • Loren Fisher — 7th AA; 3rd (2), 5th, 7th

Xcel Copper. From left: Tessa Keson, Emily Cluck, Adilyn Kapala, Juniper Wohlberg, Aubrey Vronko, Paisley Haynes, Lorellei Patten

Xcel Copper

  • Paisley Haynes — 1st all-around; 1st floor; 2nd (1), 3rd (2)
  • Adilyn Kapala — 1st all-around; 1st bars, floor; 2nd (1), 5th (1)
  • Juniper Wohlberg — 2nd all-around; 1st vault, bars; 4th (2)
  • Aubrey Vronko — 2nd all-around; 2nd (2), 3rd (2)
  • Tessa Keson — 3rd all-around; 1st bars; 3rd (2), 4th (1)
  • Emily Cluck — 3rd all-around; 1st beam; 3rd (2), 4th (1)
  • Lorellei Patten — 4th all-around; 1st beam; 2nd (2), 4th (1)

Boys 4X4, from left: Lincoln Gieske, Dexter Gillespie, Noah Moul, Simon Burgess, Colton Carter

Boys 4×4

  • Dexter Gillespie — 1st all-around; 1st all events
  • Lincoln Heyes — 1st support/circles, floor; 3rd, 4th other events
  • Noah Moul — 3rd all-around; 1st bars; 2nd (1), 5th (2)
  • Colton Carter — 4th all-around; 3rd (2), 4th, 5th
  • Simon Burgess — 5th all-around; 2nd (1), 4th (2), 5th (1)

Shining Star

  • Lexi McLain — 1st all-around; 1st all events

Xcel Ladies. From left: Justine Lofton, Hannah Rudzki, Kelsey Britton, Lauren Lloyd, Jenny Vega

Xcel Ladies

  • Miriam Wilson (Diamond) — 1st all-around; 1st all events
  • Justine Lofton (Platinum) — 2nd all-around; 1st bars, beam; 5th (2)
  • Lauren Lloyd (Gold) — 1st all-around; 1st bars; 2nd (2), 3rd (1)
  • Hannah Rudzki (Gold) — 2nd all-around; 1st beam, floor; 2nd, 3rd
  • Kelsey Britton (Gold) — 3rd all-around; 1st vault; 2nd, 3rd
  • Jenny Vega (Silver) — 1st all-around; 1st all events

Xcel Diamond Ladies: Miriam Wilson


Flipstar’s across-the-board success — from first-year competitors to veteran athletes — underscored one of the strongest overall state meet performances in the program’s history.

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