Gem City Tumblers delivered an outstanding performance with 34 athletes competing at the 2025 Southern Illinois USTA State Championships held April 27 in Decatur, IL.
GCGT finished the day with remarkable results: 7 State Champions, 17 top-three finishes, and an incredible 33 athletes qualifying for the National Championships. The Nationals will take place this June at The Monument Summit Arena in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The team’s elite and advanced athletes particularly stood out, with 4 of the 7 championships coming at these highest levels of competition. Christian Klingele earned special recognition by posting the highest elite tumbling score in the southern half of the state championships with a perfect 40.0.
In a touching moment, senior advanced athletes Ruby Akerson and Sierra Bergman received recognition from USTA along with scholarship checks honoring their long-term commitment to the sport.
State Champions
The day’s top honors went to seven exceptional athletes:
- Christian Klingele – Elite Division
- KK Vazquez-Epperson – Elite Division
- Ellisyn Stratman – Advanced Division
- Mae Pittman – Advanced Division
- Kayden Hill – Intermediate Division
- Hunter Buehler – Novice Division
- Mia Alexander – Sub-Novice Division
Top Finishers
Second place finishes were earned by:
- Ruby Akerson – Advanced
- Divya Sangoi – Sub-Novice
- Ollie Schulte – Sub-Novice
- Esther Vazquez-Epperson – Intermediate
- Niah Vazquez-Epperson – Sub-Advanced
- Dorothy Boehmer – Sub-Advanced
- Liza Maguire – Sub-Novice
Third place finishes were secured by:
- Sarah Schumake – Advanced
- Isla Ufkes – Advanced
- Ryli Zahringer – Advanced
- Vivian Kuchy – Intermediate
Additional Qualifiers
Many other Gem City athletes delivered strong performances to qualify for Nationals:
- Hadley Trowbridge – Sub-Advanced – 4th
- Morgan Venvertloh – Sub-Advanced – 4th
- Payton Palmer – Intermediate – 4th
- Audrie Baker – Sub-Novice – 5th
- Sierra Bergman – Advanced – 5th
- Honor Kilburn – Sub-Novice – 5th
- Grace Stokes – Intermediate – 6th
- Lyza Carlin – Novice – 7th
- Kya Ellefritz – Sub-Advanced – 7th
- Ruby Krueger – Novice – 7th
- Maelyn Hoener – Sub-Novice – 8th
- Ella Parker – Sub-Novice – 8th
- Ava Freesmeyer – Intermediate – 10th
- Kashley Hunter – Sub-Novice – 11th
- Elle Ufkes – Sub-Novice – 13th
Other Results:
- Athena Bennett – Sub-Novice – 19th
Tumbling team athletes are coached by Zeke Cernea, Anne Nash, Sydney Sherman, Lydia Schrand, and Josey Miller. Read more about the Gem City’s tumbling team here.
Congratulations to all our tumblers on their achievements, and best of luck to our National qualifiers as they prepare for the championship in June!RetryClaude does not have internet access. Links provided may not be accurate or up to date.Claude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.