Athletes competing under the guidance of Mindi Katsov and the Mid-America Acro and Tumbling Team (MAATT) came back from the recent USA Acrobatic National Championships held from June 22-27 in Tulsa, Okla.

Level 7 athletes showed the way for MAATT claiming the first-place team award out of 24 teams.

In the Level 7 Women’s Pair (13-14), the duo of Etta Jackson and Everly Jackson placed first out of 10 pairs with a score of 25.750.

Also claiming first place in Level 7 was the Mixed Quad (13-14) team of Brynlee Bastunas, Aubree Southerland, Reagan Tainter and Campbell Fisher.

Scoring 24.00 points placing first out of three groups, these four had to adjust right before regionals due to a season-ending injury to Ayla Eiler.

“We were super proud of this group that was a newly formed partnership right before regionals due to an injury of Ayla Eiler that knocked her out of competition for the rest of the season,” Katsov said.

Madi Thomas and Addison Fritzemeyer (Level 7 Women’s Pair 16+) placed fifth in the 15-plus age group with a score of 23.150.

Two MAATT Level 7 Women’s Group (age 13-14) teams made the podium with top-six finishes in the Sooner State.

Ava Alferman, Landry Sanders and Eloise Cason placed fifth with a score of 23.859 while the group of Cheyenne Callahan, Laina Rasmussen and Tynzlee Thomas placed sixth with a score of 23.5.

Those two pairs competed against nine others.

Starting the Level 7 groups off for MAATT were the 12 and Under Women’s Group of Caileigh Bastunas, Henlie Adkison and Avery Rogers.

Going second out of 10 groups, their score of 23.1 placed them seventh overall.

Three MAATT groups competed in Level 8 led by the Level 8 Women’s Pair of Malorie Reasor and Adkison.

With a combined score of 49.600 between balance and dynamic, they placed second out of four pairs.

Their dynamic score of 24.650 was the second highest compared to their balance score of 24.950.

Competing for MAATT in the Level 8 Women’s Pair (13 and Under) was the duo of Dennise Butler and Leighton Callahan.

With a combined score of 50.2, they placed fifth out of 13 pairs.

Their balance score of 25.2 was the fourth highest of the 13 competing pairs while their dynamic score was 25.00 was fifth-best out of 13 pairs.

Rounding out the Level 8 teams for MAATT was the Level 8 Women’s Group (14-15) of Etta Jackson, Everly Jackson and Southerland.

Scoring 26.1 for balance and 24.4 for dynamic, their combined score of 50.5 placed them sixth out of 12 pairs.

MAATT’s Level 8 athletes placed fifth overall out of 29 teams in the Level 8 team awards.

Level 9 athletes from MAATT had one group competing in the Level 9 Women’s Group (15-16) of Brooklyn Kramme, Penny Rogers and Emilee Huebler.

Sitting in ninth place after a balance score of 25.050, they overcame a hiccup in that routine with a dynamic score of 26.00 moving them on to the podium with a fifth-place total of 51.050 out of 12 groups.

“Knowing they were a half-point away from the podium, they performed a great dynamic routine placing second landing them fifth and on the podium,” Katsov said.

Day three also saw individuals compete in various divisions of blocks.

In the silver level, Cheyenne Callahan (1st) and Caileigh Bastunas (2nd) claimed the top-two spots in the 9 and under Silver level.

Adkison (7th) and Penny Rogers (9th) posted top-10 finishes in the silver level for 10-11 year olds.

Leighton Callahan (4th) and Kramme (5th) rounded out the top five in the silver level for ages 12 and up.

Gold-level blocks for ages 13 and up saw Everly Jackson place fourth overall with a score of 13.4.

Platinum level blocks competition saw Southerland place first among 12-13 year olds while Huebler was fourth in the 14 and older division.

Seven Level 7 and 8 squads making the Rising Starts team from MAATT included the teams of Ava Alferman, Landry Sanders and Eloise Cason; Cheyenne Callahan, Laina Rasmussen and Tynzlee Thomas; Brynlee Bastunas, Aubree Southerland, Reagan Tainter and Campbell Fisher; Etta and Everly Jackson as a pair; Etta Jackson, Everly Jackson and Southerland as a trio; Leighton Callahan and Butler; Reasor and Adkison.

Making the Future Stars Team among MAATT Level 9 squads was the trio of Rogers, Huebler and Kramme.