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GymACT 2026w16 Review: Conference Championships

‘Tis the Season of Champions: East & West Conferences

What a spectacular weekend of competitions.  Both conferences met on Saturday, April 26th, 2026.  Meets started a few hours apart and for a bit there was some overlap. Be still my gymnastics-hungry heart!



The short of it: Arizona and Minnesota are the top national championship qualifying teams and champions of their respective conferences (West and East).  Congratulations. Both proved why they have each dominated their conference all year em round. They came out ready to play hard and their efforts paid off big time. In a great display of gymnastics awesomeness both earned top teams, top all-arounders and no shortage of individual event winners too.  “Sweetness ain’t your weakness!”



Special shout out to a few other teams who also shook up the expected meet outcome based on national rankings. On the East conference Temple had an exquisite meet, leapfrogging over Indy-shop for second place team. Another championship boost went to NY Alliance, who posted their season high team score when it mattered most. Their stellar performance earned 4th place as a team and their well-deserved “full team” spot at Nationals.


On the West Conference things went a little more “according to plan” and the top 4 teams were in sync with the national rankings. Here, the big story is how the qualitybofnthe gymnastics on the floor took to new heights! Six out of eight teams posted their best season score with several program highs shattered along the way. I mean: Mavericks added nearly 10 points to their team score while the Armadillos posted over TWENTY point increase from their previous best. It was spectacular.


Not surprisingly, tho, as this year, there was a lot riding on the conference championship meets. The national rankings (roadtonationals.com) up to this point was little more than a “braggings rights” algorithm.  Doing well as a team at conference championships provides substantial perks.  First, the top 4 teams at each conference (8 total) make their way to national championships in Oklahoma, Saturday May 9th, 2026) with a full squad. They will be competing for the National team title with the same 5-up, 4-count format GymACT uses throughout the entire season. The final scores will be similar to the rest of the year… only a bit higher, cuz… it’s nationals and stuff! ;)


Additionally, these 8 teams also guarantee one (additional spot if necessary) per event for their all around athlete. The reason this is CRITICAL is because for the first time EVER, GymACT Nationals counts as a qualifier meet for USA Gymnastics Championships, the elite national team track for gymnasts with international competition aspirations and potential olympic glory.  


WOW!  The GymACT national all-around champ automatically qualifies to USA Championships.  That’s HUGE! 


What about the other 4 teams from each conference? They also get to advance to national championships to compete for the coveted Commissioner’s Cup. It’s a team competition with a smaller format (3-up, 3-count) on each event.  THIS battle yields much closer results and it’s a nail-biting competition from start to finish.  Don’t miss it.  AND, of course, these teams can also have athletes competing all around (tho they must be included in their event line-ups) in hopes of advancing to USA Championships. 


Anywho. Back to THIS week. I had multiple screens open watching the thrilling competition(s). – a great big “Thanks!” once again, Kevin Riggle and his (VERY) small army of helpers for making the meets available to us.  Thank you, fans, for your patience as we faced a few technical glitches, but overall it was a great experience. SO much amazing gymnastics performed, THAT’s what will be remembered. 


The full conference results can be found on ScoreCat:


… but here is a basic breakdown of results: 


West Conference (Galveston, TX):

Team Champs: 🏆Arizona State 🏆 (313.550)

🥈Bay Area Bandits, 303.0000; 🥉Washington, 297.7500; 4th Iowa, 295.6500

Commissioner Cup Qualifiers: Mavericks, SC United, Armadillos, KC United

All Around: 🥇Elliot Foster, Arizona State, 79.1000; 🥈AIzaiha Mlay, Arizona State, 78.3000; 🥉Evan Hymanson, Bay Area Bandits, 77.4500

Floor Exercise: 🥇Elliot Foster, Arizona State & Max Racutt, Iowa, 13.1000; 🥉Evan Hymanson, Bay Area Bandits, 13.0500

Pommel Horse: 🥇Tyler Davidson, Texas Armadillos, 13.2500; 🥈William Pearce, Bay Area Bandits, 13.2000; 🥉Samuel Walker, Jr, Arizona State, 13.0000

Still Rings: 🥇Bryce Cannon, Texas Armadillos, 13.8500; 🥈Elliot Foster, Arizona State, 13.5500; 🥉Zack Murray, Washington, 13.5000

Vault: 🥇Max Racutt, Iowa, 13.8000; 🥈Elliot Foster, Arizona State & Izaiha Mlay, Arizona State, 13.7000

Parallel Bars: 🥇Elliot Foster, Arizona State, 13.7500; 🥈Evan Hymanson, Bay Area Bandits, 13.3500; 🥉Izaiha Mlay, Arizona State & William Howard, Arizona State, 13.2000

Horizontal Bar: 🥇William Pearce, Bay Area Bandits, 13.8000; 🥈Izaiha Mlay, Arizona State, 13.7500; 🥉Elliot Foster, Arizona State, 13.3500


East Conference (Palm Beach, FL):

Team Champs: 🏆Minnesota 🏆 (305.9500)

🥈Temple, 295.0000; 🥉Indy-hio, 294.3000; 4th NY Alliance, 283.5500

Commissioner Cup Qualifiers: NIU, NC Airmen, Florida Storm, Georgia United

All Around: 🥇Ben Letvin, Minnesota, 76.9000; 🥈Cameron Timberlake, Indy-hio, 73.2500; 🥉Santino Fort, North Carolina Airmen, 72.8000

Floor Exercise: 🥇Anthony Nicholas, Minnesota, 13.1500; 🥈Ben Letvin, Minnesota, 13.1000; 🥉Taidhg Baillie, Temple, 12.9500

Pommel Horse: 🥇Cian Baillie, Temple, 12.5500; 🥈Arthur Ashton, Indy-hio, 12.4500; 🥉Christian Abran, Minnesota, 12.2500

Still Rings: 🥇Aiden Whitehead, Georgia United, 13.3000; 🥈Arthur Ashton, Indy-hio, 13.2000; 🥉Ben Letvin, Minnesota, 13.0500

Vault: 🥇Amir El-Moslemany, Temple, 13.9500; 🥈Ben Letvin, Minnesota, 13.8500; 🥉Ryan Dugan, NY Alliance, 13.8000

Parallel Bars: 🥇Cian Baillie, Temple, 13.2500; 🥈Aaron Bayer, Indy-hio & Anthony Nicholas, Minnesota, 13.1000

Horizontal Bar: 🥇Jack Gagamov, Minnesota, 13.4500; 🥈Warren Strootman, Minnesota, 13.0500; 🥉Paul Acker, Minnesota, 13.0000



That’s what I saw from the gymrat den on a rock in the middle of the ocean.


Breeze


STICK MASTERS

🏆Temple: 6

Bay Area: 3


From the Coaches

Temple University:


Temple performed in one of their best meets all season by scoring a 295, placing 2nd as a team in the Eastern Conference, and showed successful individual results.  Three events were won by a Temple Gymnast- Cian Baillie on pommel horse and parallel bars, and Amir El-Moslemany on vault.  Taidhg Baillie placed 3rd on floor.  Overall we had a 83% hit rate and stuck 6 dismounts.  


Highlight Videos:



Bay Area Bandits:


The Bandits have continued to show that they are a force to be reckoned with within gymACT. 

Posting the 3rd best score in the country this weekend and breaking the coveted 300 mark for a second straight competition to record another program record! 

We had our best hit percentage of the season with only 3 missed routines out of 36 saluted sets. And will be looking to hit 100% at nationals. 

All the bandits have been working incredibly hard the past few weeks to lock in their most consistent sets and it’s showing. Proud of all the work they’ve put in to be able to upgrade their sets and remain consistent. That work is paying off as we saw season highs on Pommels, Rings and PBars. 

Some notable individual performances: 

Will Pearce hitting a 13.2 on pommels for a silver medal finish and scoring a personal best, 13.8, on high bar to eke out the gold by 0.05. 

Bryson Brandon putting up a personal best 13.15 on Rings. 

Alexei Tryshev putting up a personal best All Around Score, Pommel Horse and hitting 6/6

Jojo Conley: Personal best Still Rings score with a 12.45

Evan saluting a 3rd place PBars with a 13.35 and a 3rd place all around with a 77.45.


New York Alliance:

On Saturday, April 25th GymACT eastern teams competed at the conference championships. The top 4 teams would qualify to compete at the National Championships as a full team. It was a great event with exciting gymnastics. All teams were pushing for their own goals. One of the most exciting competitions was for the coveted 4th spot at the competition. New York Alliance was behind NIU and Georgia United all season. It would be a tough battle for them.

On Saturday everything went right. New York Alliance had a 90% hit rate. A feet that they had never accomplished before. Everyone on that team pushed hard and brought their A game. After a  competition against strong opponents New York Alliance took home the 4th spot and earned their place at the National Championships.


Texas Armadillos:

The Texas Armadillos broke a program record team score this week!

Here’s Bryce Cannon on rings with one such record-reaching performance.


GymACT Socials:

Keep an eye on our social media channels as we get closer to Championship Season! 


EAST AND WEST CAMPS


This upcoming summer we'll have TWO GymACT college bound camps!  


East Conference (Cincinnati, OH) and West Conference (Lafayette, CO) summer camps. 


Get in on the action and get DOUBLE the fun!


2026 WEST GymACT Conference College Bound Camp

When: Friday - Sunday, June 19-21, 2026 

Where: Xtreme Altitude Gymnastics

1405 South Public Rd • Lafayette, CO 80026


2026 EAST GymACT Conference College Bound Camp

When: Friday - Sunday, July 17-19, 2026

Where: Kids First Sports Center

7900 E. Kemper Road • Cincinnati, OH 45249


Once again ALL of the GymACT programs will be represented, and gymnasts may choose a deeper training opportunity with the coaches from the geographic area closest to them. Or, go to both camps and get experience DOUBLE the collegiate program recruiting opportunity! 


Register now and guarantee your spot! 


Gymnast of the Week 16 - East and West Conferences


Nominees


Cian Baillie - Temple University

Freshman, Cian Baillie, had a standout performance during the Eastern Championships this past weekend.  Cian placed first on two events and became a conference champion on both pommel horse and parallel bars.  It has been 14 years since we had a conference champion on parallel bars (our former ECAC conference), and 20 years since we've had one on pommel horse!  

Overall, Cian hit 3/3 for the day, had one stick, and helped his team win team silver. 



Andrew Fairchild - Bandits

Andrew Fairchild is in his last season as a bandit, he has been on the team since it’s inception, and has never been able to compete at his best due to nagging shoulder injuries. He has been able to put it all together when it’s mattered most! Hitting his season best with a 12.15, upgrading the routine with an azarian and showing how to hit clean consistent gymnastics. 

He’s been a mainstay of the Bay Area GymACT community, and is an incredible role model and mentor for the CSC juniors he coaches. Many of which were at this meet and came to watch/support. This award isn’t always meant for the gymnast doing the biggest gymnastics. Andrew Fairchild is deserving of this award for his perseverance within the sport and his dedication to growing the sport and helping others achieve their goals and for  putting them first without hesitation every time.


Bryce Cannon - Texas Armadillos

Bryce Cannon delivered a standout performance playing a pivotal role in the Texas Armadillos’ record-setting team result. As the Conference Champion on Still Rings, Bryce demonstrated exceptional strength, control, and execution under pressure, setting the tone for the team with the top rings performance across both conference meets. Beyond his individual title, his contributions across the lineup added critical depth that helped propel the Armadillos to a program-high team score. Bryce’s consistency, composure, and ability to deliver when it matters most make him a solid choice for this recognition.  


MEET THE COACHES: 

Bay Area Bandits (Northern California) Spotlight:

The Bay Area Bandits will be working hard as they look to finish out their season. This coming weekend they will be doing another fundraiser in Pleasanton, CA supporting NGA Regionals as they look to  have their first fully funded travel for the Post-Season! 


The bandits are looking forward to cheering on their future bandits: Ethan Exum, Liam Perez, and Ishmael Osorio at USAG Dev Nationals prior to the GymACT sessions. We’d like to wish them the best of luck as they finish out their junior careers!


As a team with athletes training in so many different places and gyms, we were incredibly lucky to have some of their coaches helping out with this comp bringing extra energy and knowledge to the bandits. 



Huge shoutout to Coach Rohit from Clovis Academy of Gymnastics, he has several familiar faces across the GymACT teams, but we’re very happy to have Bryson Brandon and future bandit Liam Perez thanks to his expertise and passion for the sport. 


And another big shoutout to the CSC coaching staff, Thomas and Tyler, for supporting the bandits as well, they’ve both brought extra expertise and great energy to the team and let our player coaches focus on their gymnastics instead of their combined coaching and competing roles. 



Another shoutout to Carl Meader for being in commentary and taking on a very important and inspiring leadership role for athletes on the bandits! 


There are so many other NorCal coaches that help support and build the Bay Area Community. It’s an incredible network of passionate gymnasts that help make this team so unique and flexible. 

For those unable to attend the Westerns but that help coach bandits regularly, thank you! 



Up Next:

GymACT National Championships & Commissioner Cup

Saturday, May 9

Arizona State, Minnesota, Bay Area Bandits, Washington, Indy-hio, Iowa, Temple, SC United, Rocky Mountain, Northern Illinois, Georgia United, NY Alliance, Florida Storm, North Carolina Airmen, KC United, Texas Armadillos (GymACT Nationals, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)


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