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GymACT 2026w6 Review: in the national scene

  • Writer: Breeze
    Breeze
  • 12 minutes ago
  • 6 min read

Week Recap:

HUGE NEWS in the national scene: It's official! 

The Men's Program Committee “...created a qualification spot in the Senior division for the GymACT National Champion, to continue to support and promote post-high school Men’s Programs.”

That means the 2026 GymACT national all around champion automatically qualifies to US Championships.  As stated in the MPC January 2026 meeting minutes, USA Gymnastics henceforth recognizes GymACT National Championships as a senior qualifier meet.  Thanks to the unwavering efforts by our organization board members, GymACT athletes now have the opportunity to pursue their olympic dreams from our OWN competition arena. HURRAY! 


Here are the CURRENT standings: 



Week 6 Top Average Team Scores (compared to week 5)

🏆1. Minnesota, 301.063 (on top 3rd week in a row)

2. Arizona State, 299.535 (Highest single score in the country, 312.200, but 2nd by national average)

3. Bay Area Bandits, 292.917 (2nd week in a row)

FX: Arizona State, 51.250 (still tumbling on top)

PH: Washington, 50.783 (still swinging on top)

SR: Minnesota, 50.963 (still strong on top)

VT: Georgia United, 53.650 (still soaring on top)

PB: Minnesota, 49.650 (even, still on top)

HB: Bay Area Bandits, 50.633 (still the highest bar)


Week 6 Top Ranked Individuals:

All Around: Ben Letvin, Minnesota (74.217); William Pearce, Bandits (73.850); Peter Davis-Ross, Minnesota (73.550)

FX: Nicky Franz, Arizona (13.675)

PH: Carter Hawthorne, Washington (13.050)

SR: Owen Frank, Minnesota (13.263)

VT: Jakaris Williams, Georgia (14.000)

PB: Elliot Foster, Arizona State (13.625)

HB: William Pearce, Bandits (12.950)



That’s it for now from the gymrat’s den,


Breeze


STICK MASTERS

🏆Minnesota: 10 Sticks for Team A; 8 Sticks for Team B


From the Coaches


ARIZONA

Arizona State competed under NCAA rules this weekend at Michigan and gave Springfield a true run for their money, breaking the 300 mark while competing 4-up, 4-count. The Devils posted an impressive 83% hit rate on the day, demonstrating depth, resilience, and competitive composure across the lineup. Highlighting the performance was a standout parallel bars rotation, where Arizona State outscored both Michigan and Springfield. Strong efforts throughout the meet kept the Devils within striking distance, and the team was just a couple of key high bar performances away from securing the upset. Overall, it was a statement showing growth, confidence, and momentum as the season continues.



MINNESOTA

The Friends of Minnesota Men's Gymnastics hosted the 10th Annual MN GymACT Invitational on Valentine's Day! Six teams competed at Humboldt High School in St Paul in a very high energy event. Minnesota put two teams on the floor, as did Northern Illinois. Iowa and Kansas City both had one team on the floor. Close to $3000 in Prize Money was at stake as the gymnasts took to the mats.

The final results were as follows:

1. Minnesota GymACT Team 1: 305.80  - $1500 prize money winner

2. Iowa GymACT: 290.25  - $ 900.00 prize money winner

3. Minnesota GymACT Team 2: 280.70  - not eligible for prize money

4. Northern Illinois Team 1: 280.40  - $500 prize money winner

5. Kansas City: 130.45

6. NIU Team 2: 110.40


This was also Senior Night for Minnesota and we honored and recognized 5 seniors for their contributions over these past 4-5 years to the team's success. Seniors who were recognized were Haden Paravecino, Kekoa Taylor, Justin Lancisi, Brandon Kim, & Owen Frank. Senior Night is always an emotional farewell to those who have helped shape the team over these past several years.

Carbone's Pizza in St Paul was the site of the post meet gathering where many gymnasts, parents, and coaches congregated to enjoy each other's company outside the gym. 

The GymACT Session was the highlight of the MN GymACT Invitational boy's meet and many were treated to a great competition.


GymACT Socials:

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


EAST AND WEST CAMPS

Registration OPEN NOW!


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 6


Nominees


Avery Anderson - NIU (WhatsApp’s. No photo yet)

Sophomore Avery Anderson put up a massive routine this weekend at Minnesota. Avery earned 2nd place with a score of 13.2 and is one of two athletes to ever score above a 13 on this event in NIU history. Keep an eye on this sophomore as he continues to fight for top positions on the Still Rings throughout the season and into Conference and National Championships. Go Huskies!!



Elliot Foster - Arizona State 

Elliot competed under NCAA rules this weekend and gave Springfield a serious challenge, thanks in large part to a pair of standout performances from Elliot Foster. His beautiful high bar routine, highlighted by a stuck double-double, ignited the Devils and provided momentum heading into the second half of the meet. Foster truly shined on parallel bars, where the No. 1–ranked p-bar athlete in GymACT anchored a huge team effort that outscored both Michigan and Springfield. His 13.55 captured the individual title and sent the team home on a high note.


Owen Frank - Minnesota

Owen continues to put up great numbers this year with this week being no different. Competing on Still Rings and Parallel Bars at the 2026 MN GymACT Invitational, Owen picked up two more event titles with a score of 13.30 on Still Rings and a 13.05 on Parallel Bars. Both routines were capped off with stuck dismounts. What a great way to perform on Senior Night!! Owen continues to lead on the field and off the field as one of our two co-captains. His performances display the dependability every team needs in its athletes. 



Raif Schaffner - IOWA

Iowa GymACT made a very slow start to the 2026 season at the Windy City Invitational Jan. 17th. Led by Travis Raif Schaffner Iowa was able to increase their team score by 14.7 points at their 2nd competition the Iceberg Open Jan. 31st. Raif won AA and FE, but Iowa still finished behind the Minnesota Team 1 and Team 2.  This past weekend Iowa bumped their team score a little higher to 290.25 at the SKI-U-MAH Invitational in St. Paul, MN.  Raif again won the AA(75.25) and FE(14.00) and Iowa finally beat Minnesota 2! Raif also took 2nd on PH and 3rd on V.

Raif is a 5th year senior and as often happens with “older” guys injuries slow down their progress.  Last year he had ACL surgery after a poor landing as he was learning a double twisting double on rings.  As he recovered he decided that a triple back off rings might be a safer dismount.  This is how his mind works. In his final year of GymACT competition he is beginning to realize execution is perhaps more important than difficulty and he is making good progress. In his last 2 meets he has dismounted from rings successfully with the double twisting double.

Raif and the team are anxious to meet several of the teams in our West GymACT Region at the Southwest Cup in Chandler, AZ this weekend.  Thank you to Mike Burns for putting up prize money for the top 3 teams in the SKI-U-MAH Invitational.  $900 for 2nd place will help Iowa fly to AZ.


CONNECTING THE DOTS: From mentor and colleague


Always fun to see my first boss Tom Dunn from The Iowa GymACT Program. He hired me right out of college to assist him at Iowa in 1980. He had been the assistant coach at Penn State up to the start of my senior year when he left for Iowa in the Fall of 1979. A year later I was his Assistant Coach at Iowa and I can't thank him enough for the opportunity he gave me. 

- Mike Burns


Up Next:

Arizona State will be hosting the Southwest Cup this upcoming weekend with 4 other GymACT programs also present. Georgia United will host 3 other GymACT teams at their home meet.  Temple and NY Alliance duke it out once again in a dual meet format and Indy-Hio takes care of business at the Don Sellman Invitational.  Good luck to all the teams/athletes this weekend. 


Week 7 GymACT Competition Schedule

Saturday, February 21

SW Cup: Arizona State vs. Iowa, Rocky Mountain, SC United, Washington

Georgia United Invite: Georgia United vs. Florida Storm, North Carolina Airmen, Texas Armadillos

Alliance Open: NY Alliance vs. Temple

Don Sellman Invitational: Indy-hio

 
 
 

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