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GymACT 2026w8 Review: All-Star Qualifiers and more


The results are in!


After 430 routines evaluated over 3 qualifying rounds the GymACT East/West All Stars are set. Ten of the League’s teams have qualifiers heading to Birmingham, Alabama on April 11, 2026.


The West has dominated the first three All Stars Meets and it (based on qualifying scores) looks like they have the edge. If “the team that wins pommel horse wins the meet” then the West is going to make it four in a row. But the East holds its own on the other five events and any faltering from the West could mean the end of their reign.


The competition will be happening in tandem with the NAIGC National Festival, Friday April 10, 2026 in Alabama, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC).  Come join us and/or stay tuned for live coverage of the event on our socials. 


And thanks to a LOT of spread-sheeting by our beloved Charley Nelson, here are the athlete-representatives for each Conference:

And because someone always asks: How do you decided the tie-breakers? Well! Let me show you! According to the official rules:


Also this week:

Congratulations to the Mavericks, who faced their NCAA Div 1 neighbors Air Force for a great head-to-head competition in Colorado Springs.  The Mavericks gave the Falcons a run for their money, performing clean routines and even taking advantage of their “secret weapon,” Patty Hoopes.  SO fun to have an USA senior national team member join the Mavs for this meet. WHAT A PERFORMANCE! And since they were completely within their rights by GymACT rules it was a mutually advantageous situation for both athlete and team. Patty now holds the top pommel horse score in the GymACT national rankings (by nearly TWO points). It was an exciting convergence of talent, passion, grit and AWESOME gymnastics. Way to go, Mavs. And thank you, Air Force for being such gracious and honorable hosts. 


Besides that, there were not a lot of GymACT sessions posted in the national rankings on week 8, but there were a few changes to the numbers, so here are the CURRENT standings: 



Week 8 Top National Average Team Scores (compared to week 7)

🏆1. Arizona State, 302.658 (Still 🥇and National High Score: 315.150)

🥈2. Minnesota, 301.050 (Maintaining 🥈2nd week in a row)

🥉3. Bay Area Bandits, 292.917 (Maintaining 🥉4th week in a row)

FX: Arizona State, 51.410 (still tumbling on top)

PH: Washington, 50.113 (still swinging on top)

SR: Minnesota, 50.670 (still strong on top)

VT: Arizona, 53.760 (still explosive on top)

PB: Minnesota, 50.010 (🔼raised the bars from 2nd)

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


Week 8 Top Ranked Individuals:

🏆 Elliot Foster, Arizona (74.400); 🥈Ben Letvin, Minnesota (74.217); 🥉William Pearce, Bandits (73.850)

FX: Nicky Franz, Arizona (13.483)

PH: Patrick Hoopes, Mavericks (⏫️15.100)

SR: Aiden Whitehead, Georgia United (13.400)

VT: Jakaris Williams, Georgia (14.000)

PB: Evan Hymanson, Bandits (13.000)

HB: William Pearce, Bandits (12.950)



Welp, that’s it for now from the gymrat den in the middle of the ocean.


Breeze


STICK MASTERS


🏆Rocky Mountain Mavericks: 5 (3 in a row on HB, WOW!)

Minnesota: 2


From the Coaches


MAVERICKS

Mavericks vs. United States Air Force Academy


Week 8 brought a historic matchup as the Mavericks took on NCAA Division I powerhouse the Air Force Academy in the only true head-to-head dual meet of the season between an NCAA program and a GymACT team. With both teams based in Colorado, it was a special opportunity to share the competition floor with our neighbors and represent two different collegiate pathways for men’s gymnastics in one arena.


One of the most exciting additions to our roster was guest athlete Patty Hoopes, a member of the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team. As a full-time Colorado resident training locally, Patty was officially eligible to join our lineup and compete with us between his elite commitments. He stepped in on pommel horse, bringing world-class presence and elevating the experience for our athletes and the broader GymACT community. Having a U.S. National Team athlete in a Mavericks uniform was a huge moment for our program and a fun experience for our athletes.


On the competition side, the Mavericks rose to the occasion with several standout performances. On floor exercise, sophomore Jackson Korowin delivered a nailed routine, earning a 12.95 to finish 4th overall in a deep NCAA field. His control and landings set the tone early and showed we can go toe-to-toe with top-level programs.


High bar proved to be a highlight event for the Mavericks. Freshman Ethan King continues to establish himself as a rock in his first collegiate season, scoring a 12.3 for 3rd overall. Close behind him, junior Ethan Zenick posted a 12.2 to take 4th overall. As a team, we recorded our highest high bar total of the year—even while competing under full NCAA rules with a start value deficit. The event featured seven routines with execution scores above a 9.0, a testament to the team’s polish, discipline, and competitive composure.


Beyond the scores, this meet represented growth for our athletes and visibility for GymACT. Competing head-to-head against an NCAA Division I opponent is an opportunity few programs receive, and our team proved we belong in the conversation. Week 8 was about more than numbers—it was about resilience, representation, and raising the standard as we head toward championship season.


Next, Mavs have a 5 week break from competition until we wrap up the year with an Intersquad on 4/4, All Star Championships on 4/10, Western Conference Championships on 4/25, and National Championships on 5/9.


Mavs on Instagram - @rockymountainmavs




MINNESOTA:

The MN GymACT Team took part in the annual MIGS Program Invitational alongside over 200 boys from Level 3 to Level 10 on the weekend of February 28 & March 1. We used this meet to look at some new skill additions to several routines and we had some good success. Sophomore Warren Strootman competed all 6 for the first time as he's been recovering from surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee. "It was great to see Warren put together all 6 routines in a meet for the first time this year," stated head coach Mike Burns. "He continues to make great strides and is really starting to solidify his place in the Minnesota gymnastics record books."

The Minnesota Gophers were without an opponent this week so their team score of 301.00 was more or less an opportunity to gain more competitive experience and for individual accolades to be the focal point.

As mentioned, Warren Strootman posted a season best of 72.00 in All Around. Individual event champs looked like this:

FX - Anthony Nicholas - 13.20

PH - Jack Gagamov - 12.70

SR - Owen Frank - 13.05

V - Caleb Gurman - 13.90

PB - Warren Strootman - 13.20

HB - Jack Gagamov - 12.30

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 8


Congratulations Ethan Zenick (Mavs) and Jack Gagamov (Minn), GOTW8.

Ethan made an impressive comeback from injury to compete with this brothers, the Mavericks as they made the Air Force Falcons sweat in their dual meet.

Jack consistently contributes to the Gophers, especially this past weekend as he took top honors at the MIGS Program Invitational on Pommel Horse and High Bar.


Nominees


Ethan Zenick - Mavericks

Junior Ethan Zenick is our Gymnast of the Week nominee after an impressive return to competition following a year of battling multiple injuries. Competing against NCAA Division I powerhouse United States Air Force Academy, Ethan brought much-needed consistency and composure back to our lineup. He stepped up on still rings, parallel bars, and high bar, helping solidify three key events for the team. While he’s not yet performing at full strength or difficulty, his grit and determination were on full display—delivering three HIT routines when we needed them most. His resilience and team-first mindset made a major impact in this meet. His 9.2 E-score on PB and 9.4 E-score on HB helped the MAVS come within 0.3 of beating AF on HB!!!



Jack Gagamov - Minnesota

After slowly returning to action following a wrist injury, Jack has gotten back to his dependable self with two event titles on Pommel Horse and High Bar in the 2026 MIGS Program Invitational. Getting Jack back in the lineup on Pommel Horse is a huge benefit to the team, even with a watered down routine in terms of difficulty. Jack continues to provide a calm exterior that serves him well every time he raises his hand to salute the judges. His multiple release high bar routine was punctuated with a new dismount - a double twisting double layout. Jack also posted a 12.90 on Vault with an exhibition Vault at this meet. 


Up Next:

There is only one GymACT invitational taking place this upcoming week: NIU Invitational.  It will be webcast live on the GymACT youtube channel, so catch the action and cheer hard for your favorite team (NIU Vs. IOWA, KCU, MINN and NYA).


Week 9 is also a week of service. The Mavericks help home gym (Xtreme Altitude) host the USAG Boys State Championships in Lafayette, CO. while Georgia United takes care of THEIR State meet! This includes equipment set up and tear down, working the meet sessions, JUDGING, and COACHING, directly supporting the local junior community that supports us so graciously every year.  


And, there are also some local invitationals, in which Washington, Indy-hio and Armadillos all participate this upcoming weekend. 


Week 9 GymACT Competition Schedule

Saturday, March 7

Georgia United @ USAG State meet

Rocky Mountain @ USAG State meet

Washington @ WA Invite

Indy-hio @ Queen City Classic

Iowa, KC United, Minnesota, NY Alliance Vs. Northern Illinois @ NIU Invitational

Texas Armadillos @ Highland Park Invite

 
 
 
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