Hundreds of hours practicing pirouettes and leaps paid off for North Shore Rhythmics gymnasts at the USA Gymnastics regional competition in Minnesota last weekend. 

The top finishers--who included nearly two dozen level 5-9 gymnasts from NSR--will compete in the annual Rhythmic Junior Olympic Optional Championships June 23-26. "J.O.'s" will be held in Chicago's Broadway Armory Park June 23-26, leading up to the international Chicago Cup June 26-27. See link for more information: 
http://usa-gymnastics.org/post.php?PostID=5200&prog=r

NSR qualifiers, including "J.O." and "All-Star" competitors, are as follows: Cissy Xiao and Julie Cheng (level 5), Evita Griskenas, Cassandra Opena, and Eileen Kim (level 6), Natalie Bourand, Carra Wu, Michelle Thelen, Alexandra Ladan, Laurel Guo, Liza Merenzon (level 7), Elina Nikerina, Molly Isley, Bianca Oviedo, Gusta Dislauskaite, Gigi Kerber (level 8), and Monica Rokhman, Jennifer Rokhman, and Laura Tutunikov (level 9).

NSR gymnasts will also perform at a gala at the end of the J.O. and Chicago Cup competitions. Mark your calendars and dust off your videocameras!