Alpena Gymnasts Qualify for AAU Junior Olympic Games

News Summary

Three talented gymnasts from Alpena, Michigan, Callie Brousseau, Faith Dragwiecz, and Brooke Smith, have qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Houston, Texas. They excelled at the recent National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, with Dragwiecz securing gold on the balance beam and Brousseau claiming gold on the vault. Smith showcased her skills by earning medals in both vault and floor exercises. A fundraising campaign has been launched to support their travel expenses. The achievements reflect the dedication of the athletes and coaches of the Alpena AAU Gymnastics team.

Alpena, Michigan – Three gymnasts from Alpena have successfully qualified for the upcoming AAU Junior Olympic Games, which will take place from July 23 to 26 in Houston, Texas. The qualified athletes are Callie Brousseau, Faith Dragwiecz, and Brooke Smith, each demonstrating exceptional skill during the AAU National Championships held recently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Dragwiecz stood out in the competition, particularly on the balance beam, where she achieved a remarkable score of 9.175, securing a gold medal in her event. Brousseau also made a significant mark by qualifying on the vault with an impressive score of 9.625, which earned her a gold medal. Additionally, Smith showcased her versatility, qualifying on both the vault with a score of 9.6 and the floor exercise, where she scored 9.55. Her achievements resulted in a gold medal on the vault and a silver medal on the floor exercise.

A total of eleven Alpena AAU gymnasts participated in the National Championships, representing various skill levels. The team included Alayna Gosselin, Rachel Grider, Livvy Spangle, Madelyn Coffman, Brooklyn Finch, Clare Lacross, and Aryanna Page, alongside the three qualifiers. Gosselin, in particular, distinguished herself by winning her first National Championship in her age division on vault, finishing fourth on the beam and sixth in the all-around competition.

In addition, Grider achieved commendable placements, finishing fourth on the vault and seventh in the all-around. Spangle also performed well, placing seventh in the all-around category. Coffman secured fourth place on vault, third place on bars, fifth on the floor, and fourth overall in the all-around. Finch, Lacross, and Page all contributed to the team’s impressive performance: Finch finished fifth on both beam and floor and sixth overall; Lacross took fourth place on vault and beam, finishing eighth all-around, while Page ranked ninth in the all-around competition.

The gymnasts’ achievements have garnered recognition not only from their local coaches, Geri Samp and Billy Brousseau, who expressed pride in the athletes’ dedication and accomplishments, but also from the gymnastics community. Notably, Kurt Golder, a former coach of the University of Michigan Gymnastics team and an Alpena native, praised the team’s accomplishments and emphasized the importance of supporting youth gymnastics programs.

To assist the three qualified gymnasts with travel expenses to the Junior Olympic Games, a fundraising campaign has been launched. Donations can be made through a GoFundMe page or by sending direct checks to Alpena Gymnastics. The community’s support is crucial to enable these talented athletes to compete on a national stage and continue their development in the sport.

The Alpena AAU Gymnastics team has consistently made strides in competitive gymnastics, and the recent successes at the National Championships reflect years of hard work and dedication from both the athletes and their coaching staff. As the Junior Olympic Games approach, excitement builds for these talented gymnasts as they prepare to represent Alpena and compete against the best in the nation.

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Additional Resources

• The Alpena News: Three Alpena AAU Gymnasts Headed to Junior Olympic Games in Houston
• Wikipedia: Gymnastics
• MHSAA: Print
• Google Search: Junior Olympic Games 2025
• The Alpena News: Former Alpena Gymnast Has Built Powerhouse as Michigan Coach
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Gymnastics