Sereda wins two event finals, leads all-around at 2012 Rhythmic National Championships

SAN JOSE, Calif., — Polina Kozitskiy of Fountainville, Pa./Philadelphia Rhythmic Academy, Rebecca Sereda of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, and Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Capital Rhythmics, led the field with individual event titles on the first day of competition at the 2012 Rhythmic National Championships June 26 in San Jose, Calif. They were among the 12 to advance to the all-around final June 27 at the San Jose Convention Center.

"Since nationals are usually in August and this year they are in June, we have less time to prepare," said Sereda, who won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal. "I feel for at the moment, I did what was expected."

Sereda earned gold on ball with a 27.280, Jazzy Kerber of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, took silver with a 27.200 and Cindy Lu of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, earned bronze with a 25.980.

On the clubs, Sereda earned her second gold of the competition with a 27.230, followed by Zetlin with a 27.150 and Kerber with a 26.300.

Kozitskiy won hoop with a 26.020, followed by Kerber with a 25.900 and Sereda with a 25.750.

Zetlin won ribbon with a 27.530, followed by Sereda with a 26.900 and Kerber with a 26.230.

Sereda leads the all-around standings after the first day of competition with 107.150. Kerber ranks second with 105.630 and Zetlin stands third with 104.320.

Twelve of the 20 competitors advanced to the all-around final on June 27: Jessica Bogdanov of Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora; Jane Braverman of Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora; Ariella Kudishevich of Eden Prairie, Minn./IGM Gymnastics; Aliya Protto of Culver City, Calif./California Rhythms; Daniella Romashin of Eden Prairie, Minn./NorthWest Rhythmic LLC; Hannah Walter of Angola, N.Y./Gymnastics Unlimited-Orchard Park; Audrey Whitaker of Columbus, Ohio/Integrity Gymnastics and Cheerleading; Kerber; Kozitskiy; Lu; Sereda; and Zetlin.

The top-eight of the 12 all-around finalists will earn national team berths following competition.

Background information
San Jose Convention Center. The San Jose Convention Center offers plenty of versatile space: 143,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space; room for 1,000 10' x 10' booths; a 22,000-square-foot ballroom; 100,000 square feet of pre-function space; 31 meeting rooms with capacities from 50 to 2,400 in theater-style seating; and banquet seating and kitchen facilities for 5,000. The convention center was the site for the 2007 USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show and the rhythmic gymnastics competition for the 2007 Visa Championships.

San Jose Sports Authority. The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose's economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City's sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.