By Rosa Cirianni (of Rose Writes Strategies)

BOONTON, N.J. (May 21, 2025) — Several North Stars Gymnastics Academy athletes brought home national medals, with one gymnast tying first place on uneven bars, and others ranking among the top all-arounders and event specialists for their age groups in the nation.

North Stars sent eight Level 10 athletes to the USAG Women’s Development Program 2025 National Championships held at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah from May 8 to 11. It also sent three Level 9s to the Level 9 Eastern Championships at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan. 

USAG is made up of eight regions. Level 9 Easterns consists of Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8 — representing 26 states in the Eastern part of the U.S. The other half, Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4, will compete at Westerns the same weekend in Fargo, North Dakota. The Level 10 Championship is the entire U.S. The Level 9s and 10s competed individually and had to qualify as the top seven in their age groups at Regionals to be part of their Region 7 teams, representing six states including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Each of the age group Region 7 teams competed against seven other regions throughout the country The Level 10 Jr. D team took third place. 

“These national awards and rankings represent consistent hard work, dedication and commitment our athletes have shown in overcoming setbacks and pushing themselves to take their gymnastics to the next level,” said Ashley Umberger, CEO, part owner and head coach of North Stars Gymnastics Academy. “We are enormously proud of their determination to keep reaching for greatness and their resolve to become the best versions of themselves.”

Led by Umberger, the 11 athletes also were coached by Faith Baranowski, Heather Moroz, Melissa Jones and Brielle Benoski.

North Stars’ Level 10 national medalists:

Maxine Cometa, 14, Leonia (Bergen County), Class of 2028, Jr. A

North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, freshman

**Bars: 9.700, 1st place tie

Beam: 8.025

Floor: 9.250

Vault: 8.875
AA: 35.850, 41st place

Stella Fischer, 15, Bridgewater (Somerset County), Class of 2027, Jr. D

North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, freshman

Bars: 8.750

Beam: 9.525, 5th place tie

Floor: 9.550

Vault: 9.275

AA: 37.100, 23rd place 

Leah Higgins, 14, Derry, New Hampshire, Class of 2029, Jr. B

North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, freshman

Bars: 9.375, 13th place tie

Beam: 9.275

Floor: 9.450

Vault: 9.650, 7th place tie
AA: 37.750, 7th place tie

Sophia Rocca, Blairstown (Warren County) Class of 2028, Jr. D

North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, freshman

Bars: 9.000

Beam: 9.525, 5th place tie

Floor: 9.425

Vault: 9.275

AA: 37.225, 19th place

Sh’Nai Thompson, ,17, Dunellen (Middlesex County) Class of 2025, Sr. C

North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program and Dunellen High School, senior

Ithaca commit 

Bars: 7.100

Beam: 9.500, 10th place tie

Floor: 9.325

Vault: 9.250
AA: 35.1750, 50th place

Teneil Turnbull, 14, Fairview (Bergen County), Class of 2028, Jr. B

North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, freshman

Bars: 9.250

Beam: 9.075

Floor: 9.700, 6th place

Vault: 9.575, 19th place
AA: 37.600, 12th place

Maria Verrone, 13, Parsippany (Morris County), Class of 2029, Jr. A

North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, eighth grade

Bars: 7.550

Beam: 8.425

Floor: 9.425

Vault: 9.050
AA: 34.450, 50th place

Level 10, Region 7 alternate and floor specialist in the All-Star Session

Sophia Betz, 12, East Hanover (Morris County), Class of 2031, Jr. A

North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, 6th grade

6th grade

Floor: 9.150

North Stars’ Level 9 Eastern Championships medalists:

Lexi Miller, 10, Montville (Morris County) Class of 2032,Jr. 1

North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, fifth grade

Bars: 9.400, 11th place

Beam: 9.175, 15th place

Floor: 9.375, 7th place tie

Vault: 9.050, 16th place tie
AA: 37.000, 9th place 

Aria Sanchez, 10, Boonton (Morris County) ) Class of 2032,Jr. 1

North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, fifth grade

Bars: 8.675

Beam: 8.725, 19th place

Floor: 9.425, 5th place

Vault: 9.125, 13th place
AA: 35.9500, 20th place 

Sydnee Williams, 15, Somerset (Somerset County) Class of 2027, Sr. 3

Franklin High School, sophomore

Bars, 9.400, eighth place tie

Beam, 9.300, fifth place tie

Floor, 9.025

Vault, 9.475, third place

AA: 37.200, fifth place 

About North Stars: North Stars Gymnastics Academy has been a national training center in Morris County for 50 years with female gymnasts earning placements and awards at the national and international levels. It boasts medalists in USA Championships, Goodwill Games, Pan American Games, Pacific Alliance Championships and competitions in France, South Korea, England, Russia, Bulgaria, Colombia, U.S. Olympic Trials, and more. North Stars prides itself on its ability to train athletes to build the necessary skills to secure athletic and academic college scholarships. To learn more about North Stars, visit  https://www.northstarsgymnastics.com/.

Photo Caption

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Top row:

North Stars Gymnastics Academy Level 10 National qualifiers are pictured at the USAG 2025 Development Program National Championships’ Opening Ceremonies held earlier this month at the America First Field in Sandy, Utah. They are Sophia Rocca, Maria Verrone, Sophia Betz, Sh’Nai Thompson, Stella Fischer, Leah Higgins, Teneil Turnbull and Maxine Cometa.

Bottom row:

Sydnee Williams, Aria Sanchez and Lexi Miller are North Stars’ three Level 9 gymnasts who medaled at the USA Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Level 9 Eastern Championships in Battle Creek, Michigan.