Wang wins rhythmic gymnastics senior all-around at 2007 Visa Championships

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2007?2007 Pan Am Games all-around champion Lisa Wang of Buffalo Grove, Ill., won her second consecutive U.S. rhythmic gymnastics all-around title at the 2007 Visa Championships in San Jose, Calif. Four-time U.S. junior all-around champion Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles was second and 2007 Pan Am Games ribbon silver-medalist Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md., finished third.

?It?s really thrilling,? Wang said of winning her second U.S. all-around crown. ?Last year I worked so hard and I was really nervous, but this year I really tried to show the aura of a champion. It?s absolutely amazing and it?s what I?ve always dreamed of doing.?

Wang claimed the gold medal with a total score of 128.075, followed by Marmer at 124.950 and Zetlin at 123.300.

In the junior division, Marlee Shape of Buffalo Grove, Ill., added an all-around title to her two individual event titles at the 2007 Visa Championships. She finished with a total all-around score of 113.575, followed by Viktoriya Syatkina of Brooklyn, N.Y., in second and Tyler Rosemond of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., in third.

The eight members of the 2007-08 rhythmic gymnastics senior national team are: Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill.; Delaney Longergan of Los Angeles; Sofya Roytburg of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Rebecca Wallenstein of St. Augustine, Fla.; Tamara Zverinskaya of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Marmer; Wang; and Zetlin.

The 2007-08 rhythmic gymnastics junior national team is comprised of: Reba Daniels of Marina Del Ray, Calif.; Gabriella Magid of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Michelle Milstein of Eagan, Minn.; Savannah Reynolds of Van Nuys, Calif.; Anastasia Torba of Orinda, Calif.; Rosemond, Shape and Syatkina.

The 2007 Visa Championships conclude today with day two of women?s artistic gymnastics competition at 6 p.m. PT at the HP Pavilion at San Jose.

About HP Pavilion at San Jose

HP Pavilion at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California.  Home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League, SAP Open men?s professional tennis tournament and the annual Pac-10 Women?s Basketball Tournament, HP Pavilion also hosts a multitude of events annually including concerts, family shows and civic events. 

HP Pavilion at San Jose is an exemplification of architectural excellence and technological innovation.  Outside, a shining stainless-steel facade supports a magnificent, glass pyramid entry, soaring 10 stories above the ground.  Inside, first-class amenities and leading-edge seismic engineering contribute to the building?s reputation as one of the finest facilities in the United States.

HP Pavilion at San Jose is capable of accommodating a full-range of entertainment.  State-of-the-art acoustics, plush seating and a video replay scoreboard add to the comfort and luxury for the venue?s patrons.  In addition, the downtown location is easily accessible via several major freeways, light-rail and a regional train station, located across the street.

About San Jose McEnery Convention Center

Considered the hub for meetings and conventions in San Jose, the San Jose McEnery Convention Center opened its doors in April 1989.  The facility has 432,000 square feet of function space, including a 22,000 square-foot ballroom and 30 meeting rooms.

About Visa USA

Visa USA is a leading payments brand and the nation’s largest payments system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and business customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs. Visa USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and security of Visa payments for all stakeholders ? financial institutions, cardholders and merchants.   In the United States, more than 521 million Visa-branded cards have been issued by our 13,320 financial institution customers.

Visa products generated nearly $1.8 trillion in total volume in the United States through March 2007 and enjoy unsurpassed acceptance around the globe.  For more information, visit www.visa.com.

About the San Jose Sports Authority

The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization that serves as the sports marketing agency for the City of San Jose. Since their inception in 1991, they have worked with community partners to bring more than 150 premier events and programs to the San Jose area.  For more information, visit www.sjsa.org.

About USA Gymnastics

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, encourages participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

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2007 Visa Championships

San Jose McEnery Convention Center

San Jose, Calif.

Aug. 18, 2007

Rhythmic gymnastics results

Senior all-around

1. Lisa Wang, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 128.075

2. Rachel Marmer, Los Angeles, Calif., 124.950

3. Julie Zetlin, Bethesda, Md., 123.300

4. Ava Gehringer, Evanston, Ill., 115.975

5. Rebecca Wallenstein, St. Augustine, Fla., 110.750

6. Tamara Zverinskaya, Brooklyn, N.Y., 109.500

7. Delaney Lonergan, Los Angeles, Calif., 105.725

8. Sofya Roytburg, Brooklyn, N.Y., 104.950

9. Rachel Girma, Los Angeles, Calif., 104.600

10. Bianca LaRosa, Brooklyn, N.Y., 101.375

11. JoAnna Arnold, Evanston, Ill., 100.975

12. Tess Jay, Los Angeles, Calif., 97.000

13. Emily Barnett, Evanston, Ill., 95.975

Junior all-around

1. Marlee Shape, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 113.575

2. Viktoriya Syatkina, Brooklyn, N.Y., 106.125

3. Tyler Rosemond, Fresh Meadows, N.Y., 104.750

4. Reba Daniels, Marina Del Ray, Calif., 104.025

5. Anastasia Torba, Orinda, Calif., 103.425

6. Savannah Reynolds, Van Nuys, Calif., 102.325

7. Michelle Milstein, Eagan, Minn., 101.600

8. Gabriella Magid, Brooklyn, N.Y., 100.925

9. Polina Kozitsky, Feasterville, Pa., 100.700

10. Sarah Kudishevich, Eden Prairie, Minn., 98.125

11. Katherine Scarnechia, Lancaster, Calif., 97.600

12. Nicole Chillingworth, Rolling Hills, Calif., 97.475