PROGRAM HISTORY

The concept of the Queen City Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling program was born at the 1997 U.S.A.T.T. Nationals. Jeff Metzger had made the trip to the Nationals to learn more about the "up and coming" sport of Trampoline and Tumbling. Shortly after leaving the Nationals, Jeff began immediate plans to rearrange the initial floor plans for the New Kids First facility. The results included a regulation in-ground rod floor with a spacious run up area, space for a regulation double mini trampoline, and an area dedicated to four competitive full size in-ground trampolines. This has become one of the finest training facilities in the nation for the sport of Trampoline and Tumbling. Additional advantages enjoyed by few other trampoline and tumbling clubs include an in-ground Resi and deep foam training pits with a 60-foot long in-ground tumble track trampoline feeding into a foam pit.

Such an excellent training environment would have been incomplete without a program manager to create and develop the Trampoline and Tumbling venue into a reality. The choice of a program manager had not been difficult. The Head Coach of the U.S.A.T.T. powerhouse Top Flight Trampoline and Tumbling Team was selected. Steve Anderson was hired in the fall of 1997 to direct the Trampoline and Tumbling program and become its first Team Head Coach.

However, the first team practice would not be conducted until November 2, 1998. The team attended its first meet January 17, 1999 at the Hand 2 Hand Invitational in Dayton, Ohio. The team went on to host the first ever annual Queen City Trampoline and Tumbling Invitational. The Team's initial season concluded with a 3rd place finish in the Kentucky-Ohio Challenger, and as the Ohio State Runner-Up, with an 11 -2 record. The team qualified 17 athletes in 31 events to the National Championships in Anaheim, California. Moreover, many new club records were established and the first year-end awards ceremony was held on August 15, 1999.

The following year would see QCTT win its first Invitational when they won the Stanford-Foster Invitational. The team was runners up in the Hand 2 Hand and Queen City Invitational before once again claiming the second place trophy at the State Finals. The team win loss record was an impressive 34-5 mark on the 1999-2000 season. John Collier became the first Queen City T&T athlete to win a medal at the senior elite nationals, the first USA National Team Member and the first International competitor for QCGTT. He won the gold on the DMT event and the silver in tumbling at the USA Senior Elite National Championships. Then he concluded the season with a 4^th place finish in the World Cup Tumbling Event. The Team sent 27 athletes to the J.O. Nationals here in Cincinnati, taking home 4 Gold, 5 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals to collect more medals then any other team in the country.

The 2000-2001 campaign ended with a 22-5 win loss record and yet another Ohio State runner -up finish. The team had 13 individuals represented at the USA Nationals, winning 5 Gold and one bronze. The season was punctuated by Chrissy Lehmkuhl when she became the first senior athlete in team history. Lehmkhul competed three seasons for the team and was an original member.

After returning 17 out of 34 athletes from the previous season, the 2001-2002 season would be one of rebuilding. Tragedy struck the team at the first competition held at Hand 2 Hand T&T in Springboro, when Shannon Burford suffered a season ending and severe knee injury on the Trampoline event. The injury would require numerous surgeries and nearly a year of rehabilitation. Shannon courageously vowed to make her comeback and her unbridled determination earned her a letter, which was presented at the QCIT at the competitions awards presentation. Burford would later be presented a Purple Heart award at the team year end Awards Day Presentation. On the team side, the Storm still had a strong showing by seasons end to take a respectable 3rd place at the Ohio State Meet with a final record of 16-9. The team had 13 athletes compete at the USA Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team earned a bronze, 6 Silver and 3 Gold Medals to close the season with a promising future.

The 2002-2003 year saw our athletes in the blue and white carry on leave off on where they ended last year, strong. The team won the Trampoline title at our 5^th annual QCIT in route to claiming the teams first ever State Championship with a 24-4 season record. The national meet was held in Sacramento, California where the team returned home with 2 silver and 1 Gold medal to add to the Storm's collection. The highlight of the season came at our Annual QCIT when Shannon Burford made good on her pledge to make her come back from last years season ending knee injury. Shannon took to the Trampoline to perform the very routine she competed on the day of her tragedy and nailed it to become a legend of inspiration in the history of the QCTNT Program. The team featured two seniors in the championship season, Shannon Burford and Elizabeth Mushaben.

2003-2004, QCTT history was made once again when Jeremiah Mohr became the first Region IV All-Star to represent the Storm. Jeremiah qualified to the team by winning the Level 10 Tumbling championship at the Region IV Championships in Joplin, Missouri. The team ended the season with a Won/Loss Record of 30-5, collecting the first ever back to back State Championship! The USA JO National Championships were in Tampa, Florida with the squad raking in 5 golds, 3 Silver and 4 bronze medals to lace the icing on the seasonal cake!

'Three-peat' would be the story of the 2004-2005 QCTT Storms' destiny. The team once again netted a perfect season with Won/Loss Record 24-0 and its third Straight Ohio State Team Championship. Scott Sargent led the team winning the Level 10 National Championship on Trampoline while placing and impressive fourth at the Elite Challenge in Phoenix, AZ earlier in the season. Scott would go on to earn Region IV All-Star honors on Double Mini Trampoline. Sargent's little brother, Sean, showed some glimpse of following in his foot steps when he teamed up with Savannah Bailey to earn a slot with her on the USA National Jump Start Team. The team made another strong appearance at the Nationals in Houston, Texas, continuing the team reputation for excellence!

In 2005-2006, QCTNT showed why it is one of the strongest programs in the country. Queen City would remain the strongest Team, in the strongest State, in the Strongest Region of the country for the 3^rd Straight year. The Storm took first in the ÒMonopoly MeetÓ in Indianapolis and then rolled to its second straight undefeated season with a Won/Loss Record of 28-0 and the fourth straight State Championship title, while helping to lead Ohio to its third Region IV battle of the States Team Championship. Region IV would go on to win itÕs 3^rd Straight Regional All-Star Championship team title at the USA JO National Meet! Three team members were named to the USA Jump Start National Team, Savannah Bailey, Sean Sargent and Madeline Sewell. The squad also had two members on the Regional All-Star Team; they were Sean Sargent and Riley Stanforth. The team headed north for the USA JO National Championships collecting 7 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze medals to add to the QCTNT Treasure chest built up over the years!

2006-2007 was the best season ever up to this point in team history! The squad took its fifth straight State Championship. Moreover, it was the first time the team had swept all four events at State to capture the victory. Riley Stanforth and Gabby Bailey took the Synchoronized Trampoline event title to secure this first in team history. The synchro team went on to win the Level 10 national championship. The blue and white went 31-0 and ended the season with 9 Golds, 10 Silvers and 9 bronze medals at the Junior Olympic National Championships in Memphis, Tennessee. In individual honors, Queen City put two athletes, Sean Sargent/Gabby Bailey on the National Pre-Elite team for another first in the team annuals. Also, Queen City had four athletes make the Jump Start National team: Jessica Blumberg, Sean Sargent, Madeline Sewell and Victoria Smith.

2007-2008 A tumultuous season turned gold as QCTT suffered through a “Civil War” that would see only 18/37 team members from the previous year return. However, the team showed its true character when it reloaded quickly and rebounded quite nicely to post yet another undefeated season with a 37-0 record to compliment its sixth straight Ohio State Championship title. Landon Ballas and Jessica Blumberg represented the team of blue by making the Jump Start National Team while Ashley Phillips and Riley Stanforth went on to repeat as National Synchronized Trampoline Champions for Level 10. The squad won three major Invitational en route to the National Championships: Winter Festival, Queen City and the Buckeye Invitational’s. The season ended for the team at the J.O. Nationals in Kansas City, MO with 7 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze medals brought home to the QCTNT Treasurer!

2008-2009 The Storm continued on the previous year’s success adding its 7th straight Ohio Championship and setting a club record for most wins in a season at 42-0, the 5th straight undefeated season. Sean Sargent, our first Junior Elite, represented our club at the U.S. Elite Challenge where he paired up with an athlete from Gypsie Flyers to win gold for Synchronized Trampoline at the event. Landon Ballas and Zachary Busam each earned a spot on the National Jump Start Team. The team coasted to victories in the Aerodynamics, Top Flight, Buckeye and Queen City Invitational’s before heading to J.O. Nationals in San Jose, California. The team earned 5 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronzes at the event to add to the reputation of excellence of Queen City TnT at the National level. Riley Stanforth become the first athlete in 6 seasons to earn a senior award after 9 years as a member on the team.

In closing, if the Queen City Trampoline and Tumbling future can be predicted from the achievements of it's historic past, then Queen City will have a long and successful future to enjoy. Whatever the future brings, it will be the result of the collective hard work, dedication, and the commitment by the coaches, athletes, and parents. The canvas is a constant work of art, yet we have the continuing opportunity to paint the portrait where there is vision to guide our brush. Good luck, to all who participate in creating the era of Queen City Trampoline and Tumbling. May all the intents and purposes of this magnificent program reach each child with the positive benefits for which the program was designed.