This year at the U.S. Coaches Spectacular (hosted by Cincinnati Gymnastics) a new and exciting event was added called the All Star Team Showdown.  This event was specifically for optional level gymnasts.  Each team had to take their all around high scorer from level 7, 8, 9 & 10.  From there, the four gymnasts chosen had to compete one event to make up the “All Star” all around score.  Since Stars & Stripes only had competing gymnasts from level 7 & 8, the two level 8 gymnasts (Kendra Lamphier and Jacquelyn Yates) automatically advanced to the All Star competition, while the level 7 gymnasts had to compete for their spot.  Level 7 gymnasts Madelyn Bagley and Emma McLean finished with the two level 7 top all around scores.  Due to a foot injury, Jacquelyn Yates was unfortunately unable to compete in the All Star Showdown, so the next high scorer, Emilee Incammicia took her place.  Jacquelyn graciously cheered on her team from the sidelines.
     The event began with a huge introduction with fog machines, strobe lights, spot lights, and former Olympic gold medalists Amanda Borden and Jaycee Phelps introducing the gymnasts.  Seventeen teams competed in the All Star finals, and each gymnast competed one at a time for the whole crowd to see.  Emilee was elected to compete vault for the Stars & Stripes All Star team.  Gymnasts only received one vault, so it had to be awesome. Emilee was the first Stars & Stripes Competitor, and she nailed her one vault with a score of 9.4.  It was an excellent start.  Madelyn Bagley was next up on the balance beam with an extremely solid performance of 9.375.  Emma McLean was next up on bars, and continued the streak of outstanding performances finishing with a score of 9.2.  After 3 events, Stars & Stripes was in great standings, which was not an easy feat due to the caliber of competition.  Kendra Lamphier was the very last competitor of the entire competition and needed to hit all of her tumbling passes for the team to lock in their victory.  Kendra provided a very crowd pleasing performance, and did exactly what she needed to do for the team.  She finished with a 9.0, which put Stars & Stripes in 1st place!!  This was an unexpected, but well deserved victory for the Stars & Stripes gymnasts.  Finishing 2nd and 3rd was Cincinnati Gymnastics and San Mateo Gymnastics of California.  The gymnasts were presented with their first place award by Mary Lee Tracy (Owner and head coach of Cincinnati Gymnastics), Amanda Borden and Jaycee Phelps.  In addition Emilee Incammicia placed 3rd on vault out of all of the vaulting competitors (level 7-10), and Madelyn Bagley 1st place on the balance beam out every competitor (level 7-10).