The tumbling team from Apex Tumbling and Cheer gymnastics center in Pilot Point stuck the landing again this year with an outstanding performance at the 2025 Star & Stripes Championship on July 12 and 13.
Apex sent four competitors to the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to face off with over 800 athletes from across the country, with the quartet returning with four medals in recognition of their talent.
“The kids performed really well,” Apex owner and head coach Tyler Terrell said. “We were 14 for 14 on routines, and my goal is that they hit routines in competition, just like they do in practice, and that's what they did. The results are up to the judges, but the athletes did their job, so that's a huge success right there.”
Logan Houck was the top finisher for Apex, winning gold in the double mini-trampoline event for the Level 5 11–12-yearold group, with a score of 38.33.
Houck said he was especially happy to finish as a national after injuring his right ankle at practice the week of the competition.
“I was doing my tumbling, landed on it and sprained it, but I wasn’t really afraid because I had my foot taped and had my sock on it, so I was pretty safe,” he said.
Houck also finished ninth in the trampoline event for the Level 5 11–12-year-old group, with a score of 15.8.
Gavin McGinnis took the bronze medal in tumbling, trampoline and double mini-trampoline in the Level 5 9-10-year-old group, with scores of 33.2, 38.13 and 16.
“It was pretty scary, but I just had to try my best, and it all worked out somehow,” McGinnis said. “I really enjoyed the sights, being with my teammates and being able to compete in all three events.”
Emmaleigh Boyles finished 28th in the trampoline and 32nd in tumbling in the Level 5 11–12-yearold group, with scores of 16.07 and 37.53.
Boyles said she was proud she was able to compete after battling pain in her lower back and one of her hips a couple of weeks before the event.
“It felt really good because I went from not being able to do a flip to being able to complete my [routines],” she said.
Kennedy Walker wrapped things up for Apex, finishing 28th in the double mini-trampoline and 89th in trampoline in the Level 5 11–12-year-old group, with scores of 37.66 and 14.27.
“I was competing against the best, so I was surprised that I even got third in my flight,” she said. “Next year I want to try to get higher scores and compete in all three events.”
Terrell highlighted the athletes’ parents and their support as a big factor for the kids’ success this season.
“The parents obviously traveled with us and kept the kids fed and watered and made them go to bed on time and not wear themselves out at the pool, which is always a temptation that first night,” he said. “We have a really unified set of parents that want the best for the kids. Winning isn’t everything, so that really allows them to give their kids what they need and helps them avoid taking shortcuts to get any quick wins and, long term, that's the best way, and it really paid off.”
Terrell added that performance is great for the kids and how it also provides a good example for other young athletes in the community.
“It's great for the kids to get notoriety for their hard work and see their names in print,” he said. “It's a big deal, and I hope it inspires other kids in the community that are seeing local kids push themselves and do really well on the national stage.”
