Team Lightning Competitive Teams

     Erie Gymnastics Center is the proud home of Team Lightning.  Team Lightning represents EGC's Competitive Gymnastics Travel Teams.  Team Lightning produces some of the best talent in the country.  Team Lightning Athletes participate in and are governed by USA Gymnastics (USAG) our National Governing Body.  USAG is our United States Representative Program for the World & US Olympic Teams.

     The USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Program consists of 10 Competitive Levels of Gymnastics.  Think of these levels like grades of school or belts in Karate.  Athletes must earn a minimum mobility score at USAG Sanctioned Competitions to advance to the next more difficult level.  Levels 1 is the entry competitive level (the little league) of gymnastics.  Erie Gymnastics Center does not at this time compete Level 1 athletes.  Instead, we consider these levels Advanced Recreation & EGC Mini Team members, and compete them 'in house'. 

     Team Lightning Competitive Gymnastics starts at Levels 2.  Level 2 is entry or 'little league' level of Competitive Gymnastics.  Level 2's have basic compulsory skills & routines they must perfect on all the Olympic apparatus. 

Level 3  thru 5 are State Recognized Compulsory Levels.  Each gymnast must perform a set routine of skills on each apparatus at competitions.   The Gymnasts & Teams enter 'Invitational' style Competitions in the Tri-State area and compete for Individual & Team  medals & trophies.  The Gymnasts can earn medals for individual events, the combined efforts of all of their apparatus scores - the prestigious All Around, and Team Awards.    Throughout the season Gymnasts earning high scores can qualify to the PA State Gymnastics Championships.  EGC is proud that nearly 90% of our Competitive Teams annually qualify to the State Championships.

     Levels 6 thru 10 are known as 'Optional' Gymnasts.  Optional Gymnastics is what most people are familiar with from watching gymnastics on TV.  Optional Gymnasts have their own choreographed routines that they perform on the various apparatus.  Each skill and combination earns points toward the gymnasts final score.  Levels 6 is considered Beginner Optional Gymnastics and Level 7 is considered Intermediate Optional, however there is nothing Beginner or even Intermediate about their skill levels.  They compete to earn qualifying scores to compete at the PA State Championships.  Level 8 (Advanced Optional) Gymnasts move up significantly higher in skill level and compete at the USAG Regional Level (best of 7 States).  PA is part of Region VII gymnastics and includes - Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland,  New York, and District of Columbia.    

BIG GUNS - Level 9 & 10 are USA Gymnastics National Levels.  These level of gymnastics are typically what you see when watching Gymnastics on Television.   Level 9's & 10's are unrestricted in difficulty limitations, and perform the most difficult of gymnastics skills and combinations.  Over the years, EGC has produced numerous National medalist and NCAA Collegiate Athletes. 

   The road to Level 10 is extremely difficult.  It requires a commitment on an entirely different level than most other sports.  Level 10 gymnasts spend grueling hours at the gym learning the most complex and dangerous skills and training to make them look easy.  Less than 1% of students who enter gymnastics ever make these levels.  To our 10's however, they "Love It, Eat It, Breath It!"  Team Lightning Optionals are coached by "National Ranked" USAG Coach - Douglas Pershun.  Doug has been at this for 30+ Years.