Published: 07/03/2025 - 8:00 AM
The Willow Grove YMCA Twisters delivered a performance for the ages at the 2025 YMCA Gymnastics National Championships, capturing two national team titles and an astounding 22 individual event championships across multiple levels.
The weekend marked a historic milestone for the program as the Level 8 team claimed the first national title in team history, while the Boys Level 4 D2 squad also rose to the top of the podium.
Historic Team Championships
Level 8
Team: 1st Place
The Level 8 team made program history with their first-ever national team title, posting a combined score of 110.175. The historic squad was powered by Remi Sasson's All-Around National Championship in the senior division (71.125 combined), while Olivia Lee secured a strong 4th place finish in the junior division (73.3 combined). Julianne Rudgunas added to the gold medal collection with her Floor Exercise title.
The exceptional depth of the team was evident as 7 gymnasts qualified for All-Around Finals, with Lucy Muller (8th place AA), Toni Dallas (10th place), and Averi Brady (11th place) all contributing to the championship effort.
Senior Kiera Bruton demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout the competition, delivering rock-solid beam routines on both days while guiding her teammates with poise and experience.
Fellow senior Chava Trachtman, though unable to compete due to injury, played an invaluable role throughout the season and provided crucial team support during the championship weekend.
Boys Level 4 D2
Team: 1st Place
The young men's team dominated their division with a commanding team score of 146.550.
Michael Bullick emerged as the star of the boys team, capturing three individual national titles on Floor Exercise, Rings, and Vault while finishing 2nd in the All-Around.
Luca Sarullo complemented with a 2nd place finish on Rings and 7th overall, while Jayden Silva added crucial depth with his 3rd place All-Around performance.
Remarkably, this marks the second consecutive national team title for Michael, Luca, and Jayden, as they were also part of last season's Level 3 D1 championship team.
Individual Excellence by Level
Gold Division
The Gold team finished a strong 4th place as a team (111.300), highlighted by exceptional individual performances.
Brenna Miller captured three individual titles - All-Around, Beam, and Bars - showcasing her versatility and skill.
Jessica Coursey added another Bars title to the growing medal count.
Jessica Messerschmidt in the Masters division delivered a perfect sweep, claiming first place on all four events - Vault, Bars, Beam, and Floor - while capturing the All-Around title with a score of 37.725.
The team demonstrated remarkable consistency across all events.
Silver Division
Francesca Fontenot dominated the Silver division, claiming an impressive three national titles in All-Around, Vault, and Bars with her outstanding All-Around score of 38.250. Her spectacular 9.9 on Bars secured the event title and highlighted her exceptional skill level.
Paige Torresani added to the medal count with a 3rd place Vault finish and 4th place All-Around performance.
Molly Miller provided crucial consistency throughout the competition, contributing to the team's remarkable achievement of hitting 100 percent of their routines.
The Silver team secured 4th place overall with a team score of 111.075.
Platinum Division
Adriyah Clark delivered a commanding performance in the Platinum division, sweeping three events with victories on Floor Exercise, All-Around, and Beam. Her total score of 37.175 highlighted her exceptional all-around abilities.
Paige Bowers complemented the division with a strong 4th place finish on Floor Exercise.
Level 7
The Level 7 gymnasts continued the medal tradition with Peyton Achilles claiming the Vault title and Cersei Pfeffer delivering strong performances across all events, finishing 4th in the All-Around.
Level 2
Young Raelynn Owens represented the future of the program beautifully, capturing the Vault title and finishing 5th in the All-Around competition.
Level 6
The Level 6 team gained valuable national experience, with Angelina Raysor leading the way with a 2nd place Vault finish and 11th place All-Around performance. Campbell Pfeffer added to the team’s success with a strong 4th place Vault finish.
Diamond
Julia Johnson showcased exceptional consistency and skill throughout both days of competition, qualifying for All-Around Finals and finishing 8th overall with a combined score of 70.85. Her standout performances included a 6th place finish on Floor Exercise and strong showings on Beam and Vault, demonstrating the technical precision and artistry that defines the Diamond level.
Final Medal Count
- 2 Team National Championships
- 22 Individual Event Titles
- Multiple Top-10 All-Around finishes across all levels
The 2025 YMCA National Championships will be remembered as a defining moment for the Willow Grove YMCA Twisters program - a weekend where years of preparation, dedication, and teamwork culminated in historic success on the national stage.
2025 Willow Grove YMCA National Champions
- Remi Sasson (Level 8) All-Around
- Brenna Miller (Gold) All-Around, Beam, Bars
- Michael Bullick (Level 4 D2) Floor, Rings, Vault
- Julianne Rudgunas (Level 8) Floor
- Jessica Coursey (Gold) Bars
- Raelynn Owens (Level 2) Vault
- Peyton Achilles (Level 7) Vault
- Adriyah Clark (Platinum) Floor, AA, Beam
- Francesca Fontenot: (Silver) AA, Vault, Bars
- Jessica Messerschmidt: (Gold), AA, Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor
Championship Reflection
"It was incredible to see all the hard work pay off this weekend," said Head Coach Mubarak Simmons. "Watching our gymnasts compete together and for each other, supporting one another across all levels - that's what makes this sport so special. This national championship represents years of dedication from our athletes, coaches, and families, and we couldn't be prouder of how they represented the Willow Grove YMCA and the Greater Philadelphia."
About the Author
Mubarak Simmons
Senior Director of Gymnastics, Willow Grove YMCA
Mubarak has over two decades of expertise in gymnastics and acrobatics. He coaches athletes to achieve their dreams while having fun in the sport. His career includes tenure as a stuntman at Walt Disney World Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Show, and a key role in winning the 2005 NCAA Gymnastics Team Championship at University of Oklahoma. Mubarak is a graduate in Political Science, and enjoys motorsports and quality time with his family.