Delphi Academy student Erica Wu, a 10 year-old rhythmic gymnast, won first place in the all around at the Level 6 USA East Regionals, which were held in Cambridge last weekend. In the individual events, Erica took first place on Floor (14.60), first on Ball (13.25), first on Ribbon (14.05), and first on Rope (13.95). Her total score of 55.85 is 5 point higher than the one in the second place.This season at Level 6, Before Regionals, Erica was also undefeated this year, placing first at the State Meet, Coaches Cup, Boston International Invitational Cup, and the Rhythmic Stars Invitational. She has won all individual events plus all the all arounds.
Erica Wu two times National Champion in the past two years, the 2008 National Champion at Level 4 and 2009 at the level 5.who placed third in the world stage last year, won the floor and fourth in the all-around at the Ruby Stars International Rhythmic Invitational Cup 2009 in Moscow. She also was selected "Miss Grace," an honorary title for the championship.
Wu was invited by the Russian Federation to compete in the event with her coach, Varduhi Nahapetyan. There were more than 150 athletes representing numerous countries at the event.
In last year's national competition, Wu got a perfect score from all judges on Hoop, an event never happen in the last 25 years in the nation's history.
Wu, who trains at New England Sports Academy in Westwood, has competed in rhythmic gymnastics for less than four years, and in that time has claimed a number of awards. In last two years, she became
Wu practices at the New England Sports Academy (NESA) and is coached by Varduhi Nahapetyan. Varduhi is a three-time National Champion rhythmic gymnast from Armenia.
About Erica Wu
Erica has been doing rhythmic gymnastics for about three an
d a half years. She was born in America, but her parents are from the Canton area of China (quite a coincidence that they now reside in Canton). Her parents originally involved her in piano, which she did not enjoy. Her piano teacher suggested that perhaps her talents might be in sports not music. The Wu family visited NESA to enroll their older daughter Elizabeth in gymnastics. Little Erica came along for a trial class. The gymnastics instructor quickly noticed how exceptionally flexible Erica was and suggested that she would be better suited for rhythmic gymnastics. Erica practices three to four hours a day, five times per week. When she is not participating in NESA’s rhythmic gymnastics program, Erica also practices Chinese dance and acrobatics. She is a student at Delphi Academy in Milton, MA.In less than three weeks, Wu will travel to Portland, Oregon for this year Compulsory Junior Olympics Championship. She has the confidence to capture the national title for the third time; we wish her all the best.
About Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which single competitors, pairs, trios or more manipulate one or two apparatuses, including rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon. It combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, theatrical dance, and apparatus manipulation. The victor is the participant who earns the most points, as awarded by a panel of judges, for leaps, balances, pivots, flexibility, apparatus handling, and artistic effect.
About NESA
The New England Sports Academy (NESA) is a unique, comprehensive, multi-activity sports facility for children, with over 2,000 students in numerous different sports and activities. Headquartered in Westwood, NESA provides sports instruction, training and related activities for children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Programs are designed to provide children with world-class training and instruction. NESA is located at 345 University Drive in Westwood, MA.
For more information about Delphi, visit us at www.delphiboston.org.
