VANESSA HERMAN AND MELISSA WICKS TO COMPETE IN USTA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND

Waukon tumblers Vanessa Herman and Melissa Wicks have earned qualification for the United States Tumbling Association National Championships to be held at Kansas City, MO this upcoming weekend, June 23-25. Both earned qualification by placing in the top four at the USTA State Championships in Ames April 30, Herman placing third at the meet and Wicks claiming a fourth-place finish.
The pair also qualified for the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) National Champions at the AAU State Championships in Ames May 7. Herman finished with a pair of first-place medals at the AAU State Meet, winning both the tumbling competition and the 30-second speed rope jumping competition. Wicks finished second in the tumbling competition and third in the speed rope jumping. Neither girl will be competing at the AAU National Meet, scheduled for Aug. 3-6 in Orlando, FL., as their Plum Creek Tumbling Club will not be attending the meet this year.
The two have also competed in various USTA meets throughout the state of Iowa this season, also finding much success there. Wicks placed first at Marshalltown Nov. 7 of last year, second at Iowa Falls Jan. 9, third at Sumner Feb. 6, first at Waverly March 26, and second at the USTA Pre-state Meet in Ankeny April 9. Herman was a second-place finisher at Iowa Falls Jan. 9, took fourth at Sumner Feb. 6, second at Waverly March 26, and fourth at the Pre-state Meet in Ankeny April 9.
For her competition, Herman will have to do a two-pass routine down a spring floor. Her first pass consists of three backhand springs and a tuck (aerial somersault), and her second pass includes one whip (back handspring without hands), two backhand springs, and a tuck.
Wicks will also perform a two-pass routine down a spring floor. Her first pass consists of four backhand springs, and her second pass increases to seven backhand springs.
Neither Herman nor Wicks are strangers to the USTA National Championships, as both have competed in the meet before and both have won National Championships. Wicks was a USTA National Champion at the 1998 meet, while Herman won her National USTA Title last year at the 1999 Championship Meet.
Herman is the daughter of Brent and Pam Herman of Waukon. Wicks is the daughter of Darrel and Rosanne Wicks of Waukon.