Members of the Dragon Gymnastics team will be able to show off their skills in their own backyard this week.
Their gym, Great American Gymnastic Express (GAGE) in Blue Springs, will host the 24th annual Dragon Invitational Friday through Sunday at the Metropolitan Community College Business and Technology Exhibit Hall in Kansas City.
The event will give area fans the chance to see many of the up and coming United States stars who could compete for a spot on the 2008 Olympic team.
"This isn't just a money-making event for our club," said Al Fong, GAGE owner and former USA Gymnastics coach of the year. "This is an event where gymnasts from all over the United States will come to be seen, to climb another rung on the ladder and make an impact before some of this year's big national meets.
"This is the third year I've run the invitational and it's the first time we've had it at the Metropolitan Community College venue. We hosted the U.S. Classic there last year and it got rave reviews from everyone.
"It was the perfect size, it had a great location and everyone enjoyed the event."
Two GAGE members who are on the U.S. national team, Ivana Hong and Sarah DeMeo, will compete at the invitational while another U.S. team member, Rachel Updike, will cheer them on as she is recovering from a foot injury.
DeMeo placed first on the balance beam at the Classic and is excited about competing in front of friends and family members in Kansas City this weekend.
"A lot my teachers have been asking me about the Invitational," said DeMeo, a freshman at Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, Kan. "I'm really excited about competing, especially since it's here in Kansas City.
"The U.S. Classic was so much fun and this is going to be a lot of fun, too."
DeMeo and Hong will likely compete in all four events the balance beam, uneven bars, vault and floor exercise.
"I'm going to be working on some new skills in all four events, and that's always fun," DeMeo said.
Hong, 14, an eighth grader at Sunnyvale Middle School in Blue Springs, is ready to perform for the hometown fans.
"It's nice to have a meet at home," Hung said. "I'm going to work on some new skills and clean up some things on my other skills. I'm excited."
Updike is sidelined with a broken toe on her right foot, but she said, "I'll be there to support the other girls. It's going to be a fun weekend."
While DeMeo, Hung and Updike are members of the U.S. team, GAGE elite gymnasts Erica Smith, Rebecca Clark, Jackie Mesh and Adrianna Lewis will also compete and hope to make an impact as the race for spots on the Olympic team begins to heat up.
The GAGE Dragons will have 80 competitors, ranging in age from 6 to 18.
The invitational begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday (Level 7) followed by a 2:45 p.m. session (Level 7).
The highlight event of Friday will be the 6:30 p.m. elite showcase, which will feature GAGE's top performers.
Saturday's highlight will be the Level 10/open competition, which begins at 6 p.m.
Reach Bill Althaus at bill.althaus@examiner.net or 350-6395.
