ZaQuae Carter won the National Championship in the male 15–and-over Tumbling division and Bailey ‘BJ’ Mensah, 15.
He was named to the Junior National Team during the June 21-27, 2021, National Tumbling and Trampoline Championships in St. Louis.
Carter represents the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF) while Mensah is a WHGF scholarship athlete, they both train at CAVU with renowned coach Roger Walker, who offered to train the WHGF athletes due to the COVID shutdown of the WHGF facility in Harlem.
Carter, 14, soared during both Tumbling preliminaries and finals to claim the best-of-the-best in the country in his division.
Mensah had a stellar showing in St. Louis – to go along with two top placements in major competitions this season – to nail down a spot on the highly-coveted Junior National Team for both Tumbling and Double Mini Trampoline.
“I was very proud of both BJ’s and ZaQuae’s performance,” said Wendy Hilliard, founder and CEO of Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation and mother of BJ Mensah. “This was the first time for ZaQuae’s at nationals and it was amazing how well he did because he beat out 13 other athletes. After the first day he was leading by a point, and it was amazing what he did.
“It was very exciting for BJ to make the National team and it’s quite an honor. It means you can represent our country in international competition.”
Other WHGF representatives at the America’s Center in St. Louis included first-time national qualifiers Ty-La Morris age 13, Kaya Beckles, 14, and Phoenix Britt, 15.
“I’m very proud of all our athletes who went,” Hilliard added. “It’s very, very difficult to compete on this level. All our kids came through. Most importantly, they were able to attend the National Championships that were being held along with the USA Olympic Gymnastics Trials. They were able to see Simone Biles win her Olympic Trials and to see all of the top athletes.
“It put them in a situation where they could be with the country’s best athletes in all types of gymnastics. I’m sure it motivated them to see the Olympic Trials and see the men and women who were going to make the Olympic team.”
Please click HERE to see both Carter and Mensah perform during the recent National Tumbling and Trampoline Championships.
This marked the first time Carter qualified for the National Tumbling and Trampoline Championships, while Mensah is as a multiple qualifier and recognized as the 2019 National Champion in Tumbling.
The five WHGF qualifiers earned a trip to the nationals by virtue of recent outstanding performances in either New York State Championships or the Regional Championships.
This year WHGF in New York City is celebrating its 25th anniversary. WHGF is headquartered in Harlem and has a location in Hilliard’s hometown of Detroit, which opened in 2016.
Since its inception, WHGF has provided FREE and low-cost gymnastics to underserved communities, serving nearly 25,000 urban youth to date.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Wendy started gymnastics at age 12. She trained through the Detroit Recreation Department with coaches from the former Soviet Union.
She was the first Black to represent the U.S. in international competition in rhythmic gymnastics and competed in three World Championships.
In 2008 she was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Following her competitive and award-winning experience as a world-class athlete and coach, Wendy recognized the lack of gymnastic opportunities among urban youth, which inspired her to launch the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in 1996 in Harlem, New York, and expanded to Detroit in 2016.
Today, the Foundation serves urban youth between the ages of 3 to 17, helping to improve their physical and mental health and providing various programs focused on Health & Nutrition, Sports Safety to Career Path Internships, Public Speaking, and NYC Public School Admission Assistance.
At WHGF, young gymnasts learn about time management, responsibility, teamwork, leadership, and sustainable health habits.
Throughout the years, WHGF has developed elite athletes and competitive gymnasts who have gone onto the global stage, including current WHGF head coach Alexis Page who was on the U.S. Rhythmic Gymnast National Team.
Related: Wendy Hilliard Talks Harlem Gymnastics on Harlem World Magazine Podcast.
Alexis Page joined the WHGF foundation in 2003, and by 2012, she started teaching to inspire the young gymnasts to chase after their dreams, as she did.
In addition, Niahlah Hope trained at WHGF from 2002 to 2010 and is now a professional Hollywood stunt double, while Olivia Boisson, trained on the WHGF rhythmic gymnast team and is now a professional dancer at New York City Ballet.
For more information please visit, https://www.wendyhilliard.org/. Visit Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Left photo: 1) ZaQuae Carter (on top podium) is recognized as the country’s No. 1 Tumbling sensation in the 15-and-over division while (right) 2) Bailey Mensah earns selection to the Junior National Team. By Photos courtesy of WHGF.
Become a Harlem Insider!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
