Future Stars - Men's Team

The United States of America Gymnastics Association introduced, in 1996, a program called Future Stars. The goal of the Future Stars Program is to identify talented boys, their coaches and clubs and to provide them with educational and training support. The first year the Future Stars program targeted the 10-11 year old age group, in 1997 a twelve-year-old age group was added, and in 1998 an 8-9 year- old division was included.

This program uses a special competitive routine to evaluate the skill, strength and flexibility development of the athlete. These routines are progressive, developmental and educational in nature.

Participant athletes go to a Regional Evaluation and compete their routines. The top six 8-9 year-olds become the Future Stars Regional Team. The other age groups compete to reach a certain score. Those that reach this score continue on to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for Future Stars National Championships held in November. This also includes National clinics and workshops for the coaches, gymnasts and parents. Athletes that are in the top in their age groups not only get National Recognition but their gym gets a clinic put on by an Olympic gymnast.

Coach Jason has made the transition from Elite and All-American competitive gymnast to training the next generation of successful athletes with class and success. He continues to look for talented boys in our gym to train in this program. It takes skill, dedication, flexibility and desire to succeed in Future Stars. We, at Dunne’s, are excited to have an All-American coach and committed athletes to take us to this next level. We have two boys in the program at this time. They are Ben DeCrescente, and Lawrence Slyman.

In 2005, Ben DeCrescente qualified in the 10 year old division to attend and compete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. It was a fantastic experience for Ben and Coach Jay. In 2006 Ben was a mere 2 points short of qualifying again in spite of being side-lined all summer with a broken wrist, (bike accident).

With this program, we intend to identify talented athletes and get them started on the right developmental path for regional, national and international success.