Tops/Elite

Airborne’s Elite Program From The Beginning

In 1999 Melissa Chan, at the age of 12, placed 5th AA at the American Classic and qualified to be part of the US National Team. The following year she was the US Junior Vault Champion and the only junior athlete to compete a Yurchenko double full on the old vaulting horse. Placing 4th on beam, 5th on floor and 8th AA, she qualified to the US National Team and was given an assignment to represent our country in Paris, France. She made quite an impression competing original difficult skills, such as a front half mount on beam.

After a few years as an Elite gymnast Melissa decided to drop back to Level 10 where she won 3 in a row Junior Olympic National AA Titles (2002, 2003 and 2004) –she is only one of two athletes to accomplish such a feat. Melissa went on to compete for UCLA and is now working in Los Gatos as a CPA.
In 2004, Carol Chang qualified as a National Elite and eventually had a successful collegiate career as a Cal Gymnast. She is now in medical school.

In 2010, Desi Borqese came through the TOPS program and qualified for the VISA Championships. In 2011, she qualified for the US Developmental Training Squad. Desi was a passionate, talented athlete that many young girls in the gym looked up to. She is currently studying at the University of Arizona.

Nola Matthews— Winter Cup AA bronze medalist; DTB Pokal Team Champion; Pan American Championships Team Champion; Pan American Championships 4th AA; Pan American Championships UB Champion;

Tyler Turner— American Classic UB bronze medalist; US Classing UB bronze medalist

Aki Tanda— Hopes Classic BB silver medalist; Hopes Championships BB and FX silver medalist; Hopes Championships AA bronze medalist.

Nola Matthews— Winter Cup UB Champion; DTB Pokal Team Champion; Bronze medalist on UB at DTB Pokal Competition in Stuttgart, Germany; US Classic UB silver medalist;

Tyler Turner— Hopes Championships BB and FX Champion; Hopes Championships AA silver medalist;

1999: Melissa Chan – International Elite Team Member American Classic: 5th Place All Around
2000: Melissa Chan – U.S.A Championships: 1st Place Vault Champion 4th Place Beam, 5th Place Floor, 8th Place All Around USA vs. France (in Paris): 1st Place Vault Champion
2004: Carol Chang – National Elite
2008: Desi Borgese – International Elite US Classic: 10th Place All Around VISA Championships Qualifier
2010: Desi Borgese – VISA Championships Qualifier
2011: Desi Borgese – US Developmental Training Squad

July 29, 2017 was a big weekend for Airborne’s budding Elite program. Huge congratulations to Kaliya Lincoln for becoming HOPES 10/11 National All-Around, Vault & Floor Champion. Reese Drotar also competed at the National HOPES Championships for Airborne having her best meet of the season on the biggest stage of the year.

Kaliya Lincoln wins the Hopes Classic! Both Kaliya and her teammate Reese Drotar qualified for the Hopes Championships that were held in Chicago on July 29, 2017.