Brandon English dreamed of becoming the first American man to compete on the trampoline at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in China. Now he has to be content to vie for the No. 2 to go in 2012.
The recent Colonial Forge High School graduate finished seventh out of eight male competitors in this week's Olympic Trials held in Kansas City, Mo.
Chris Estrada, who finished 24th at last year's world competition in Quebec, finished first, while 2006 U.S. female champion Erin Blanchard qualified on the women's side.
"It was a great experience. It was really fun and really hard," English said. "I messed up in the preliminaries. I did better in the finals and moved up to seventh place."
Each participant performed three routines consisting of 10 prescribed skills. A panel of five judges scored each effort.
In his second routine, English miscalculated on the second skill, effectively denying him any chance of first place.
English gained an invitation on the basis of his fifth-place finish at nationals held earlier this year in Texas.
While working for his parents' sign shop, English will continue to train and compete in the sport he fell in love as a youngster when he attended a Halloween sleepover at Novaks' Gymnastics Center in Dumfries and tried the sport for the first time.
English's next major competition will be held in Portugal in September. He is shooting to qualify for the 2009 World competition in Russia.
FREE SWINGS
Family Golf Month has arrived and youngsters will have two chances to test their skill and cunning at Cannon Ridge Golf Club in Stafford County. The events are sponsored buy Play Golf America and the PGA.
The "bring your daughter to the course" promotion is slated next week (July 7-13) and permits girls 16 and under to play a free round of golf after noon when accompanied by a paying adult.
An expanded field is offered the following week (July 14-20) as all children under 16 play free after 4 p.m. in the "family golf week" promotion. As before, a paying adult must accompany the youngsters. The second event also includes a free kids meal.
For additional information, visit golfcannon ridge.com or call the clubhouse at 540/735-8000.
STAFFORD TRIO SHINES
Giuseppi Inserra brought the gold medal back from Boston and while older brother Willie and sister Sophia might be a little envious at present, there are more opportunities to claim top prizes later this month.
Despite weighing less than most of the opponents he went against, 7-year-old Giuseppi won the boys bantam 2 division for 30 kilograms (66 pounds) at the United States Judo Association Junior National tournament last weekend.
Willie, 13, tied for fifth place in boys juvenile A, 44 kg (97 pounds), while Sophia, 9, captured fourth place in girls intermediate 2, 30 kg (66 pounds).
All three live in Stafford County and are members of Sports Judo of Alexandria. Their sensei (master), Maurie Allen, a former Scottish and British national champion.
The Inserras are slated to compete in the Junior U.S. Open Judo Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 19-20, followed by the USA Judo National Junior Olympic Championships in Orlando the following week.
Kurt Nicoll: 540/374-5441
Email: knicoll@freelancestar.com