Local gymnast makes Junior U.S. National Team

LEAGUE CITY — Ariana Guerra will represent the United States.

At 13 years old, the League City resident will travel to international competitions all around the world, wearing the red, white and blue.

Guerra was named to the Junior U.S. National Gymnastics Team last week at the Visa Championships in Hartford, Conn. She placed ninth on the vault, 12th on the uneven bars, 12th on the beam and 11th on the floor exercise to finish 10th overall.

It was the last spot on the junior national team.

“I was surprised to make the team, but very excited to have achieved this honor,” Guerra said. “I had a huge sigh of relief after my final event, one of my most challenging for me, uneven bars. I am very happy to be part of the team.”

Guerra’s achievement comes as quite a surprise. Guerra just started competing at the elite level — the highest competition group — this year. This past week was her first Visa Championships; other gymnasts in her group had competed in the event before.

The Daily News profiled Guerra on Aug. 1. She had just finished 19th overall and eighth on the balance beam at the U.S. CoverGirl Classic, considered a tuneup or the big event prior to the Visa Championships.

A big jump to the top 10 against many of the same girls seemed unlikely. And while parents Mark and Christina Guerra talked optimistically, they remained grounded, saying the Junior U.S. National Gymnastics Team would be a “long shot.”

Guerra’s relative youth added to the inexperience factor. She was competing against 14- and 15-year-olds, which could mean a lot in developmental differences, too.

It could not be determined if Guerra was the youngest girl to make the team. USA Gymnastics did not release the ages.

“We are just as surprised and shocked today as we were during the junior finals award ceremony,” Mark wrote in an e-mail. “It has not really sunk in yet for us. We knew she had the talent, but skill level is very high at this competition, so we are extremely proud of Ariana for doing so well.”

Making the team does not guarantee a spot for Guerra at all international competitions.

U.S. national team coordinator Marta Karoyli selects a group from the national team to train for a specific competition at the USA Women’s National Team Training Center in New Waverly. Karoyli then picks the competitors who will attend that specific international competition.

It’s a long, arduous process.

“We’re very excited because Ariana has worked long and hard for this,” Mark said. “It’s her dream.”