Parkettes are headed to nationals

One day last week Mother Nature offered a preview of summer with bright, sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s. It was the type of day most would like to be outdoors.

But in the Parkettes Gymnastics Center in Allentown, any thoughts of summer fun had to wait as more than a dozen youngsters were working hard in every corner of the building. Many were preparing for national competition.

The Parkettes are sending 11 youngsters — six girls and five boys —  to the USA Gymnastics Women’s and Men’s Development Program National Championships this week at the Mountain America Expo Center in Salt Lake City. The championships are the culmination of the development program season and national teams and national champions will be determined.

The level 10 girls who qualified are Tali Flanigan, Allanah Portalatin, Keira Gontkosky, Fayelee DeHart, Alondra Vasquez and Molly Ewer.

The level 10 boys who qualified are Cian Baillie, Charlie Epstein, Isa Najim, Brody Sculler, and Anderson Card.

In addition, the Parkettes had a level 6 Eastern national champion in Elijah Maeding, who had the highest score in the country for his age group and qualified to be a Future Stars national team member. Level 9 female gymnasts Cooper Caulfield and Mallory Gorski qualified for the Eastern championships in Michigan. Tyler Bilyj was an Eastern National qualifier and medalist.

“We have a good number of kids going to nationals, and it’s exciting because most of our level 10 team has qualified for nationals,” said girls team program director Tricia Scott, the daughter of Parkettes founders Bill and Donna Strauss. “It’s a big accomplishment, and we’re really proud of them because they put a lot of hard work in. They come in here five days a week and it’s a huge commitment. It’s nice to see the hard work pay off.”

Scott said what makes it especially gratifying is that most of the gymnasts going to nationals have been Parkettes for many years.

“It’s not like they just came over and were with us for a year or two,” she said. “They’ve been here since they were little and training up through the program. Sometimes they get to a certain point and they start peaking when they’re a little older. When they’re going into their junior year of high school, which is when the college recruitment starts, it’s really good for them to hit it at regionals and make it to nationals. That gives them a leg up on the recruitment process.”

While the gymnasts come from various school districts around the Lehigh Valley and region, they all have some common traits.

“They spend a lot of hours here and they’re very dedicated athletes,” Scott said. “Most of them do well in school, even though they’re here for a lot of hours. They learn time management at a very young age. They learn what they need to do to be successful in life, and it carries into adulthood for many of them. Two of the girls who are competing in nationals already have college scholarships. One is going to Temple and another is going to San Jose State.

“What is really rewarding as a coach is to see them come in here at a very young age, and you can see them grow and get better and move up in the levels and move up in the program,” Scott said. “And they get to this point and you see them have success in life. That’s why we do what we do.”

Portalatin, an Easton High product, is going to nationals for the third time.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity to go to nationals,” said Portalatin, who is headed to San Jose State. “I am coming off my best competition ever at regionals. It’s nice to see the hard work pay off and have fun, too. I was second in the all-around and in the floor exercise. I am hoping to place really well in Salt Lake City. The goal is to hit my routines and be confident. There are hard days, but it’s 100% worth it and very rewarding. I have been with the Parkettes for about 10 years, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Flanigan, a Liberty High student who will soon graduate and continue her career at Temple, is also excited about nationals.

“I’m excited to compete for the Parkettes one last time,” she said. “I definitely have worked hard and put in a lot of dedication to get where I am. It has been really special. I can’t pick one best memory of my time here. It is just all the time I spent here with my teammates and coaches.”

On the boys side, Baillie, a Nazareth senior, is going to nationals for the fifth time after missing last year due to an injury. He is also going to Temple.

“I am excited for Temple because my brother, Taidhg, who is a year older than me, is already there,” Baillie said. “He loves the team and the school.”

The focus for now is on Salt Lake City.

“Last time I went to nationals, I finished second on the floor,” He said. “I’ve been on a competitive team here since I was 7, which is 10 years ago. I started here for physical therapy because I had some health issues when I was younger. My brother was here and he liked it. I kind of stuck with it because he did, and as I got older, I liked working hard. I’ve learned from experience that even when you have setbacks, you can overcome it with hard work.”

Another boys standout is Epstein, a Parkland High sophomore, who is also a qualifier for the Maccabi Games in Israel this summer.

“I enjoy doing something that not many people do,” Epstein said.

Boys team program director Kevin Hallinan is in his first year with the Parkettes after working in the region for over 20 years, and he’s hoping to carry on the Parkettes legacy.

“I’ve got some big shoes to fill with this program,” Hallinan said. “This is one of the most fun gyms I’ve worked at. I have really admired the staff and what they have done over the years. And we have many great athletes here who I have gotten to know this year. It’s quite a group of guys, and this is a wonderful place.”

Elijah Maeding’s name has been corrected from the original publishing of this story.

Originally Published: May 6, 2025 at 7:00 AM EDT