Frankie Valentin Heads to Winter Cup Challenge

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Junior Frankie Valentin will represent the Air Force men's gymnastics team this week at the prestigious Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas. The two-day meet, which will determine the U.S. Men's Senior National Team, begins with a preliminary session on Thursday, Feb. 20. It is the first Winter Cup meet for the East Hartford, Conn., native.

The junior earned an invitation to the Winter Cup Challenge after tallying an all-around debut of 78.550 at the Rocky Mountain Open in January. With that tally, Valentin finished fourth amongst collegiate athletes – and sixth in an overall field that included members of the U.S. Olympic Training Center Team.

Valentin is the 14th different Falcon to earn a bid to the prestigious meet since 2004, joining Jeff Anderson (2004), Denis Aurelius (2015), Tory Brown (2010, 2011, 2012), Gared Chapman (2013, 2015), Nick Gaudlip (2014, 2015), Nash Mills (2010, 2011, 2012), James Okamoto (2011), Mac Ritchie (2013), Chris Stephenson (2014), Greg Stine (2007), Joel Uptmor (2010) and Tim Wang (2014, 2016, 2017).

The Winter Cup Challenge, which will be held at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort, will open with the first round of the Senior Elite Division at 6:30 p.m. (PT) on Thursday, Feb. 20. Using the 10-point system, the top 28 senior gymnasts will advance to the 7:30 p.m. (PT) finals on Saturday, Feb. 22. All-around rankings will be determined on the first day, while individual champions will be determined by a two-day combined score. Tickets for an all-session pass $55 for adults and $45 for children, while single-day tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for children.

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