THE GOLD STANDARD
Fort Dodge\'s Moffitt, Wheat have emerged as rising youth tumbling stars for XTT
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Fort Dodge's Reba Moffitt and Makinley Wheat continue to flourish every step of the way as they climb the youth amateur tumbling ranks - not just regionally, but nationally.
Moffitt, a 14-year-old sophomore in high school, and Wheat, a fifth-grader at Duncombe Elementary, secured individual championships at both the United States Trampling and Tumbling Association's national event in Madison, Wis. earlier in the summer and the AAU National Junior Olympics last month in Des Moines.
Representing Ellsworth's X-Treme Trampoline and Tumbling Team, Moffitt and Wheat first advanced through the USTA state competition in Boone. Moffitt, the daughter of Fort Dodge's Dr. Jordan and Nicole Moffitt, was a state gold medalist in the Double-mini and Trampoline brackets against a field of nearly two dozen. She also earned the sportsmanship award at the event, and was named the advanced athlete winner for Trampoline.
At USTA Nationals, Moffitt was crowned the champion in Double-mini - the sub-advanced level for ages 13-14. There were five flights and 45 athletes vying for gold.
Wheat also flourished after taking USTA state crowns in Rod-Floor and Trampoline in the age 9-10 division. She faced 39 and 27 competitors there, respectively.
Wheat - the daughter of Fort Dodge's Ashley Prince and Darnell Wheat - then emerged victorious over three flights and 25 students as the 9-10 Double-mini gold medalist at USTA Nationals.
"We're incredibly proud of both Reba and Makinley for qualifying in all four events at the USTA National Championships," said their coach, Leah Phipps of X-Treme Trampoline and Tumbling. "Qualifying is an accomplishment in itself, so to come home as national champions is a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and countless hours of hard work.
"They competed with confidence and composure while representing X-Treme Tumbling and Trampoline and our community in an incredible way. Watching their hard work pay off on the national stage was truly special."
Moffitt and Wheat were equally impressive at the AAU state competition last spring as they punched their national tickets. Moffitt ultimately became a national champ in both Double-mini and Rod-floor (sub-novice 1 level) for ages 12-14 and accrued the high overall point total at the event. Wheat won national Double-mini gold in the advanced 9-11 age bracket, also achieving high point total status in the process.
The AAU success for Moffitt and Wheat assured both of them of spots in the 2027 AAU National Junior Olympic championships in Houston this coming August.
Moffitt started tumbling at the age of six, and joined X-Treme Trampoline and Tumbling three years ago. Wheat, who began her tumbling journey at age four, has also been competing for the organization over the last three years.
"X-Treme Tumbling and Trampoline had an outstanding (effort) at the USTA competition," Phipps said. "Our athletes represented the club exceptionally well, earning numerous finals appearances, Top-10 finishes, and eight national championships."
There were 115 clubs representing 12 different states at the USTA event.
Phipps coaches alongside Kenzie Tusha and Madison Tjernagel at XTT.