Girl, 8, wins spot on gymnastics team

STRETCH- Brigita Budginas, 8, of Agoura Hills demonstrates a gymnastics pose. Brigita recently made the Future National Rhythmic Gymnastics team, which earns her the right to train at the Future Stars National Team Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. The Yerba Buena Elementary School thirdgrader trains at Monarchs Gymnastics in Agoura Hills.

Brigita Budginas, 8, of Agoura Hills made this year's Future National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team and earned the right to train at the Future Stars National Team Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Brigita is a Level 6 rhythmic gymnast from Monarchs Gymnastics in Agoura Hills and trains 20 hours per week.

Brigita, who attends third grade at Yerba Buena Elementary School, will train at Lake Placid Olympic Training Center in New York from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2. She and her coach, Marina Kukhta, who was nominated for Best Coach of the Year 2007, will work with the USA Gymnastics National Coaching staff.

At the regional testing the gymnasts performed physicaability tests that included dance skills, strength, flexibility, balance and agility. The top 25 percent from each group were named to the Future Stars National Team.

Monarchs Gym is at 5331 Derry Ave., Ste. H-C, Agoura Hills, (818) 987-9875, (818) 889-3634; and 3599 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, (805) 375-4663.