Corona del Mar’s Mikulak wins at Junior Olympics

Corona del Mar High freshman Sam Mikulak, 14, won the all-around Junior Olympics gymnastics national championship for gymnastics on May 12 in Oklahoma City.

Mikulak, competing in Level 9, placed first all-around in the two-day competition with a score of 112.325, edging John Orozco of New York by 0.05 points. He also excelled in the individual event finals, placing second in the floor exercise (9.825), third on pommel horse (9.625) and rings (9.550) and fifth on vault (8.775).

Since Mikulak finished in the top 14, he is now on the Junior Olympic National Team. He next hopes to qualify for the USA championships (senior nationals), where he can compete to be on the World Championship and Olympic teams.

Mikulak, the two-time defending Region 1 champion for Level 9, has a senior nationals qualifier June 7-9 in Colorado Springs.

The championships will be held San Jose in August.

— Matt Szabo