Erica Samone Smith was born on May 24, 1992. She is the daughter of Maria and Anthony. Erica started gymnastics at Great American Gymnastics Express in Missouri. She stayed there until the spring of 2007. She then switched to Eagles Gymnastics Center. As a level five, she won the state all-around title.

In 2005, Erica competed as a level ten. She finished fourth on vault at the Coaches Cup, a meet hosted by the well-known Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. At the Mardi Gras Gymfest, she improved her all-around score by two points! She competed at her home meet, the Dragon Invite as well. At the Missouri State Championships, Erica took home the vault gold. She finished third all-around with a 37.150. Her next meet was the Region 4 Level 10 Championships. She finished first all-around and first on vault! Erica concluded her season at the JO National Championships. She placed on vault.

Erica began her 2006 season with a few level ten invitationals. She won vault at the Starz and Stripes meet in Reno, Nevada. In June, Erica successfully qualified to junior international elite. At the US Classic, she qualified to her first National Championships. In the summer of 2007, Erica decided to move to Eagles Gymnastics in Kansas City. She also decided to move down to level ten. In December 2007, she won vault, bars and the all-around title at the Eagles Holiday Invite.

As a level ten in 2008, Erica had a very successful season. She swept the gold medals at the Winter Invite. She won bars and beam at the Rising Stars Invite. She won vault, bars and the all-around title at the Pikes Peak Cup. She won bars at the IGI Chicago Style. Erica won vault, bars and the all-around titles at the Magical Classic in Florida. She swept the gold medals at the Show-Me Invite. At the Golden Invite she won vault and floor. At the Missouri Level 10 State Championships, she won vault, bars and the all-around titles! At Regionals, she won vault and finished second all-around. She qualified to her second JO National Championships. at JO Nationals, she finished fourth on beam and fifth on bars. She also finished fifth all-around! Erica has made a verbal commitment to the University of Florida where she will begin school in the fall of 2010.

Erica began her 2009 season by winning bars at the Winter Invitational. She did not compete on floor. At the Rising Stars competition two weeks later, Erica won the all-around, vault and bars. She finished third on beam, floor and in the all-around at the Pikes Peak Cup. She did not compete the rest of the season.

Fast Facts Name: Erica Smith Birthday: May 24, 1992 Club: Eagles Level: 10 Official Website Eagles Gymnastics

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Full Scholarship to Florida 2008: JO Nationals- 5th AA 2006: Jr. US National Qualifier 2005: JO National Qualifier 2005: Level 10 Regional AA Champion

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Photos © Brian Jones & Erica Machel