Three gymnasts from Desert Lights Gymnastics in Chandler are on their way to Houston this week for the National TOPs testing at the Bela and Marta Karolyi ranch.
  Samantha Stephens, 10, of Chandler, was selected for her first time, and Jamie Armijo, 11, of Chandler and Maria Destadio, 11, of Casa Grande are returning for their second time to the nation-wide Talent Oppotunity Program, which only invites the top 10 percent of girls who initially test.
  At last year's camp, Maria and Jamie learned how to refine their basic skills, which has helped them perform better over the past year.
  "It was awesome," Jamie said. "We learned the basics better, and it made our skills a lot better."
  In some cases, the three girls have to train up to six days a week, so it's a huge commitment for their parents as well, they said.

 "My dad is really supportive of me," Maria said. When he learned she was going back to Texas, he told her, "I knew you could do it."
  TOPs is described as "a talent search and educational program for female gymnasts ages 7 to 11 and their coaches."
  The southeast Valley trio shares a dream: to represent the United States in the Olympics. And that's not too far-fetched, considering that past TOPs gymnasts include this year's Olympic team members Courtney Kupets and all-around champion Carly Patterson.
  "It's very prestigious," said Lisa Spini, who owns Desert Lights with her husband John. "Most of our Olympic team members were members of the TOPs program."
  The girls will be tested at the camp in the 20-meter dash, vertical jump, pull-ups, rope climb, press handstand, left and right forward splits, push-ups, shoulder flexibility and leg lifts.