posted Aug 29th, 2024 - The NSL News reported a new lineup of SDC Rhythm XP on 22 January 2022. Keith Conner became the inside center, after Christy Frikken, Doug Barron, Andrew Happick and Steve Lefkowitz had represented the United States at the FAI Tanay Mondial 2020 in August 2021, with Justin Wageman on camera.

Keith Conner had collected his training and competition experiences with AAA Class teams Elsinore Elevate (2019) and Elsinore Bullet (2021) before he joined SDC Rhythm XP. Another change for Rhythm a year later brought Steve Loufek into the lineup of the last two years. SDC Rhythm XP now announced that Keith Connor will not continue with the team:

"After careful consideration, Keith Conner has separated from SDC Rhythm XP. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. Our focus remains on the future, and we’re excited to share that we will be ready to compete at nationals and continue representing our sponsors and supporters with professionalism, passion, and dedication. We'd like to announce that Greg Oldendick, former member of Skydive Midwest NEXT, will be joining SDC Rhythm XP through nationals! Greg brings a wealth of experience and skill to the team. As we prepare for nationals, we’re committed to staying motivated and pushing each other to achieve our best. We'd like to give Greg a warm welcome and get ready for an incredible journey ahead!"

SDC Rhythm XP lineups between 2007 and 2024

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It is an unusual timing for a change in the lineup, as the main goal for teams is the national championship event, and SDC Rhythm XP was probably just as eager as all other teams to showcase their latest performance and scoring level at the end of the team's second year with the same lineup.

SDC Rhythm XP and Greg Oldendick have been opponents since he joined Skydive Midwest NEXT in 2020. He was a part of the NEXT comeback after the team's three years of hibernation, and after winning USPA Advanced Class gold medals in 2016. He was the outside center for NEXT for five years (2020 - 2024), which has been Doug Barron's slot with Rhythm since 2022.

Doug Barron used to be in the tail slot of the rear piece for six years with SDC Rhythm XP, and he may replace inside center Keith Conner, while Greg Oldendick could continue as outside center. He had trained and competed with the Chicken Bolts in the same slot this year. SDC Rhythm XP's 2023 lineup finished in 3rd place with a 21.7 average at the USPA Nationals 2023, 47 points ahead of Skydive Midwest NEXT (17.0) while he also has the 18.5 average at the USPA Nationals 2022 in his records. The new Rhythm lineup has now two weeks to get ready for this year's national outdoor championship.

USPA Nationals 2023		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AAA/4-way Open	O,E,C,Q,H		20,M,J,1		10,12,B		4,18,L		11,17,5		8,9,22		A,19,K,13		G,3,2		21,14,15		D,F,7,N		Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	43	-8	29		22		23	-1	28		21		26		23		20		33	-2	268	26.8
2	XPG4	46	-2	21		17		17		20		17	-1	23		18		17		29	-1	225	22.5
3	SDC Rhythm XP	48	-4	19		17		16		20		17		22		17	-1	16		25	-1	217	21.7
4	Golden Knights	39	-3	23		18		17	-1	21		17	-1	24		15	-2	14		28		216	21.6
5	Pour Decisions	35	-1	18		15		16		18		16		20		15		14		23	-1	190	19.0
6	RhEvolution XP	27	-4	19		13		15		16		15		16	-1	16		13		23		173	17.3
7	Skydive Midwest NEXT	26	-4	18	-1	12	-2	15		17		14		17		15		13		23		170	17.0
8	Spaceland Apex	22	-5	11	-1	11	-2	14		15		13	-2	19		14		13		22		154	15.4
9	Alti-2 Technologies	24	-1	12	-1	10		13		13		11	-1	14		11		11		18	-1	137	13.7
10	Rhetirement Party	21		12	-2	11		10	-1	8		12		13		12		10		17		126	12.6
11	Rippin Flatties	10	-4	4		3	-3	5		4	-3	4	-1	6		3		5		10	-3	54	5.4

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SDC Rhythm XP - Skydive Midwest NEXT at the USPA Nationals 2023, video footage courtesy of USPA/InTime

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