American Classic Preview - The Seniors (and some bonus girls)

With only 5 competing gymnasts, the Senior Division is quite a bit smaller than its Junior counterpart. 

Casey Jo Magee (Western Michigan? Independent?) is by far the most experienced gymnast in the division. She's the only gymnast in the division old enough to have a driver's license, let alone a college degree! After a strong career at the University of Arkansas, Magee made the decision to try to qualify as an elite. Not only did Magee qualify, but she's been impressing fans with her phenomenal beam set.

Kennedy Baker (Texas Dreams), a current Senior National Team Member, is also set to compete. She is, in my opinion, the most under appreciated gymnast in the country, and is excellent on bars. Her flair on floor consistently makes me smile.

Property of Jessica Frankl

Fresh off of winning the WOGA Classic, Mackenzie Brannan (Capital), seems to have adjusted well to growing a few inches in the off season. Although Mack's never been one to compete "cutesy" routines, this year, she seems more mature than ever. Watch for her gorgeous lines and beautifully stuck tumbling passes.

Abby Milliet (pictured right) of Denton has always been one of those gymnasts whose name I've known, but I've never really paid much attention to. After watching a few of her routines, I wish I had. Abby won last year's American Classic as a junior and her strongest events are floor and vault.

Ericha Fassbender (Stars) was on the 2010-2011 Jr. National Team and was the 2010 Top Gym UB Champion. Ericha has big skills that she sometimes struggles with, but when she hits, she's fabulous. I'm personally a fan of her beam routine.

The USAG release says that Claire Hammen also will compete, but she competed today and didn't score high enough to qualify. I'm not sure what's up with that.

I also wanted to mention that 7 juniors not mentioned yesterday qualified based on today's scores.

Property of USAG

1. Nica Hults (Texas Dreams) - If you've been under a rock, watch her beam set tomorrow!
2. Maggie Nichols (Twisters) - Won Vault today, following teammate Jessie DeZiel?
3. Lauren Hernandez (Monmouth) - On the National Team Training Squad, Strong BB & FX
4. Jessica Wang (Winners) - Qualified to Classics last year, strongest event is UB
5. Alexis Beucler (CGA) - "Poof", the newest one of MLT's prodigies, decent AA
6. Taylor Lawson (Parkettes) - Nice Lines, doesn't seem to be "chucking" like many Parkettes
7. Ashton Kim (Texas Dreams) - This poor girl has been injured too long. She's fab though.

Congrats Class of 2014! :D

Lots of college commits lately! I'd like to say congrats to all of the girls who have committed and take a closer look at the top 6 ranked teams!


1. Florida

Property of Kennedy Baker

Kennedy Baker - Texas Dreams
As 2 time US National Team Member and 2009 Jr. Bars Champ, Kennedy is possibly one of the most underrated gymnasts in the country. I'm interested to see a "Gator Chomp" in her floor routines, which have been notoriously unique.

Ericha Fassbender - Stars
Ericha was a member of the 2010 US National Team and competed at Top Gym there earning 4th place all around. Ericha has clean lines on bars and big skills on beam.

Grace McLaughlin - WOGA

Grace, who was Chellsie Memmel's replacement on the 2011 Pan American Games team and has had a decent Elite career overall. Like many of the other girls, she's had strong execution with not as strong difficulty. Her lines on bars are strong and has pretty skills on beam. 

2.Oklahoma
Stefani Catour  - Desert Lights
Stefani qualified to US Championships in 2010 and was named to the National Team Training squad in 2009. Stefani has very pretty floor and beam routines but struggles on bars, particularly in hitting handstands.


3. UCLA
If Miss Val's recruited any of these girls, she's keeping it well under wraps. I haven't been able to find anyone committed to UCLA for the 2013-2014 Season.

4. Alabama

Property of Ryan Schulz 

Mack Brannan - Capital 
The victim of Tim Dagget's unintentional creepiness, Mackenzie has phenomenal lines on bars and beautiful tumbling on floor. Although she's never had the most difficult routines her gorgeous gymnastics is likely to earn her college acclaim.

Kiana Winston - Texas Dreams
Kiana is the definition of a power gymnast, except her bars don't suck. She's got huge skills on beam and is solid on all four events. I can't wait to see her compete for Bama, where I feel like she fits well.

Aja-Monet Sims - Brandy Johnson
Aja-Monet Sims is one of those elites not a lot of people know about. She wasn't shown on TV at the 2012 Classics, but her bars totally stood out. That Wieler-Comaneci combo of her's is worth remembering.



5. Nebraska
Kamerin Moore - Geddert's Twistars 

Property of Kamerin Moore 

Many people remember Kami as the "girl with glasses" who competed alongside Jordyn Wieber in her junior years. That "little girl" now has contacts, has overcome a whole host of health issues, and is kicking ass in Level 10. She's fairly strong all around and will be a force to be reckoned with as long as her body doesn't rebel against her.

Grace Williams - Geddert's Twistars 
Grace, 2011 Nastia Liukin Cup Champion, 2012 Bronze Medalist and former Elite has a fabulous floor and beam set. She's looked like a college gymnast since she made it big on the gymnastics scene and could be a standout for Nebraska.

6. Georgia
Brianna Brown - Cincinnati Gymnastics

Property of CGA

Pretty, pretty, pretty gymnastics from this one. She's got pretty bars, a decent beam and a fun floor. Like Brannan, she's never had the most difficult routines, but she's got strong execution.

Chanen Raygoza - Wildfire Gymnastics 
She was one of the ninety-hundred-million Jr. Intl Elites from GymMax in 2009, she qualified to Nationals in 2010 and then decided to compete Level 10 in 2011. She's a pretty dancer and has All Around potential.

Uncommited Big Names

Gabrielle Douglas - Chow's 

Most likely, she hasn't gone pro, and in my opinion should head to UCLA stat.

Napualani Hall - KGDC 
Who as of September was looking into all of the top 6 schools with the exception of Georgia. I'm hoping to see her at Utah.

Brenna Dowell - GAGE 
I'd bet money that Al Fong is wanting this National Team Member to wait until after the Olympics to go on college visits. I could see her at Oklahoma with former teammate Rebecca Clark.

Elizabeth Price - Parkettes 
Fabulous on Bars, yet still super powerful. I could see her at Florida, UCLA or Bama. I have heard that she'd love to go to Stanford, though.

Lauren Marinez - Orlando Metro 
Lauren placed 4th on beam at last year's nationals and could end up at Georgia (with former gym mate Shayla Worley), or somewhere less prominent like Missouri, Michigan or even Denver.

(Can anyone confirm one way or another if Vega & Maroney are pro?)

12 New American Seniors for 2012

Kennedy Baker - Texas Dreams
Junior National Team Member
3rd on UB, 7th AA at 2011 Jr. Nationals
6th on BB at 2010 Jr. Nationals
2009 US Junior Bars Champion

Worth remembering for: Double Arabian Beam Dismount, Creative Floor Choreography and her strong bar set.


Mackenzie Brannan - Capital 
5th on VT, 8th on FX and 6th AA at 2011 Jr. Nationals
4th on UB at 2010 Jr. Nationals

Worth Remembering for: Her clean DTY, her strong all around performances and and her tight double front.



Ericha Fassbender - Stars
Former Jr. National Team Member
Jesolo & Top Gym Team Member
2011 Jr. Nationals Competitors
3rd on BB, 9th AA at 2010 Jr. Nationals

Worth Remembering for: Clean tumbling on floor, a beam routine with 10 acro elements most of which are clean.



Sarah Finnegan - GAGE
Jr. National Team Member
2010 Pan Ams Team Member
3rd on BB, 5th on UB, 3rd AA at 2011
2010 US Jr. Floor Champ and 4th BB & 6th AA

Worth Remembering for:  Stated Goal as "to win the AA gold medal at the 2012 Olympics", Turns so good I want to cry, very beautiful clean gymnastics.


Lauren Marinez - Orlando Metro 
4th BB at 2011 Jr. Nationals
2010 National Competitor
Worth Remembering for: Cool split jump beam mount and an aerial on beam to 1 foot (Nastia style, but w/ leg forward).





Dare Maxwell - Texas Dreams 
2011 Jr. Nationals Competitor
8th on UB at 2010 Jr. Nationals

Worth Remembering for: Unbelievable consistency (went 16 for 16 at Visas & American & US Classics), Pretty lines on bars.




Elizabeth Price - Parkettes 
Jr. National Team Member
Jesolo Team Member
4th on UB, 5th on VT at 2011 Jr. Nationals
5th on VT & UB at 2011 Jr. Nationals

Worth Remembering for: Her sky high Tkachev, beautiful leaps, a strong DTY.



Kyla Ross - Gym Max
Jr. National Team Member
Jesolo, Pan Am & Pacific Rim Team Member
2nd AA, 2nd on UB & BB, 3rd on VT & 6th on FX
2010 AA & BB Champion, 3rd on FX & VT
2009 AA & VT Champion, 5th on UB & FX

Worth Remembering for: World class skills on all 4 events, Amanar, mature performances, beautiful lines.


Mykayla Skinner - Desert Lights
Jr. National Team Member
2nd on VT & 10th AA at 2011 Jr. Nationals
8th on VT at 2010 Jr. Nationals

Worth Remembering for: Clean Amanar Vault and Double Double on Floor.




Kiana Winston - Texas Dreams
Jr. National Team Member
7th on BB, 8th AA at 2011 Jr. National Championships
2009 Jr. Nationals Competitor

Worth Remembering for: Beautiful beam set, Clean DTY, mature yet fun style.




Other girls born in 1996 include - Nichelle Christopherson, Abigail Milliet, Keely McNeer & Samantha Partyka.