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.
Quick Facts: Name- Veronica "Nica" Hults D.O.B. - June 16, 1998 (Senior in 2014) Gym - Texas Dreams Gymnastics Former Gym- AOGC High School Class of - 2016
Nica Hults started grabbing the attention of gymnastics fans way back in 2007, when mom Emer began posting videos of her compulsory routines. In a TOPS Testing Video, we witnessed Nica receive perfect scores on 6/7 events that perfection is attainable and nearly reach the national best on the 20 meter sprint. Thus, I highly doubt anyone was surprised when she made the Tops A Team. After Nica won the Level 9 Regionals and the Westerns Floor title in 2010, a job opportunity moved the family to Allen, TX where she joined the Texas Dreams "Dream Team".
In 2011, Nica's elite career began to take off. After winning beam at the WOGA & Orlando qualifiers, Nica prepared for the US Classics and hoped to make it to the Visa Championships. Nica went out and surprised the world by winning beamwith a score of 15.05, only a tenth and a half behind reigning World Champion Jordyn Wieber at that same competition!
(Property of Jessica Frankl)
Unfortunately, a minor injury prohibited Hults from competing All Around at Championships. While she didn't have a "big break" at championships this year, she did finish 5th on beam with a significantly watered down routine.
This girl is one to watch. Not only does she have fantastic style and grace, but she's also an incredibly sweet and well spoken individual. Marta's taken notice too, as Nica was at last week's Developmental Training Camp. Keep your eyes open for Nica next season and for many seasons to come.
Here's a fun little Q&A with Nica:
What is your favorite competition you've competed in? "2011 US Covergirl Classic. It was my first podium meet and I won 1st place on beam!"
What do you think your biggest weakness as a gymnast is? "My biggest weakness is vault, it always has been. But I'm working on it so that all my events will be strong. "
What are your ultimate goals in gymnastics?
"To take it as far as I can, hopefully that means making it to the Olympics."
Do you think you'll compete in college?
"Education is very important to our family. Yes, I hope to compete in college."
(Property of USA Gymnastics)
Who is a gymnast who you really look up to?
"Nastia Liukin. But I [also] have to say Kim Zmeskal-Burdette, she's the one making a big difference in my gymnastics career by coaching me and helping me to be mentally strong. She's awesome!"
Can you tell us about a funny/ embarrassing moment you’ve had?
"During my very first competition ever, as a level 5, I jumped off the beam in the middle of my routine when the timer yelled out warning because I thought I wasn't allowed to finish my beam. My coach told me to go back up on the beam and I went through the rest of my routine crying. After that disaster, I competed floor and won first place!"
Some comments on the McKayla Maroney Post, as well as on my Twitter prompted me to write this post about the National Team Warmup.
Many elite coaches swear on this. AOGC uses it (as McKayla told us), Texas Dreams does it on their Two-a-days, and John Geddert has said he uses it often as well. I'd suspect that more elite coaches use it than don't.
Gymnastike has a great video from Region 3 Camp about the Warmup:
After years of not being able to find a complete video of the National Team Warmup for years Beechurst10 came to the rescue! Here is a video of a modified warmup from 2007 TOPs A Camp. Below the video is a list of the exercises. It does not perfectly follow along with the video so don't expect it to. I'm not sure is this is modified for TOPs, if the warmup has changed since 2007 or both. Many of the exercises are in the video though.
Nica Hults and Nicki Shapiro (Sami's little sister who's going to be the best college gymnast EVER) are in this video (both in White), Polina Shchennikova is in Pink, and Bridget Dean is in Gold. Let me know if you find any other recognizable faces.
The owner of the video won't allow anyone to embed her video, but you can see a video of the warmup here.
Preparation Jump Rope (optional) Variation of jumping 5 minutes Walking Around Mat Head and wrist rolls 8-16 counts Shoulder circles w/bent arms 8-16 counts Arm swings Up, Down, Cross, Side 4 times each Trunk twists arms in opposition 8-16 counts Toe/Foot Stretches Ball of foot lifts R begins then switch, quick 8 times Top of toe lifts R begins then switch, quick 8 times Repeat 2 steps rebound, R begins 4 times Cardio Running Forward runs 3-5 passes Backward runs 1 pass Knee Lifts 1 pass Butt kicks 1 pass Prance, toes point, legs straight in front 1 pass Power skips using big arm swing 1-3 passes WalksHigh toe 8-16 counts Heel 8-16 counts
Splits Turn to R, R leg in front, stride stand, chest to knees 8 counts Deep lunge, toes pointing forward, back leg straight 8 counts Wider stride stand, R foot flexed 8 counts Deep lunge, toes pointing forward, back leg straight 8 counts L knee on floor, pull L foot to hip (Hamstring stretch) 8 counts Slide into R split, square off 8 counts Lift L leg, hold it with R hand 8 counts Release, L leg joins R in pike sit, turn over to knees Repeat lifting L leg to stride position From knee sit, step on L foot in lunge Move to R side lunge, L,R,L slide into side split 8 counts Wrist warm-up, top of hands, palms of hands - while in split Pull legs together and bridge, push thru shoulders 2-4 counts Tuck and roll 2 times Repeat
Conditioning On last roll, roll all the way up to: Straight jump, Tuck jumps (alternating) 5 each Roll back to back, crunches 25 Alternating V-ups 10 each Roll to R side for Arch ups 10 Repeat to L 10 Roll to tummy, Push-ups 15 Slide legs in to pike press, rebounds 5 each Kicks In lines, step R, kick L front, step L, kick R side, step R, kick L back, turn Repeat down the mat alternating legs Bend over kicks, touch floor with hands, kick R back straight then bend Repeat to L Report to personal coaches for additional warm-up and conditioning as time allows.
.jpg)
