Attention peasants! The US Classic is a mere 12 days away, and because everything is going super great, USAG used this definitely-not-down-to-the-wire opportunity to announce, “What up, turkey butts. Check it, we still have a number of sponsors. That number is one.”
Yes, everything is solved now because the CoverSecret US Classic will henceforth be known as the GK US Classic. GK released an official statement on the sponsorship agreement, saying, “Ugh, I mean I guess. We’re a leo company, so…”
In addition to revealing the new title sponsorship of the GK US RSTLNE Classic, USAG announced the list of competitors, a fairly hearty group, one that is overall Simone. With some Simone. I’m impressed by how Simone.
What’s more, Simone has suddenly decided to do the all-around instead of just bars and beam like she was originally planning because why not. Everyone else is like, “Can’t we just have ONE DAY?”
There are, however, four notable absences in the senior division this year: Maile O’Keefe, Marz Frazier, Trinity Thomas, and Gabby Perea, all of whom are already qualified to nationals and will still be able to compete the all-around there if they so choose. Thomas says she’s still planning to compete elite in 2018 but has also already started Florida-ing, so we’ll see. Ashton Locklear is injured and out for the year.
Seniors who have not already qualified to nationals will have to reach 52.000 all-around at this meet (or 39.750 on 3 events, or 27.000 on 2 events) to advance. Otherwise, they are cut loose at this point. Those who still need their qualifying scores are noted below.
| 2018 GK U.S. Classic – Seniors | |
| Shania Adams, Buckeye |
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| Stephanie Berger, Brestyan’s |
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| Simone Biles, WCC |
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| Sloane Blakely, WOGA |
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| Luisa Blanco, WOGA |
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| Jade Carey, Arizona Sunrays |
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| Jordan Chiles, Naydenov |
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| Audrey Davis, WOGA |
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| Olivia Dunne, ENA |
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| Kara Eaker, GAGE |
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| Jaylene Gilstrap, Metroplex |
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| Olivia Hollingsworth, WCC |
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| Morgan Hurd, First State |
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| Madeleine Johnston, Hill’s |
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| Shilese Jones, Future |
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| Adeline Kenlin, IGN |
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| Emily Lee, West Valley |
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| Isabel Mabanta, Denton |
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| Emma Malabuyo, Texas Dreams |
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| Grace McCallum, TCT |
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| Riley McCusker, MG Elite |
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| Alyona Shchennikova, 5280 |
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| Ragan Smith, Texas Dreams |
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| Deanne Soza, Texas Dreams |
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| Madelyn Williams, San Mateo |
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As for the juniors, all the national teamers are planning to compete at Classic, as well as all the juniors who have been invited to verifications at any point in 2018—except for Anya Pilgrim of Hill’s, who did not compete at American Classic either. Jay Jay Marshall also continues to be missing entirely.
The juniors are looking for 51.000 AA qualifying score. Those who have already qualified to nationals are noted below.
| 2018 GK U.S. Classic – Juniors | |
| Ciena Alipio, West Valley | 51.300 at American Classic **Qualified to nationals |
| Sydney Barros, Texas Dreams | 53.550 at April verification **Qualified to nationals |
| Annie Beard, Texas Dreams | 53.100 at 2017 Championships |
| Love Birt, First State | 50.600 at 2017 Championships |
| Skye Blakely, WOGA | 53.400 at American Classic Qualified to nationals |
| Jordan Bowers, Solid Rock | 54.750 at Junior Pan Ams **Qualified to nationals |
| Sophia Butler, Discover | 53.400 at WOGA Classic |
| Kailin Chio, Gymcats | 52.850 at Desert Lights qualifier |
| Claire Dean, HOH | 51.350 at Auburn qualifier |
| Kayla DiCello, Hill’s | 55.400 at American Classic **Qualified to nationals |
| Amari Drayton, Olympia Hills | 51.100 at Auburn qualifier |
| Addison Fatta, Prestige | 50.500 at 2017 Championships |
| Aleah Finnegan, GAGE | 53.300 at Brestyan’s qualifier **Qualified to nationals |
| Delaney Fisher, Georgia Elite | 50.750 at KPAC qualifier |
| eMjae Frazier, Parkettes | 50.800 at Auburn qualifier |
| Gabbie Gallentine, Everest | 51.900 at Buckeye qualifier |
| Elizabeth Gantner, JPAC | 51.500 at Auburn qualifier |
| Karis German, WCC | 52.500 at Orlando qualifier **Qualified to nationals |
| Trista Goodman, Salcianu | 51.550 at KPAC qualifier |
| Zoe Gravier, MG Elite | 51.000 at American Classic **Qualified to nationals |
| Olivia Greaves, MG Elite | 53.800 at Brestyan’s qualifier **Qualified to nationals |
| Hannah Hagle, Texas East | 50.600 at 2017 Championships |
| Maeve Hahn, FIF | 50.750 at KPAC qualifier |
| Selena Harris, Gymcats | 50.600 at American Classic |
| Alexis Jeffrey, GAGE | 51.250 at Auburn qualifier |
| Kaytlyn Johnson, Denton | 51.250 at Orlando qualifier |
| Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Paramount | 52.300 at WOGA Classic **Qualified to nationals |
| Alonna Kratzer, Top Notch | 51.700 at Desert Lights qualifier |
| Sunisa Lee, Midwest | 56.000 at KPAC qualifier **Qualified to nationals |
| Lillian Lewis, San Mateo | 51.050 at Auburn qualifier |
| Kaliya Lincoln, Airborne | 52.550 at WOGA Classic |
| Lilly Lippeatt, CGA | 52.050 at April verification **Qualified to nationals |
| Lauren Little, Everest | 52.650 at Buckeye qualifier |
| Mallory Marcheli, Stars | 50.550 at Brestyan’s qualifier |
| Konnor McClain, Revolution | 53.950 at American Classic **Qualified to nationals |
| Sydney Morris, First State | 51.900 at American Classic **Qualified to nationals |
| Brenna Neault, Precision | 54.200 at Brestyan’s qualifier |
| Lauren Pearl, Brestyan’s | 51.950 at Brestyan’s qualifier |
| Katelyn Rosen, Mavericks | 50.750 at WOGA Classic |
| Lyden Saltness, Midwest | 51.250 at Auburn qualifier |
| Abigain Scanlon, Capital | 50.050 at Brestyan’s qualifier |
| JaFree Scott, GAGE | 53.000 at April verification **Qualified to nationals |
| Ava Siegfeldt, World Class | 50.500 at Orlando qualifier |
| Victoria Smirnov, Shooting Stars | 51.600 at 2017 Championships |
| Ui Soma, San Mateo | 53.700 at Auburn qualifier **Qualified to nationals |
| Calvary Swaney, FIF | 50.650 at Buckeye qualifier |
| Tori Tatum, TCT | 52.600 at Junior Pan Ams **Qualified to nationals |
| Leanne Wong, GAGE | 55.700 at Auburn qualifier **Qualified to nationals |
Great execution of a Wheel reference. It’s classified as an ‘E’ element in my BLOG CoP
Jay Jay’s stats may be unknown but I’m excited that her fan fb account still has her visiting with the Denver coaches!!
I’m confused….if a junior needs a 51.00 AA to qualify to Nationals and for example, Lyden Saltess got a 51.250 at the ” Auburn qualifier”, why isn’t she ( and similarly scoring kids like lauren Pearl, Lauren little with 51+ at qualifiers) qualified?
Does the score need to be achieved at verification camps or American Classic? What is the purpose of the other qualifiers?
The Auburn qualifier, as well as the others, was to qualify for elite, not to nationals. Yes, only meets that USAG sends athletes to or verification camps can count, I believe (which is why Emma Malabuyo isn’t qualified yet– USAG didn’t send the gymnasts there, they just went with their clubs, so it doesn’t count, which is some bureaucratic nonsense.)
Ah yes, now I remember….thanks
Isn’t Emma Malabuyo qualified from the Japan meet? The qual chart states “fall 2017 or Spring 2018 national team assignments”.
She was a junior last year. She’s turned senior this year.
Why isn’t Adeline competing AA?
She only qualified on UB/BB.
I assume that she is injured, which is why she is not doing the AA at US Classic
I wonder if she’s going to try to petition to do AA at nationals or just stick with UB/BB to be safe?
55.70 for Leanne Wong?!!
Sounds like a good person to watch!
Scores were a bit higher than usual at the Auburn qualifier.
Wong had 14.500 on VT- which is a legit score for her. 14.000 on UB and BB, both a bit high, and 13.200 on FX -legit.
Scores were higher on BB than we have seen so I wouldn’t take them with a grain of salt.
Either way, Leanne Wong is def. one of the front runners for the JR AA title. She will have a tough fight against Sunisa Lee and Jordan Bowers.
Aleah Finnegan, Olivia Greaves, and Kayla DiCello are also possibilities for podium.
The issue with the 2- and 3-event qualifying scores is that the scores on each event differ so much. A 13.5 on vault and a 13.5 on beam are two different things – NCAA vault vs. World Championship medal winner…
There should be a qualifying score placed on each event with the 2- and 3-event qualifying scores being the sum of those 3 scores. I’d propose scores of around 14.0 on vault, 13.6 on bars, 12.8 on beam, and 13.2 on floor. Gymnasts can still score below the individual qualifying scores as long as the 2 or 3-event totals exceed the sum of the chosen events.
I’d support that!
Good point!
Just tell USAG it would be empowering for beam-floor specialists 😛
What would happen if someone had a two-event qualifying score at American Classic (e.g. VT and UB), and then another two-event qualifying score at U.S. Classic for the other two events (e.g. BB, FX)? Would they still be able to compete All-Around, or are they stuck doing one of the two sets of qualifying events?