Kyla Ross tweeted earlier today that she'd be returning to the ranch this weekend as well. This certainly seems like a good sign for her 2013 prospects. It's my understanding that the other 4 Olympians will remain on tour.
Nia Dennis, who has a "very close" Amanar will be attending as well. The '99 born gymnast was injured this summer but is working on some pretty impressive skills. Although I do not have confirmation on if Rebecca Bross will be attending camp, The Couch Gymnast reported that she may be competing at the Mexican Gymnastics Gala in November. My
guess is, if she will be competing then, she'll attend this camp as well.
Here's a list of who is going. This is not yet complete and will be updated as I receive more information:
The October camp may serve as an opportunity to add gymnasts onto the National Team, although additional members may not be added until January. I will keep you updated with any information that I can find.
So I told everyone a while back that I'd be analyzing specific routined from Nationals. I've kinda been dragging my feet on this one, but here are my 3 favorite and least favorite Vaults...
FAVORITES
1. McKayla Maroney's Mustafina (Day 1)
(Starts at 1:20)
Score: 15.7 (6.1 D, 9.6 E)
Place: 1st After Day 1
What I loved: Her form in the air is phenomenal. She lands it beautifully and has an amazing block.
What I didn't: She has a tiny hop, so I guess that can be improved upon.
2. Simone Biles Amanar (Day 2)
Score: 16.0 (6.5 D, 9.5 E) Place: 1st What I loved: She gets phenomenal height and only takes a tiny hop. What I didn't: Her feet are kinda funky in the air. It could be cleaner.
3. Jordyn Wieber's Amanar (Day 2)
Score: 15.9 (6.5 D, 9.4 E)
Place: 2nd of all Sr Vault Scores
What I loved: Travels far with it and twists sufficiently.
What I didn't: Leg separation on block, step forward.
LEAST FAVORITES
1. Ohashi's Double (Day 2)
Score: 13.8 (5.8 D, 8.0 E)
Place: 11th after 2 days
What I loved: Her feet look nice in the air and she manages to somehow stand it up.
What I didn't: This vault is IDENTICAL to Rebecca Bross's in 2011 that blew out her knee. After Katelyn missed this vault in training, she did it on day 2 terribly.
2. Merideth's Sylvia's FTY (Day 1)
Score: 11.8 (5.0 D, 6.8 E)
Place: 23rd
What I loved: Again, she's got nice toes.
What I didn't: She has this GIANT pike that she's doing (and she did on Day 2 as well) and obviously, how underrotated she seems is terrible and dangerous.
3. Jordyn Wieber's Amanar (Day 1)
Score: 15.65(6.5 D, 9.15 E)
Place: 3rd
What I loved: Good form until landing
What I didn't: SCARRRRYYYYY KNEEEES!!!! AGHGHGHGHHHH!!!!
Did you hear that? That's the sound of me getting super excited about the legitimate US elite season starting up. I try to pretend that I know what I'm talking about when it comes to NCAA and Minor International competitions, but domestic meets are really my forte.
The American Classic will be held at the Ranch on May 5th at 10:30 AM. It's a super tiny version of the US Classics which serves as a qualifier to the US National Championships. A National Qualifier will be held today and tomorrow during which new elites may qualify to this meet.
So onto the important part: The Gymnasts. The Junior Field consists of 13 gymnasts who range from former National Team members to brand new elites. (Hopefully Aloyna, Polina Shchennikova's baby sister will be added to the lineup!)
Property of Greg Long
Highlighting the field are fan favorite Polina Shchennikova, with Nastia-eque lines and Simone Biles who reportedly definitely has an Amanar. Texas Dreams is sending juniors Peyton Ernst, Ariana Guerra and Macy Toronjo all of whom have a delightful presence when performing. Watch for Peyton's strong beam routine and Macy's style and pizzazz on floor. Ariana, who is the only former national team member in this division, won Vault and an All Around Silver Medal at the 2010 Top Gym competition.
Most of the competitors are girls who qualified to Classics last year but missed out on making Championships. Ashley Foss (North Stars), Nicole Lehrmann (Capital), Shannon McNatt (Stars), and Meredith Sylvia (Parkettes) fall into this category. Poor Ashley, who's actually a fairly strong gymnast, was outshone by her god awful leo last year, which most people connect her name with. Meredith, who you might have seen at the Nastia Liukin Cup this year, has four solid routines, when she hits. She earned a 14.8 at this year's WOGA Classic Elite Qualifier.
Amanda Huang who competed at the 2011 US Classics will also be competing this weekend, but you can learn more about her in tomorrow's "Fresh Face".
And then we'll talk about the newcomers.
Property of USAG
Lacy Dagen (Pictured Left) is a 1997 baby who competes for San Mateo Gymnastics. She's the Level 10 Region 1 Champ on Vault. She also won Westerns a few years back. She planned to compete at the American Classic last season, but scratched for an unknown reason. She did land herself on the National Team Training Squad though, so the National Team Staff must see potential in her.
Taylor Krippner competes for Cypress (home of Jonathan Horton & Caitlyn Atkinson) and most recently competed at the Region 3 Level 10 Championships where she placed 3rd on Beam. While she has some impressive skills, frankly, she just looks exhausted in every video I've seen of her. I wish her the best, and hope she does well this weekend!
Prop. of Skaggs Family
Megan Skaggs (Pictured Right) was a standout at last year's US Challenge on when she won beam in her division. She'll turn 13 this Monday, and competes for Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta. She attended the most recent development camp where she scored a 52.1 AA according to her website. She's the reigning Level 10 Georgia AA State champ on Vault and Floor. I was particularly impressed with her floor exercise where she seems to be getting close to sticking every pass and has one of the most gorgeous double turns I've seen in a long time in gymnastics.
All in all, expect to see most of these girls later in the season, perhaps a few will even make the national team. Tune in later today to see the Senior Preview!
After Polina Shchennikova posted a picture of everyone, including Rebecca at Camp, it appears that Marta has asked for things to be kept quiet regarding "big names".
(Was on Polina Shchennikova's FB)
This was a working camp. Girls verified individual skills and combinations and continued to work out. There were not winners of these verifications.
I will tell you, of all of the people who I've talked to, I've asked, "How are Becca & Nastia?" The consistent answer has been "working hard". I'm sorry guys, that's all I know. I've been trying I promise.
Here are updates on girls, as I receive them, in alphabetical order:
Simone Bilesis training an Amanar into a pit. It doesn't seem too far off.
Rebecca Bross has a knee brace on, but is working bars and doing a ton of conditioning.
Brianna Brownof CGA won the Physical Abilities Testing.
Nia Dennisis training a Double Twisting Yurchenko.
Ericha Fassbender was invited to camp but did not attend due to an injury just before camp.
Bailie Keyhas added a standing arabian on beam, and is training a Double Twisting Yurchenko. She's also training a BHS-BHS-LO, Shawn Johnson Style. (To 2 feet).
Lizzy LeDucis still recovering from elbow injuries that she sustained before moving to Zenith.
Nastia Liukin is "working out like crazy", verified skills on bars and is working beam and floor. She's been added to the National Team.
Katelyn Ohashi has the same bar set plus some new 1 hand pirouette work, like Onos.
Kyla Ross has no major upgrades on beam or floor yet. She's still got the Amanar, which looks good, and I'm not sure how her bars look.
Polina Shchennikovais training a BHS-BHS-5/2 beam dismount. She's also working a BEAUTIFUL L-Grip Endo to Jaeger! She has a minor knee issue, but nothing too serious.
McKenzie Woffordis reportedly training a tkatchev half into jaeger & a double double into pit on bars. HOLY UPGRADES!
All of the Texas Dreams girls look lovely on Bars and Beam.
Currently, I haven't heard about any girls going to Top Gym (begins 11/25).
Please don't ask "How is so-and-so?" You know everything that I know currently, and I will let you know more as soon as I find things out. More info will be coming later today.
It's expected that Top Gym
Assignments will be given, along with another possible December competition.It's also possible that the Olympic Test Event team will be chosen at this camp, because as Jennifer stated in the comments, Nominative entries are due December 7th.
Here is the full list of camp attendees:
Kennedy Baker
Simone Biles
(Property of Gym Examiner)
Rebecca Bross Brianna Brown
Nichelle Christopherson
Bridget Dean Nia Dennis
Maddie Desch Brenna Dowell
Peyton Ernst Sarah Finnegan Amelia Hundley Brandie Jay
Elizabeth Price Lexie Priessman Kyla Ross Polina Shchennikova Mykayla Skinner
Kiana Winston
McKenzie Wofford
This list is based on conversations I've had with gymnasts/coaches & posts on twitter and other sites by gymnasts/coaches.
My guess is that it will be Junior
National Team, Some Seniors and some extra
invites.
The biggest shocks to everyone have been Amanda Jetter, who had pretty major surgery to repair her foot after complications with her Jesolo injury in Early September and Lizzy LeDuc, who was rumored to have dropped down to Level 10 after her move to Zenith.
