Nastia Liukin Cup Series: Week 5

This year’s Nastia Liukin Cup Series will be comprised of 12 meets, each of which will qualify one senior gymnast (aged 16 or older) and one junior (15 or younger) to the 12th Nastia Liukin Cup in Indianapolis on Feb. 26.

This week’s series included four meets: the Brestyan’s Las Vegas Invitational, the Charity Choice Invitational, the Excalibur Cup, the Metroplex Challenge and the Presidential Classic.

Last week’s qualifiers were Amari Celestine, Chloe LaCoursiere, Madelyn Williams, Jocelyn Moore, Hannah Loyim, Sloane Blakely, Leah Smith and Moorea Linker (seniors) and Lillian Jennejohn, Mackenzie Estep, Carmela Keuneke, Ruth Whaley, Azaraya Ra-Akbar, Alicia Zhou, Baylie Belman and Danielle Ferris (juniors).

Brestyan’s LV Invitational

Winner (senior division): Amari Celestine (38.825) and Chloe LaCoursiere (38.800)

Winner (junior division): Lillian Jennejohn (38.275) and Mackenzie Estep (38.250)

Missouri signee Amari Celestine became CGN’s first 5-star recruit to qualify to the NLC, followed by Chloe LaCoursiere, who impressed with a perfect 10.0 on bars. Lillian Jennejohn notched the first junior spot despite struggling on bars, thanks to strong performances on vault and floor. Mackenzie Estep was close behind to become the second junior qualifier.

Amari Celestine

Scores: VT: 9.825 | UB: 9.650 | BB: 9.575 | FX: 9.775 | AA: 38.825

  • Club: SCEGA
  • College: Missouri
  • High School Graduation Year: 2021
  • CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Notable Results: 2019 L10 vault national champion (junior E)
  • Previous NLC Appearances: 2018 (junior, 9th)

Chloe LaCoursiere

Scores: VT: 9.575 | UB: 10.0 | BB: 9.875 | FX: 9.350 | AA: 38.800

  • Club: Coastal
  • High School Graduation Year: 2023
  • Notable Results: 2019 SoCal L9 all around champion 
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Lillian Jennejohn

Scores: VT: 9.700 | UB: 9.150 | BB: 9.650 | FX: 9.775 | AA: 38.275

  • Club: All American Utah
  • High School Graduation Year: 2025
  • Notable Results: 2021 Fiesta Bowl Invitational all around champion 
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Mackenzie Estep

Scores: VT: 9.650 | UB: 9.600 | BB: 9.500 | FX: 9.500 | AA: 38.250

Videos: VT | UB | BB | FX

  • Club: Ascend
  • High School Graduation Year: 2025
  • Notable Results: 2019 Washington state and Region 2 all around champion
  • Previous NLC Appearances: 2019 (junior, 15th)

Charity Choice Invitational

Winner (senior division): Madelyn Williams (38.125)

Winner (junior division): Carmela Keuneke (37.125)

Although this meet was not as competitive as others, the competition remained fierce. California signee Madelyn Williams was the senior qualifier, impressing with a 9.775 on bars, while Carmela Keuneke was the junior qualifier despite struggling on bars and beam.

Madelyn Williams

Scores: VT: 9.475 | UB: 9.775 | BB: 9.575 | FX: 9.300 | AA: 38.125

  • Club: Dream Xtreme
  • College: California
  • High School Graduation Year: 2021
  • CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Notable Results: 2019 L10 national all around champion (senior A)
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Carmela Keuneke

Scores: VT: 9.500 | UB: 9.100 | BB: 8.850 | FX: 9.675 | AA: 37.125

  • Club: Active
  • High School Graduation Year: 2024
  • Notable Results: 2019 Region 3 all around silver medalist
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Excalibur Cup

Winners (senior division): Jocelyn Moore (38.300) and Hannah Loyim (38.250)

Winners (junior division): Ruth Whaley (37.175) and Azaraya Ra-Akbar (37.125)

Jocelyn Moore became the second Missouri commit of the weekend to qualify to the NLC, followed by Iowa State signee Hannah Loyim, who looked shocked when she was announced as one of the qualifiers. Both gymnasts scored a 9.800 on one apparatus but struggled on beam. In a field weaker than others, Ruth Whaley and Azaraya Ra-Akbar became the junior qualifiers, putting up a fight despite some low scores.

Jocelyn Moore

Scores: VT: 9.800 | UB: 9.675 | BB: 9.150 | FX: 9.675 | AA: 38.300

  • Club: Arena
  • College: Missouri
  • High School Graduation Year: 2021
  • CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Notable Results: 2019 Region 7 vault champion and L10 national vault co-bronze medalist (junior E)
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Hannah Loyim

Scores: VT: 9.725 | UB: 9.800 | BB: 9.100 | FX: 9.625 | AA: 38.250

Videos: VT | UB | BB | FX 

  • Club: North Stars
  • College: Iowa State
  • High School Graduation Year: 2021
  • CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Notable Results: 2019 Region 7 vault co-silver medalist
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Ruth Whaley

Scores: VT: 9.275 | UB: 9.575 | BB: 9.000 | FX: 9.325 | AA: 37.175

  • Club: Win-Win
  • High School Graduation Year: 2025
  • Notable Results: 2021 World Class Invitational all around champion
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Azaraya Ra-Akbar

Scores: VT: 9.350 | UB: 8.975 | BB: 9.050 | FX: 9.750 | AA: 37.125

  • Club: World Class
  • High School Graduation Year: 2025
  • Notable Results: 2019 Maryland state all around silver medalist
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Metroplex Challenge

Winners (senior division): Sloane Blakely (39.275) and Leah Smith (39.125)

Winner (junior division): Alicia Zhou (38.600) and Baylie Belman (38.375)

In a high-calibre meet, both senior qualifiers scored over 39 points. Florida signee Sloane Blakely topped the leaderboard, scoring 9.900s on both vault and bars. Washington signee Leah Smith posted a big 9.950 on bars, a career high, and a 9.875 on floor. Among the junior ranks, Alicia Zhou, who also qualified elite last year, posted a big 38.600, a higher score than some of the NLC senior qualifiers, to notch her qualification spot, followed by Baylie Belman, who posted a big 9.800 on floor. Kamila Pawlak, who qualified to the NLC last week, posted the highest score among the juniors, a 38.700.

Sloane Blakely

Scores: VT: 9.900 | UB: 9.900 | BB: 9.750 | FX: 9.725 | AA: 39.275

  • Club: WOGA
  • College: Florida
  • High School Graduation Year: 2021
  • CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Notable Results: 2019 American Classic balance beam champion
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Leah Smith

Scores: VT: 9.825 | UB: 9.950 | BB: 9.475 | FX: 9.875 | AA: 39.125

Videos: VT | UB | BB | FX 

  • Club: WCC
  • College: Washington
  • High School Graduation Year: 2021
  • CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Notable Results: 2019 Texas state and Region 3 all around champion
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Alicia Zhou

Scores: VT: 9.700 | UB: 9.750 | BB: 9.500 | FX: 9.650 | AA: 38.600

  • Club: Love Gymnastics
  • High School Graduation Year: 2025
  • Notable Results: 2020 elite qualifier
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Baylie Belman

Scores: VT: 9.625 | UB: 9.325 | BB: 9.625 | FX: 9.800 | AA: 38.375

Videos: VT | UB | BB | FX

  • Club: Metroplex
  • High School Graduation Year: 2025
  • Notable Results: 2021 Kim Zmeskal Texas Prime Meet all around champion
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Presidential Classic

Winner (senior division): Moorea Linker (39.200) 

Winner (junior division): Danielle Ferris (37.850)

Oklahoma signee Moorea Linker also notched her senior qualification spot scoring over 39 points, with a difficult program that includes a Yurchenko 1.5 on vault and a full-in on floor. It was third time’s the charm for junior Danielle Ferris, who notched her qualification after trying two other times earlier this year.

Moorea Linker

Scores: VT: 9.900 | UB: 9.850 | BB: 9.850 | FX: 9.600 | AA: 39.200

Videos: VT | UB | BB | FX 

  • Club: La Fleur’s
  • College: Oklahoma
  • High School Graduation Year: 2021
  • CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Notable Results: 2019 L10 vault and floor national champion (senior A)
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

Danielle Ferris

Scores: VT: 9.625 | UB: 9.200 | BB: 9.600 | FX: 9.425 | AA: 37.850

Videos: VT | UB | BB | FX

  • Club: Florida Elite
  • High School Graduation Year: 2024
  • Notable Results: 2021 Daytona Beach Open all around champion
  • Previous NLC Appearances: N/A

READ THIS NEXT: Nastia Liukin Cup Series: Week 4


Article by Talitha Ilacqua

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