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.
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
- 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.
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.
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
Scores: VT: 9.725 | UB: 9.800 | BB: 9.100 | FX: 9.625 | AA: 38.250
- 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.
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
Scores: VT: 9.825 | UB: 9.950 | BB: 9.475 | FX: 9.875 | AA: 39.125
- 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.
Scores: VT: 9.900 | UB: 9.850 | BB: 9.850 | FX: 9.600 | AA: 39.200
- 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
- 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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