Our second round of ratings was released a couple weeks ago with 19 5-star gymnasts in the class of 22 and 13 in the class of 23, as well as 231 total rated gymnasts. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, head on over to the landing page for a look.
However, because our rating system was based on scores and video review for all four events, gymnasts with only one standout apparatus were often rated lower overall. Of course, teams that are weaker on one event or those that are looking to fill a hole will turn to event specialists to solidify those lineups. Recruits who excel on a single event may not have ratings that reflect how valuable they can be to their teams, so we wanted to highlight them here.
Let’s take a look at underrated bar workers in the class of 2023.
Chloe LaCoursiere
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 10.0 (2021); 9.900 (2020)
LaCoursiere is one of the best bar workers in the country. Her form is stunning even on the most difficult skills, and unsurprisingly her superior lines awarded her both a perfect 10.0 and a national title this year. She received a perfect 25 in our rating, an accomplishment that only Sunisa Lee has achieved so far—that says it all!
Read more about LaCoursiere.
Reese Samuelson
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: Not Rated
Bars high scores: 9.950 (2021); 9.650 (2020)
Samuelson is another gymnast with excellent lines on bars. Her Maloney to Pak salto combination and her double layout dismount are beautifully floaty.
Read more about Samuelson.
Cecily Rizo
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.775 (2021); 9.400 (2020)
Rizo’s piked Jaeger, bail handstand and blind full to double tuck routine just lacks a teeny tiny bit of polish to be perfect, but she will get there in the next two years.
Read more about Rizo.
Delaney Fisher
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.650 (2021); 9.650 (2020)
Fisher’s piked Jaeger, Pak salto and double layout dismount routine is not deduction-free, but she has two more years of club gymnastics to polish her skills.
Read more about Fisher.
Katie Harper
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.750 (2021); 9.700 (2020)
Harper performs a blind full to bail handstand, another blind full and a double layout dismount. Her lines are very good, but she will need to add a release move to start from a 10.0 in college.
Read more about Harper.
Lauren Harkins
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.800 (2021); 9.800 (2020)
The national champion competes a difficult routine: Maloney to Pak salto, Van Leuween and full-in dismount. She has some form issues on the most difficult skills, but she will certainly improve in the next couple of years. Her swing is beautiful.
Read more about Harkins.
Sydney Jelen
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.875 (2021); 9.325 (2020)
Jelen’s Maloney to Pak salto has minor leg separations and her double layout a slight pike, but this is another routine that will only get better and will score well in college.
Read more about Jelen.
Taylor DeVries
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: Not Rated
Bars high scores: 9.575 (2021); 8.600 (2020)
DeVries’ Maloney to Pak and double layout dismount is a popular combination, but she manages to stand out thanks to her good form, which can only improve to reach near-perfection in the next two years.
Read more about DeVries.
Kendall Abney
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: N/A (2021); 9.750 (2020)
Abney performs a very dynamic Maloney to Pak and Van Leuween. Her blind full to double tuck dismount is fine.
Read more about Abney.
Whitney Bjerken
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 8.900 (2021); 0.000 (2020)
Bjerken has been nursing some elbow injuries for the past couple of years and hasn’t competed bars much, but we decided to include her here because when she’s healthy, her bar routine can be excellent. She scored a 9.800 in 2019 thanks to her beautiful straddled Jaeger, Pak salto and double front dismount.
Read more about Bjerken.
Paige Zancan
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.650 (2021); 9.775 (2020)
Zancan’s Maloney to bail is a bit messy and needs an upgrade to be competitive in college, but she has two more years of club gymnastics to perfect it.
Read more about Zancan.
Victoria Smirnov
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.750 (2021); 8.150 (2020)
Smirnov has struggled with bars a lot in the past, but this year she seemed to swing much more confidently. Her handstands and Higgins turn are especially impressive.
Read more about Smirnov.
Destiny Denning
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.775 (2021); 9.650 (2020)
Denning’s yet another with a Maloney to bail handstand and double layout dismount, and has minor issues on both the skills and the handstands. But it can only get better.
Read more about Denning.
Maddison Reidenbach
College: Uncommitted
CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bars high scores: 9.600 (2021); 9.450 (2020)
Reidenbach’s straddled Jaeger, bail to handstand and double layout dismount routine has very minor form issues, but would already score well in college.
Read more about Reidenbach.
READ THIS NEXT: Underrated Recruits in the Class of 2023 That Excel on Vault
Article by Talitha Ilacqua
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