This year’s Nastia Liukin Cup Series will be comprised of 20 meets, each of which will qualify one senior gymnast (aged 16 or older) and one junior (15 or younger) to the 13th Nastia Liukin Cup in Frisco, Texas, on Feb. 27.
This week’s series included two meets: the California Grand Invitational and the Brestyan’s Invitational.
California Grand Invitational
Winner (senior division): Selena Harris
Winner (junior division): Jayla Hang
UCLA signee Selena Harris, an level 10 national all around champion last season, started off her senior campaign in style, with a solid performance on all four pieces and a 9.900 on vault for her Yurchenko 1.5. Jayla Hang, in the class of 2026, struggled on beam but had an excellent performance on the other three events—an impressive result for a gymnast who began competing as a level 10 only last year. Her Ricna on bars is spectacular.
Avery Neff, in the class of 2024, missed out on qualifying to the Cup despite tying with Harris with a 38.975. She vaulted a big Yurchenko 1.5 and performed both a Gienger and a Tkatchev on bars.
Oklahoma commit Faith Torrez, who’s coming back strong from an Achilles tear, was second in the senior category behind Harris and scored a big 9.800 on floor. Alabama commit Chloe Lacoursiere scored a 9.950 on bars.
Selena Harris
Scores: VT: 9.900 | UB: 9.725 | BB: 9.700 | FX: 9.650 | AA: 38.975
- Club: Gymcats
- College: UCLA
- High School Graduation Year: 2022
- CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Notable Results: 2021 L10 national champion in the all-around, on bars and on beam
- Previous NLC Appearances: 2020 (senior, 8th place)
Jayla Hang
VT: 9.800 | UB: 9.650 | BB: 8.725 | FX: 9.600 | AA: 37.775
Videos: VT | UB | BB | FX
- Club: Ascend
- High School Graduation Year: 2026
- Notable Results: 12th at the 2021 HOPES American Classic and 2nd in the all around at the 2021 Region 2 regionals
- Previous NLC Appearances: N/A
Brestyan’s Invitational
Winner (senior division): Jamison Sears
Winner (junior division): Carly Weinberg
Senior Jamison Sears, an Alabama commit in the class of 2023, and junior Carly Weinberg, who both competed elite last season, notched their qualification to the Cup with two consistent performances. Both of their highest scores came on floor.
Georgia commit Jaydah Battle posted the highest score of the competition—a 9.800 on floor.
Jamison Sears
Scores: VT: 9.575 | UB: 9.650 | BB: 9.700 | FX: 9.725 | AA: 38.650
- Club: World Class
- College: Alabama
- High School Graduation Year: 2023
- CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Notable Results: 2019 L10 national champion on beam and floor; 2021 GK U.S. Classic competitor
- Previous NLC Appearances: 2019 (junior, 4th)
Carly Weinberg
VT: 9.350 | UB: 9.350 | BB: 9.300 | FX: 9.425 | AA: 37.425
- Club: Buckeye
- High School Graduation Year: 2026
- Notable Results: 11th at the 2021 HOPES Classic and 7th and the GK U.S. Classic
- Previous NLC Appearances: N/A
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Article by Talitha Ilacqua
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I was curious as to why Avery Neff, or the three other Junior gymnasts that scored higher than Jayla Hang did not qualify? Do you happen to know why that was?
Hello and thank you for your question! We have contradictory information concerning who’s considered a senior and who a junior, but it appears that in order to qualify as juniors for the NLC, gymnasts have to be born after Jan. 1, 2007. We hope this helps!