With only three more weekends left to qualify for the Nastia Liukin Cup, aspiring qualifiers face dwindling opportunities. With four more qualifying meets this weekend, the NLC start list is really taking shape.
News
- Lacie Saltzman has reclassified to the class of 2025 and will join the team at Minnesota in the summer
- Four-star Izzy Stassi (Oklahoma, ’26) and four-star Brynn Torry (Auburn, ’25) each earned their senior elite qualifying scores at the Buckeye Classic.
Meet Previews
Long Beach Open, California.
Over 50 teams will be sending level 10 competitors to this event, meaning tough competition for qualifying to the Nastia Liukin Cup. Top gyms attending include Ascend, GymCats, and Twisters, so keep an eye out for top senior contenders such as Mackenzie Estep (Oklahoma, ’25), Kimarra Echols (Missouri, ’25), and Nina Ballou (LSU, ’25).
Denver Winterfest Classic, Colorado.
While smaller than Long Beach Open, this meet still has some notable gyms attending including First State and Gym X-Treme. Potential top senior competitors are Kylee Bromley (Arizona State, ’25), Audrey Snyder (Auburn, ’26), and Gabriella Van Frayen (Kentucky, ’25).
River City Classic, Nebraska
Sixteen teams are expected to have gymnasts competing in the level 10 senior session at the CHI Health Center Convention Centre in Omaha. Five-star recruit Hayley Mustari (LSU ’25) only competed bars at her previous meet, so look to see if she travels this weekend. Teammate Presley Duke (Oklahoma, ’26), the top rated recruit in her class, will be hoping to qualify in top place. Other top potential senior competitors include Anna Pearl Stanley (North Carolina, ’25), Avery King (Arkansas, ’25 ), and Shea Orlando (Michigan, ’26 )
Legacy Elite Classic, Illinois
The schedule for this meet is not currently available, but rated recruits Delanie Kelly (Arizona State, ’25) and Maddie Stewart (Stanford, ’26) both train at Legacy Elite and are likely to be in the mix.
Meet Results
Biles International Invitational
Four-star Jordyn Johnson (Michigan State, ’26) won her second Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier AA title and topped the standings in bars and floor. Since she cannot qualify twice, this spot went to four-star Kamila Pawlak (Oklahoma, ’25) in her first meet of the season. This qualification means Pawlak will soon compete in her fifth Nastia Liukin Cup! Three-star Lily Tisdale (Arizona, ’25) beat her previous high of 9.400 on beam by scoring 9.700. There were multiple Canadian competitors at this meet including Natasha Lopez (Bowling Green, ’25) who scored a 9.650 on bars, three-star Kylee McQueen (Maryland, ’26) who scored a 9.675 on beam, and Vanessa Wilson (’26) who scored a 9.650 on beam.
Buckeye Classic
Four-star Addison Sarisky (Alabama, ’26) won the all-around and bars titles, qualifying to the Nastia Liukin Cup for the second time in her career. Three-star Lily Thaxton (Kentucky, ’25) tied her vault personal best with a 9.900, the highest score of the meet. Ella Beck (Temple, ’25) set personal bests on floor (9.650) and in the all-around (37.650). Her all-around score was tied for fifth best in the competition.
Circle of Stars
Ella Fine (Auburn, ’26), last year’s Nastia Liukin Cup junior runner up, has qualified to the event for a third time with a 38.475 all-around. She also took the top scores on vault and bars. Denver commit Shyla Bhatia (’25) placed just below Fine in the senior section with a 38.150 all-around score and Isabella Beach (three-star, ’25) took the top spot on floor with a 9.825.
Other notable results
- Julia Cotter (Kentucky, ’26 ) scored a 10.0 on floor at the Susan Strong Invitational. Her previous high on the event was 9.800.
- Emily DeFrees (’25, Maryland) beat three of her personal bests at Nashville Nights. These were in vault, beam, and the all-around with scores of 9.850, 9.800, and 38.875 respectively.
- Stella DePaola (Iowa, ’25) beat three of her personal bests at Nashville Nights. These were on bars, floor, and all-around with scores of 9.850, 9.900 and 38.750 respectively.
- Molly Brinkman (Clemson, ’25) tied for the third highest score in the country on floor this season with a personal best 9.925 at Nashville Nights.
New Commitments
For a full list of recruits and where they are committed for each of the active classes, check out our complete database. To learn more about the gymnasts, click their name to visit their CGN profile where you’ll find high scores, links to their score page(s), their social media accounts, and more.
Class of 2025
- Nadia Rosenbaum, a beam and floor specialist, has committed to Rhode Island.
- Elizabeth Toppi has committed to continue her academic and athletic career at Ursinus.
- Sienna Heizer will join the team at Winona State in the fall. She has recently moved her Deltchev to set on bars.
- Three-star Luiselena Rodriguez is heading to George Washington on a full ride
- Sophie Salvatori has announced her commitment to West Chester.
- Lucy Kaupp, a regionals qualifier in 2023, will continue her athletic and academic career at Ithaca.
- Gianna Schibi, who is training the rarely seen toe on front one and a half dismount on bars, has announced her commitment to Sac State
- Madelyn Vanderhere will join the team at Simpson following her commitment this week.
Class of 2026
- Karalyn Key, an all-around medalist at state championships, will join the team at Eastern Michigan following her acceptance of a full ride offer from the Eagles.
- Three-star Zaara Burnett has committed to Ohio State on a full ride. Burnett, who trains at Hill’s in Maryland, is a two-time national qualifier.
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Article by Katie Couldrey and Gemma Selby
