Future NCAA Gymnasts Shine at 2021 Level 10 Nationals

With its 12 sessions and 60 gold medals, the developmental program nationals can be confusing for NCAA fans trying to figure out when and how their favorite gymnasts will have an impact on collegiate programs. To make things easier, we’ve decided to list the best scores in each graduating year. 

Below you will find the top-10 all around scorers in the classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023, as well as the top-3 scorers on each apparatus for each year.

A note on ratings: The star ratings listed below do not take into account results from the 2021 season. New ratings for the class of 2022 and the first ratings for the class of 2023 will be released in early June.

Top Scores in the Class of 2021

Oklahoma is looking very strong, with three of the top-10 all around scores coming from future Sooners. Some underdog teams, such as Michigan State, North Carolina and Arizona State, also feature among the top scores, revealing how bright their futures look. Florida will welcome the top level 10 gymnast in the country.

All Around

1. Sloane Blakely

  • Score: 39.200
  • Placement: first place Senior F
  • College: Florida
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After her record score of 39.600 at regionals, Blakely proved once again to be the best level 10 all arounder in the country with four routines that Florida head coach Jenny Rowland will be happy to add to the lineups from day one next season. Florida is welcoming one of the best freshman classes next season, but with so many elites who normally take a while to adapt to college gymnastics, Blakely could be next year’s freshman star in Gainesville. 

2. Skyla Schulte

  • Score: 38.950
  • Placement: first place Senior E
  • College: Michigan State
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nationals proved once again what we already knew: Schulte is going to be the game changer Michigan State has been waiting for. With good execution on all four apparatuses, she is expected to contribute to across the board from the start, and to be exceptional on beam and floor.

3. Lali Dekanoidze

  • Score: 38.900
  • Placement: first place Senior D
  • College: North Carolina
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Speaking of game changers, Dekanoidze will set Chapel Hill on fire next year. She is expected to have an immediate impact in the all around, but Carolina will especially love her Yurchenko 1.5 and her stunning bar work after the Tar Heels struggled on these two events in 2021.

4. Makayla Green

  • Score: 38.850
  • Placement: second place Senior E
  • College: Illinois
  • CGN Recruit Rating: NR

Green has blossomed into a beautiful all arounder this year, who will have an immediate impact on Illinois’ lineups. She may not solve the Illini’s problems on vault, but her exceptional lines on the other three events, and especially on bars, will be a joy to watch.

T5. Jocelyn Moore

  • Score: 38.750
  • Placement: second place Senior D
  • College: Missouri
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a year Moore has had! A somewhat underrated gymnast until this year, she’s now made a name for herself as an outstanding vaulter and a very good all arounder. The double layout with which she opens her floor routine is a beauty, and she stuck it cold at nationals. She could anchor the vault and floor lineups at Missouri as a freshman.

T5. Leah Smith

  • Score: 38.750
  • Placement: second place Senior D
  • College: Washington
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Smith had a good though not fantastic meet, due in part to the fact that she didn’t manage to stick her Yurchenko full. However, she’s undoubtedly turned into a fantastic all arounder who could be a game changer on any college team in the country. 

T5. Alex Theodorou

  • Score: 38.750
  • Placement: second place Senior F
  • College: Arizona State
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Theodorou showed some nerves at nationals and didn’t have a perfect day, yet her high all around score still proves what an incredible athlete she is. With Cairo Leonard-Baker graduating, Arizona State is in need of a new strong all arounder, and Theodorou will provide that…and something more, including a 10.0 start-value vault to add to Anaya Smith’s Yurchenko 1.5.

8. Moorea Linker

  • Score: 38.725
  • Placement: third place Senior F
  • College: Oklahoma
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Linker is probably one of the gymnasts who impressed us the most this year because she turned from an athlete with insane difficulty but poor execution to one with great difficulty and very good execution. Kudos to her for the hard work, and Oklahoma head coach KJ Kindler must be delighted. Her Yurchenko 1.5 and her difficult floor routine stand out particularly and will likely be the two apparatuses on which she will contribute the most next year. Oklahoma needs to replace two Yurchenkos 1.5 next season, and Linker is next in line for one of those spots.

9. Jordan Bowers

  • Score: 38.650
  • Placement: third place Senior E
  • College: Oklahoma
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bowers had good execution as an elite, so it’s not surprising that she still has excellent execution as a L10. Her straight legs and pointed toes are always a joy to watch. She’s quite the opposite to Linker, likely to contribute most on bars and beam next year at Oklahoma. Her Yurchenko full, though, could also challenge Audrey Davis’ lead-off spot if the Sooners still lack six 10.0 start values.

10. Danielle Sievers

  • Score: 38.625
  • Placement: fourth place Senior D
  • College: Oklahoma
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Say hello to the other Yurchenko 1.5 that will replace one of the two the Sooners are losing to graduation! Kindler’s ability to bring in new talents to replace the graduating ones is incredible and a large part of the success of the program. Sievers also has beautiful lines on the other three apparatuses, on bars in particular, and will likely be the designated athlete to replace the current NCAA all around national champion, Anastasia Webb.

Vault

1. Jocelyn Moore

  • Score: 9.950
  • Placement: first place Senior D

Moore’s vault has subtly become the best Yurchenko 1.5 in the country this year. The amplitude, ability to find the landing and float in the air are fantastic. She and Amari Celestine will be game changers on this event for Missouri in 2022.

T2. Sloane Blakely

  • Score: 9.875
  • Placement: first place Senior F

Blakely’s Yurchenko 1.5 is practically perfect in height, distance and landing. Florida will love to have her next year, and she could go second to last in the lineup to Trinity Thomas from day one.

T2. Jessica Johanson

  • Score: 9.875
  • Placement: second place Senior D
  • College: Penn State
  • CGN Recruit Rating: NR

Penn State will love Johanson’s Yurchenko 1.5. It will make a huge difference to a lineup that has struggled to break into the 49s in recent years. If Lauren Bridgens is back at full strength, they will form a dynamic duo. 

Uneven Bars

1. Lali Dekanoidze

  • Score: 9.900
  • Placement: first place Senior D

Watching Dekanoidze swinging bars beautifully and sticking her very difficult dismount at nationals, you would have never guessed that she’d just fallen three times during warmups. What can we say? That is what champions are made of! Her upgraded full-twisting double layout is a touch of something extra that we love to see.

2. Alysen Fears

  • Score: 9.825
  • Placement: first place Senior E
  • College: Arizona
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fears is expected to be a game changer for Arizona on all four events, but the fact that she’s exceptional on bars is very good news for the Wildcats, who struggled almost every week on this apparatus in 2021. Fears’ Ray, bail to handstand and double layout set will score extremely well in college.

T3. Sloane Blakely

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: first place Senior F

Who would have thought that Blakely, who struggled on bars regularly as an elite, would become one of the top bar workers in the country? Her immaculate form could win her a spot in Florida’s lineup, though the competition from the other freshmen will be fierce.

T3. Jordyn Paradise

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: tied second place Senior E
  • College: Alabama
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alabama had a stacked bar lineup this year, with Shania Adams, Luisa Blanco and Makarri Doggette flirting with perfection nearly every week. Paradise, though, will challenge for one of the three spots at the end of the lineup as a freshman, as her lines and handstands are as good as they can get.

T3. Makayla Green

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: tied second place Senior E

This routine is all about the gorgeous handstands, which incidentally is also what gets gymnasts high scores in the NCAA. It’s a win-win situation!

T3. Jordan Bowers

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: tied second place Senior E

With Bowers and Sievers arriving in Norman, all other bar workers will need to watch out, as no lineup spot seems guaranteed anymore. Kindler will likely get rid of Bowers’ full pirouette, which cost her a score in the 9.9s at nationals, but the rest of the routine is impeccable.

T3. Genevieve Sabado-Baez

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: tied second place Senior E
  • College: Air Force
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sabado-Baez’ stunning routine is excellent news for the Falcons, who had serious problems on bars throughout 2021. Her Maloney to Pak salto and double layout dismount set is not entirely deduction free, but will score very well in college.

Balance Beam

1. Skyla Schulte

  • Score: 9.725
  • Placement: first place Senior E

Imagine Schulte and Baleigh Garcia going back to back on beam at Michigan State next year. Just imagine. Schulte has stunning form and a fantastic double tuck dismount, which she stuck cold at nationals. The future looks very bright for the Spartans on what has traditionally been a challenging apparatus for them.

T2. Sloane Blakely

  • Score: 9.625
  • Placement: first place Senior F

Blakely will join a Florida freshman class that is likely to be very strong on beam and may not even be asked to compete every week. Her consistency, though, may help the Gators control their uncharacteristic nerves on this apparatus.

T2. Lana Navarro

  • Score: 9.625
  • Placement: tied second place Senior C
  • College: Washington
  • CGN Recruit Rating: NR

Washington didn’t do well on beam in 2021, nor on any other apparatus for what matters, and will be delighted to welcome such a good beam worker in Navarro. Her straight legs and beautiful leaps will score very well in college.

Floor Exercise

T1. Sloane Blakely

  • Score: 9.900
  • Placement: first place Senior F

Blakely had a stunning performance at nationals, sticking her double Arabian cold. By NCAA nationals last April, Florida seemed to struggle with some depth on floor, and Blakely could be the perfect gymnast to step in.

T1. Leah Smith

  • Score: 9.900
  • Placement: first place Senior D

Smith has turned into one of the best all arounders in the country this year, but floor is really the apparatus where she shines. Her piked full-in is gorgeous, and her landings are so precise that she could be a 9.9-plus machine next year. 

3. Gabrielle Clark

  • Score: 9.875
  • Placement: second place Senior D
  • College: Utah State
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Utah State has a lot of talented floor workers, but Clark could still be a game changer. She opens her routine with a Biles, her amplitude on the twisting passes is fantastic and her straddle leaps are out of this world. Watch out for a perfect 10.0 there.

Top Scores in the Class of 2022

Let’s now turn to those athletes who will join their collegiate teams for the 2023 season. For some of them, it’s already quite obvious how they’ll contribute to NCAA lineups. Others are still growing while a few more are still uncommitted, making the next few recruiting months very exciting to witness.

All Around

1. Selena Harris

  • Score: 38.950
  • Placement: first place Senior C
  • College: UCLA
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With difficult skills and excellent execution on all events, Harris is the best gymnast in the class of 2022. She still has a margin of improvement on floor, but her routines are basically ready for college.

2. Ava Piedrahita

  • Score: 38.725
  • Placement: second place Senior C
  • College: Penn State
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Piedrahita could become a star at Penn State. She competes difficult routines, including a Yurchenko half-on front pike on vault and a full-in on floor, and except for some knee bends here and there, she has good execution throughout.

3. Trista Goodman

  • Score: 38.525
  • Placement: third place Senior C
  • College: Southern Utah
  • CGN Recruit Rating: NR

It’s great to see Goodman back in good shape after struggling in the recent past. She’s clearly worked hard on her conditioning and execution, and all the hard work is paying off. Her front aerial to scale on beam is a beauty.

T4. Mikaile Aderinto

  • Score: 38.450
  • Placement: tied fourth place Senior C
  • College: Uncommitted
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aderinto is turning into a beautifully polished gymnast whose routines will be welcomed on any team in the country. Her Yurchenko half is one of the best ever performed, her bar work is clean and so is her floor tumbling. Her acrobatic series on beam is gorgeous, but please get rid of that sheep jump!

T4. Addison Lawrence

  • Score: 38.450
  • Placement: sixth place Senior D
  • College: Missouri
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Together with Celestine and Moore in the class of 2021, Lawrence is yet another gymnast who will make a big difference at Missouri in two years. She also has a Yurchenko 1.5, as well as difficult skills on the other three events, including a triple twist on floor. Her style is reminiscent of her GAGE clubmates Kara Eaker and Leanne Wong.

6. Anna Roberts

  • Score: 38.450
  • Placement: first place Senior B
  • College: Uncommitted
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whoever is thinking of recruiting Roberts, they better hurry—she will not go unnoticed for much longer. Her Yurchenko 1.5 has perfect form and equally good are her tumbling passes on floor, including her full-in mount.

T7. Sarah Moraw

  • Score: 38.375
  • Placement: first place Senior A
  • College: Minnesota
  • CGN Recruit Rating: NR

Minnesota’s most recent commit has beautiful flexibility, which is especially evident on beam, where she’s at times reminiscent of Lexy Ramler. Her stuck Yurchenko full at nationals was also really satisfying to watch.

T7. Miranda Smith

  • Score: 38.375
  • Placement: sixth place Senior C
  • College: West Virginia
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Smith is undoubtedly an excellent vault and floor worker, but at nationals she also showed off her all around potential. Her beam set was one of the best she’s ever performed, and despite some built-in deductions, her bar work was also solid. 

9. Kiley Rorich

  • Score: 38.325
  • Placement: fifth place Junior F
  • College: Denver
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rorich showed off some recent changes to her routines. She’s now dismounting bars with a difficult full-twisting double layout instead of a standard double layout, though it still looks piked. Most interestingly, she’s replaced her Yurchenko full with a front handspring front pike. She will likely aim to add a half twist to it next year.

10. Kimberly Smith

  • Score: 38.250
  • Placement: second place Senior A
  • College: Arizona State
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Smith is another gymnast with impressive form, which is especially delightful on bars and beam. She and Theodorou, in the class of 2021, have the talent to take Arizona State to the next level.

Vault

T1. Selena Harris 

  • Score: 9.825
  • Placement: second place Senior C

With one of the best executions on vault in the nation, it was all about the landing for Harris. On her second attempt, she had a small hop forward for a near-perfect vault. She will be so good at UCLA!

T1. Taralyn Nguyen 

  • Score: 9.825
  • Placement: first place Senior B
  • College: Uncommitted
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nguyen’s Yurchenko double is looking better and better, and it’s satisfying to see that it won her a national title. We wouldn’t be surprised if she attempted an Amanar in competition next year.

T1. Bryce Wilson

  • Score: 9.825
  • Placement: first place Senior A
  • College: LSU
  • CGN Recruit Rating: NR

It’s not easy to keep up with more difficult vaults when you compete “only” a Yurchenko full, but Wilson was the right person to do it. Her vault is straight and beautiful in the air, and a good landing was enough to win her a national title. We’re sure LSU wouldn’t mind to see an upgrade next year, though!

Uneven Bars

1. Selena Harris 

  • Score: 9.875
  • Placement: first place Senior C

After struggling on bars both at the state meet and at regionals, it was nice to see Harris back in top form at nationals. Her routine is so ready for college, and Chris Waller is likely as impatient as we are to see it in Pauley!

2. Claire Dean 

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: second place Senior C
  • College: Uncommitted
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What beautiful lines Dean has on bars! Her Ray to Pak salto and double layout dismount could make the lineup on any NCAA team in the country. Additional detail: She was the only gymnast we noticed competing with a mask on at nationals.

3. Trista Goodman 

  • Score: 9.775
  • Placement: third place Senior C

It’s lovely to see Goodman back full strength after struggling with execution in past years. Her piked Jaeger, Pak salto and blind full to double tuck dismount still need some extra polish, but she will be ready for college in a year’s time.

Balance Beam

1. Selena Harris 

  • Score: 9.650
  • Placement: first place Senior C

Harris recently wrote on Instagram that beam is the apparatus on which she’s improved the most this year, and we tend to agree. Her confidence has improved, and her skills have been perfected. It’s now ready for the Bruins’ lineup.

T2. Ava Piedrahita 

  • Score: 9.625
  • Placement: tied second place Senior C

Piedrahita performs a very difficult routine, which includes a double turn and a double tuck dismount. She and Elina Vihrova, who will join the Nittany Lions this fall, will be an impressive duo on this event.

T2. Deana Sheremeta 

  • Score: 9.625
  • Placement: first place Senior B
  • College: George Washington
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alisa Sheremeta’s little sister had the most gorgeous leaps in the competition. George Washington has recently been recruiting athletes with excellent form, and we’re on board with the trend.

Floor Exercise

T1. Miranda Smith 

  • Score: 9.825
  • Placement: first place Senior C

Smith’s routine is so impressive. She opens with a big full-in, and she continues with a whip to triple twist, a combination we rarely see even in elite. She timed it perfectly at nationals, and it was a beauty.

T1. Nikki Smith 

  • Score: 9.825
  • Placement: first place Senior B
  • College: Michigan State
  • CGN Recruit Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Smith did not have a great day at nationals, falling on bars and struggling with landings here and there. Her floor routine, though, was as good as ever. Her full-in mount and double tuck dismount are so high that you could walk underneath them. She’s going to be such a star at MSU!

3. Jordan Schultz 

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: second place Senior C
  • College: Uncommitted
  • CGN Recruit Rating: NR

This is such a fun floor routine with intricate tumbling passes. Schultz opens with a front double twist to punch front, then comes back with a Rudi to back tucked full twist to punch front, and finally ends with a “banal” double tuck. More creativity like this, please!

Top Scores in the Class of 2023

We’re now moving to athletes in the class of 2023. It’s important to start keeping an eye on them now because after June 15 they will be able to verbally commit to college. Around the same time, we’ll also release our recruit ratings for this class, which will further emphasize the incredible talent that awaits the NCAA in the future. For any gymnasts that have already committed, they likely did so before the new limited contact rules were put into place.

Two of the three athletes who posted 9.950s at nationals are in the class of 2023, which is telling of the quality of gymnastics of these young gymnasts.

All Around

1. Kylie Coen

  • Score: 38.925
  • Placement: first place Junior F

At nationals Coen affirmed herself as the gymnast to watch in the class of 2023. She stuck her Yurchenko full and displayed gorgeous form on the other three apparatuses. With her difficulty, execution and consistency, she really is the whole package. 

T2. Hannah Scheible

  • Score: 38.800
  • Placement: first place Junior D

We wish to apologize to Scheible for not including her in our nationals preview—she deserved to be there. At nationals she proved that her 38.700 at regionals was not a fluke. Rather, she’s really turning into a consistent gymnast with great difficulty and execution. Her Tsukahara full is such a difficult vault, and seeing her stick it at nationals was especially satisfying. 

T2. Elizabeth Gantner

  • Score: 38.800
  • Placement: second place Junior F
  • College: Georgia

What a surprise Gantner was. We didn’t doubt her talent, but we hadn’t seen her compete almost at all since her elite days; you never know how gymnasts develop in level 10 after peaking in elite at such a young age. As it turns out, Gantner’s bright gymnastics future is still ahead of her. Her routines still need some polish, but her basics are excellent and her sets look easy for her. Georgia has a future star in its hands.

4. Madison Ulrich

  • Score: 38.700
  • Placement: first place Junior E
  • College: Denver

Ulrich looks increasingly polished and consistent. She’s exactly the athlete Denver will love to have on campus soon. Her front handspring front pike half out vault has a 10.0 start value in college and will score well.

5. Sophia Esposito

  • Score: 38.550
  • Placement: third place Junior F

Esposito has an intriguing combination of power and elegance. She performs both a double-twisting Yurchenko on vault and a super clean beam set. Her leaps and double twist dismount on beam are to die for. She still needs to clean her execution on bars and floor, but when she does, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

6. Lily Smith

  • Score: 38.475
  • Placement: second place Junior E

Smith could be the next big name in the class of 2023 if only she can improve on vault. At nationals she had to count a 9.200 on her Yurchenko layout after crashing her attempt at a Yurchenko full. Her routines also still need some modifications to score well in college, but talent and time are on her side. We can’t wait to see how she’ll evolve in the next couple of years.

7. Morgan Price

  • Score: 38.425
  • Placement: third place Junior E

Speaking of talent, Price is another gymnast who has plenty of it. She will need to work on her execution and nerves, but there’s no doubt that the future looks bright for her, too. We expect her to commit to one of the top schools in the country.

8. Kyen Mayhew

  • Score: 38.400
  • Placement: second place Junior D

Mayhew is another gymnast who combines power and execution nicely. She performs a very clean Yurchenko 1.5 but also shows off beautiful lines on beam and floor. The next couple of years will surely be dedicated to clean up bars and making landings more consistent.

T9. Kristin Lin

  • Score: 38.375
  • Placement: fourth place Junior E

Lin’s style reminds us so much of Kyla Ross that it’s almost destabilizing. She looks really tall, which adds to her elegant performances. She will also spend the next few years polishing her gymnastics, but the skills are all there.

T9. Cilla Park

  • Score: 38.375
  • Placement: fourth place Junior F

Park’s good form on bars and beam will take her a long way, as college coaches love to see that. We’ll certainly hear more from her in the years to come.

Vault

1. Keira Wells 

  • Score: 9.825
  • Placement: first place Junior E

Wells burst onto the scene at regionals with a 10.0 on her Yurchenko 1.5. It was well deserved. Her form is very good and when she nails the landing, it’s one of the best vaults in the country.

2. Sophia Esposito 

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: first place Junior F

Watch out for Esposito! She competes a Yurchenko double, which is already well executed with two more years of club gymnastics to go. Not impressed? You should be.

T3. Morgan Price 

  • Score: 9.775
  • Placement: tied second place Junior E

Price debuted her Yurchenko 1.5 at nationals. She didn’t have perfect landings, but the talent and execution are there. The vault will become better and better as time goes on.

T3. Jaydah Battle 

  • Score: 9.775
  • Placement: tied second place Junior E

Battle performed a Yurchenko full and a Yurchenko 1.5 at nationals. The more difficult vault was better executed and had a better landing, so we have no doubt that it will become her main vault next year.

T3. Victoria Cluck 

  • Score: 9.775
  • Placement: second place Junior F

Cluck also performs a powerful Yurchenko 1.5 with tons of amplitude and distance from the table. Her second attempt at nationals was nearly stuck and was a beauty.

Uneven Bars

T1. Kylie Coen 

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: tied first place Junior F

What a beautiful routine this is: Ray to Pak salto and full-in dismount. It’s already ready for college.

T1. Elizabeth Gantner 

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: tied first place Junior F

Gantner’s routine is so dynamic and well executed; it’s evident that it’s easy for her. It’s a joy to watch gymnasts perform their skills effortlessly. She will want to work on opening her hips a bit more on her double layout dismount, but Georgia’s future looks bright!

T1. Chloe LaCoursiere 

  • Score: 9.800
  • Placement: first place Junior E

LaCoursiere has gorgeous lines on bars and deservingly scored a 10.0 earlier this year. Her performance at nationals further underscored that she is one of the best bar workers in the class of 2023.

Balance Beam

1. Jaydah Battle 

  • Score: 9.775
  • Placement: first place Junior E

This routine won Battle a career high and a well-deserved one. Her form is beautiful and we always love to see a 2.5 twist dismount in level 10. It was the first time that she was competing it, and it paid off.

2. Lily Smith 

  • Score: 9.725
  • Placement: second place Junior E

Smith’s routine has all the elements to become a great set in college: Her splits are perfect, and her front aerial is gorgeous. Her acrobatic series, however, only comes at the end of her routine as part of her dismount, so that will need to change as she prepares her NCAA composition in the next two years.

3. Madison Ulrich 

  • Score: 9.700
  • Placement: third place Junior E

With a good triple series and a floaty double twist dismount, Ulrich proved once again to be a rock on beam. Denver surely can’t wait to have her on the team.

Floor Exercise

T1. Kylie Coen 

  • Score: 9.950
  • Placement: first place Junior F

This routine was awarded a 9.950 for good reason—it’s effortless, beautifully performed and well executed. If you enjoy a good combination of great tumbling and impressive dance, this is the routine to watch. It also had the best choreography of the competition by far, so congratulations to her choreographer.

T1. Hannah Scheible

  • Score: 9.950
  • Placement: first place Junior D

Scheible is an excellent twister; she generates an incredible amount of power on her front tumbling from just her run. Her Rudi to layout step-out is floaty and really satisfying to watch.

T3. Kristin Lin 

  • Score: 9.900
  • Placement: second place Junior E

Get ready for a beautiful triple twist here! Lin is an elegant gymnast who looks really tall on floor. Again, we keep seeing Kyla Ross when she performs.

T3. Kyen Mayhew

  • Score: 9.900
  • Placement: second place Junior D

Mayhew is yet another beautiful twister—her front double twist to front pike and her back 1.5 to front half twist to split jump are beauties. She can also be powerful, though, as she dismounts with a double pike.

Rising Juniors

Avery Neff, in the class of 2024, came into nationals as the favorite to win the Junior C all around title and did not disappoint. She scored a 39.000 in the all around, the second highest score behind only Blakely, and a 9.900 on floor. She’s almost too good to be true!

Danielle Ferris, in the class of 2024, stuck a gorgeous Yurchenko 1.5 for a 9.875, and Cameron Smith, in the class of 2024, also stuck a fantastic Yurchenko 1.5 for another 9.875. Mackenzie Estep, in the class of 2025, impressed with a 9.725 on bars for a routine that included a blind full to stuck full-in dismount. A beauty! She tied in Junior B with Lauren Harkins, in the class of 2023, who performs a floaty van Leuween.

Madelyn Dorbin, also in Junior B and in the class of 2025, posted a 9.775 on floor for an elegant routine that opened with a sky-high full-in.

Eponymous Skills

Missouri signee Amari Celestine and 2022 graduate Claire Dean had skills named after them, which will be added to the level 10 code of points. Celestine was the first to perform a difficult bar dismount at nationals: a front tuck half-out from a stalder entry. Dean had a difficult leap named after her on beam: a switch leap half to scale.

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Article by Talitha Ilacqua

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