With the U.S. championships just a few days away, we’ll get another chance to see some of the best future NCAA gymnasts in action. Unlike the GK U.S. Classic two weeks ago, things get serious at this competition, as the top athletes will qualify to the Olympic Trials later this month. Most gymnasts will then compete in the all around and will try to bring their A-game to the competition.
Twenty-one women’s NCAA commits are set to compete in Fort Worth from June 3 to 6.
UCLA headlines the field with six: Jordan Chiles, who was second in the all around at the U.S. Classic, Emily Lee and Emma Malabuyo in the class of 2021, Ciena Alipio in the class of 2022, and Sydney Barros and Katelyn Rosen in the class of 2023.
Florida follows with five commits: Morgan Hurd, Leanne Wong and Riley McCusker in the class of 2021 and Kayla DiCello in the class of 2022. All four athletes have a shot at the Olympic team. Shilese Jones, in the class of 2021, will also be there. She was supposed to join the Gators this fall but hasn’t signed her NLI yet, making her status uncertain. McCusker is set to compete after injuring her lower body on vault at the U.S. Classic.
Utah will be represented by Kara Eaker and Grace McCallum, in the class of 2021, both of which are in the running for the Olympic team. Auburn will also have two commits in Olympic hopeful Sunisa Lee in the class of 2021 and Lyden Saltness in the class of 2022. Oklahoma is represented by Faith Torrez and Ava Siegfeldt in the class of 2022. Torrez didn’t compete at the U.S. Classic, making this her first appearance since getting injured at the Winter Cup earlier this year.
In the class of 2021, Jade Carey is also committed to Oregon State and Aleah Finnegan to LSU. In the class of 2022, eMjae Frazier is committed to California, Kylen Morgan to Michigan and Karis German to Alabama.
The senior field will also be comprised of Simone Biles, Chellsie Memmel, Mykayla Skinner, Laurie Hernandez, Konnor McClain (c/o 2023), Addison Fatta (c/o 2023), Skye Blakely (c/o 2023), Amari Drayton (c/o 2023) and Zoe Miller (c/o 2023).
The junior field will feature 13 athletes: U.S. Classic champion Katelyn Jong, American Classic champion Kailin Chio, Kaliya Lincoln and Joscelyn Roberson in the class of 2024; Nola Matthews, Azaraya Ra-Akbar, Gabriella Van Frayen, Avery King, Ella Murphy and Charlotte Booth in the class of 2025; and Izzy Stassi, Madray Johnson and Ella Kate Parker in the class of 2026. Parker, the Winter Cup champion, got injured on vault at the U.S. Classic, but she’s back in action at championships.
The junior competition will be broadcasted on FloGymnastics on June 4 at 2:30 p.m. ET and on June 6 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Day one of the senior competition will stream on NBCSN on June 5 at 8 p.m. ET while the second day of competition will air on NBC on June 7 at 7 p.m. ET.
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Article by Talitha Ilacqua
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