The Nastia Liukin Cup Series kicked off this weekend, with four gymnasts qualifying from two meets. The series consists of 18 invitationals, each of which will send one junior (born 2003 or later) and one senior (born 2002 or earlier) to the Cup itself at the beginning of March.
The first weekend featured two qualifying meets: the Alamo Classic in Texas, and the Atlanta Crown in Georgia. The second consisted of the CGA Coaches’ Spectacular in Ohio, the California Grand Invitational, and the Tampa Bay Turners Invitational in Florida.
Atlanta Crown Invitational
Sr: Haleigh Bryant
- Everest Gymnastics
- LSU commit (2021 season)
- Qualifying scores: 9.85 | 9.625 | 9.775 | 9.75 | 39.0
- 2017 J.O. national champion in VT, FX, AA.
- Qualified to J.O. nationals every season as a level 10
Jr: Lali Dekanoidze
- Southeastern Gymnastics Center
- UNC commit (2022 season)
- Qualifying scores: 9.55 | 9.575 | 9.775 | 9.6 | 38.5
- 2nd in AA at 2017 J.O. nationals
- Third time qualifying to Nastia Liukin Cup
- Competes as a junior international elite for Georgian national team
Alamo Classic
Sr: Maya Bordas
- Capital Gymnastics
- Cal signee (2019 season)
- Qualifying scores 9.575 | 9.55 | 9.575 | 9.45 | 38.15
- 2017 J.O. national champion in AA
- Qualified to J.O. nationals both years as a level 10
- Has level 10 high scores of 9.8+ on three events
Jr: Kylie Coen
- Empire Gymnastics
- Uncommitted (born 2004)
- Qualifying scores 9.55 | 9.55 | 9.55 | 9.575 | 38.225
- Former Hopes elite
CGA Coaches’ Spectacular
Sr: Makarri Doggette
- Buckeye Gymnastics
- Alabama commit (2020 season)
- Qualifying scores 9.75 | 9.6 | 9.575 | 9.75 | 38.675
- Fifth-time NLC qualifier
- J.O. national champion in three events and the AA
- Former HOPES elite
Jr: Jacey Vore
- Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center
- Uncommitted (2021 grad)
- Qualifying scores 9.525 | 9.25 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 37.475
- Indiana state champion in three events and the AA in 2017
California Grand Invitational
Sr: Raegan Walker
- SCEGA
- Kentucky commit (2020 season)
- Qualifying scores 9.8 | 9.75 | 9.625 | 9.625 | 38.8
- Second-year level 10
- Level 9 Westerns champion in 2016
Jr: Amari Celestine
- SCEGA
- Uncommitted (2021 grad)
- Qualifying scores 9.7 | 9.4 | 9.475 | 9.725 | 38.3
- Two-time J.O. national qualifier
- J.O. national runner-up on bars in 2015
Tampa Bay Turners Invitational
Sr: Rachael Lukacs
- North Stars
- Georgia commit (2019 season)
- Qualifying scores 9.775 | 9.525 | 9.775 | 9.875 | 38.95
- Three-time J.O. national champion in the AA
- NLC champion – 2016
- Fifth-time NLC qualifier
Jr: Rose Casali
- Southeastern Gymnastics Center
- Denver commit (2021 season)
- Qualifying scores 9.425 | 9.2 | 9.75 | 9.475 | 37.95
- Second-time NLC qualifier
- Second-year level 10
- 2017 North Carolina state champion in BB
Check back next week for the qualifiers from the next two invitationals!
Article by Rebecca Scally
