The Nastia Liukin Cup took place on Friday evening, with Haleigh Bryant and Tory Vetter taking the titles, and we’re going to take you through the results by college team.
Full results are available here: (Jr/Sr).
Alabama
Alabama’s Sydney (Makarri) Doggette had an uncharacteristic day on beam that put her down in 11th in senior rankings, but she showed off her near-unparalleled J.O. pedigree on the other three events, with a great stick on her Yurchenko full and stellar handstands on bars.
Arizona
Chloe Widner picked up first place on floor in the senior division with a 9.675 and registered a huge 9.850 on vault for an immensely powerful Yurchenko full.
Auburn
Auburn signee Derrian Gobourne showed her readiness for college with a great floor routine in which her smile didn’t drop once, especially after landing her opening tuck full-in. She slightly overpowered her beautiful Yurchenko one and a half both times, but it was still good for a 9.750 and would be an easy 9.900+ in college.
California
Andrea Li took second in the senior division, as well as winning bars with a routine that will stand out immediately in college. She had an awkward landing on floor that kept the score down but still registered an impressive 38.625. Kennedy Quay also had a strong day, ranking fourth on beam with impressive triple series for a 9.700.
Denver
Rylie Mundell scored a 38.000 in the senior division, showing off her beautiful technique on bars and huge distance on her Yurchenko full. Rose Casali had a difficult day on beam—often one of her stronger pieces—but showed her class on bars where she ranked third.
Georgia
Kiya Johnson and Rachael Lukacs ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the senior rankings. Johnson tied for the bars title with a 9.700, and Lukacs stuck her powerful Yurchenko double that was good for a 9.925 and the vault title.
Iowa
Iowa’s incoming recruiting classes are incredibly strong, and Daniela Castillo represented the Hawkeyes well with a tenth place finish in the senior division. She especially stood out on beam, where she scored 9.750 for second place.
Kentucky
Raegan Walker was one of several SCEGA gymnasts to have an amazing day at the Nastia Cup, and with a 38.575 good for third place in the senior competition, she’s a great get for Kentucky. She does a beautiful, clean Yurchenko arabian that registered a 9.725, and she’s powerful and clean on bars as well.
LSU
LSU commit Haleigh Bryant won the senior title with a 38.700. She also scored a 9.875 for her great FHS pike half on vault that will fit in perfectly late in an LSU vault lineup.
Michigan
Natalie Wojcik’s grace shone at the Cup, picking up a 9.825 and the event title on beam, as well as a fourth place in the all around. Her lovely controlled Yurchenko one and a half will slot immediately into lineups at Michigan next year, and her beautifully performed floor routine to the Sherlock theme is always a favorite.
Ashley Lane of Metroplex showed great difficulty and technique throughout, especially on bars where she does a Chow-Pak combination as well as a beautiful van Leeuwen.
Gabryel Wilson threw a Yurchenko full this year for a great 9.775, but she’s capable of a one and a half and a double full as well. She’s a fairly balanced all arounder, but she stood out on floor in particular; she’s a great tumbler, and her straddle leap series is one of the best in the business.
Michigan State
Baleigh Garcia is a beautiful, technical gymnast who will be a great asset for the Spartans. Her bars form is lovely, and she competes a front aerial-back handspring-layout step out combination on beam with impressive ease.
North Carolina
It was an extraordinary day for future Tar Heels; commits Kate Greene and Lali Dekanoidze finished fourth and fifth in the junior field, respectively. Both ranked on the podium on bars, where either could probably slot into the current lineup with no complaint from the coaching staff.
UCLA
Metroplex’s Chae Campbell did one of the best vaults of the day, sticking a lovely Yurchenko full, with dynamics reminiscent of Elizabeth Price, for 9.900 and second in the senior rankings. She also has the makings of a great UCLA floor performer, picking up third on that piece with a beautiful leap series and a stick on her closing double back.
Utah
Jaedyn Rucker finished ninth in the senior division with a near stick on her Yurchenko one and a half that was good for a 9.900 and second place. She’s also a great tumbler, opening her floor routine with a great double arabian.
Uncommitted Highlights
The top three junior finishers, Tory Vetter, Jacey Vore and Faith Torrez-Foster, are all uncommitted; watch for them to be snatched up soon. Vetter and Vore graduate in 2021 while Torrez-Foster is in the class of 2022. Kaylen Morgan (Everest) won bars with a 9.650, Texas Dreams next-big-thing Bella Salcedo also impressed with an airy Omelianchik and a spectacular double front dismount on beam, and 11-year-old Kailin Chio has amazing technique and a very bright future.
Article by Rebecca Scally
