10 Gymnasts Who Ought to Be at the Nastia Liukin Cup

USA Gymnastics

1. Mary Jane Horth, Gymnastics World

A qualifier to the Nastia Liukin Cup in 2010 and 2011, Mary Jane has absolutely shone this year.  She has won both competitions that she has competed this year and posted above a 38 on both. She has not scored below a 9.3 on any event and currently is tied for the 3^rd highest all around score of any level 10 in 2013, with a 38.725. She is definitely one to watch for at JO Nationals, where she placed 7^th in the all around and 1^st on bars last year, and in the NCAA where she will compete for University of Illinois in the 2013-2014 school year.

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2. Rachel Haines, Geddert’s

Rachel has had a standout season so far. She has won all four meets that she has competed in this season, while posting a massive 38.675 at the Battle of Champions, the 2^nd highest score of the entire competition. At the Twistars Invitational, she took home gold medals on vault, bars, floor and the all around. Rachel unfortunately did not compete at any Nastia Liukin Cup qualification events, keeping her out of this competition.  She will definitely be one to watch out for when she joins University of Minnesota for the 2013-2014 school year.

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3. Mason Hosek, Champions

Mason has been a standout ever since she became level 10 in 2010, especially on vault. This season, she has a high of 38.65 which ties her for 7^th highest all around score this season. Unfortunately, she only competed at one competition where she could have qualified to the Nastia Liukin Cup, where she came in 3^rd despite scoring a 38.225. She came in 7^th all around last year at the JO national championship Junior B division. Graduating in 2015, Mason has not yet committed to a university, but she will be one to watch for in the next couple of JO championships.

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4. Bailey Gardner, Geddert’s

Since moving to Geddert’s in 2011, Bailey has been a force to reckon with in level 10. She currently has the 6^th highest score on vault this season with a 9.925 and the highest beam score, with 9.875. Like her teammate, Rachel Haines, she has not competed in any Nastia Liukin cup qualifiers, prohibiting her from competing in the cup.  She will be one to watch out for at the JO national championships, where she came in 2^nd on floor, 4^th on bars, and 12^th in the all around in 2012. She will also compete for University of Minnesota, starting in the fall of 2014. 

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5. Nicole Lehrmann, Capital

Former elite, Nicole Lehrmann, recently dropped back to level 10, and has won 1^st in every competition. She competed in two Nastia Liukin cup qualifiers, Pikes Peak Cup and WOGA Classic, but barely missed qualifying in both, notably at the WOGA Classic, where she was 0.025 behind qualifier Amanda Wellick.  She was a very successful elite in 2011 and 2012, finishing 2^nd on bars at the 2011 American Classic, and 5^th in the all around at the 2012 American Classic.  She was invited to National Team training camps in 2012, but decided to drop down to level 10. Despite being a 2015 graduate, she has already committed to the University of Oklahoma.

6. Grace Williams, Geddert’s

USA Gymnastics

Perhaps the most surprising person not to qualify, Grace once again has been dominating the level 10 competition. Aside from her brief run as an elite, Grace has won nearly every competition that she has competed in since she first became a level 10 in 2009, most notably winning the 2010 Nastia Liukin Cup and the 2010 and 2012 JO National Championships. Coming in 3^rd last year at the Nastia Liukin Cup, this years Cup would have been a perfect place for Grace to regain her title, but she simply did not compete at any qualifying meets. She will be one to watch for when she tries to defend her title at the 2013 JO National Championships and when she competes for the University of Nebraska in the 2014-2015 school year. 

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7. Haylee Roe, Metroplex

Since turning level 10 in 2011, Haylee has always been a very strong competitor. Winning this years Metroplex Challenge, and coming in 2^nd in last years Region 3 Championships, Haylee has been incredibly consistent on all events, often finishing 1^st or 2^nd on every event.  In her first year as a level 10, she placed 4^th at nationals earning her a spot on the JO National Team, and she will be one to watch for this honor again this year.  Graduating in 2015, she has yet to commit to a university, but most likely be a great competitor at any school.

Braie Speed

8. Braie Speed, Aerial Athletics

This former elite has come back with a vengeance in 2013. Despite only competing all around in two meets in 2013, she has scored over 38 in the all around on both. She is very strong on all events, as demonstrated in the 2013 Alamo Classic where she did not score below a 9.6 on any event and finished in the top three in everything. She has not competed in the JO Nationals since 2011, where she placed 9^th in the all around and 3^rd on bars. Se will be one to watch out for at this year’s JO nationals as well as at the University of Arkansas where she will compete in the 2014-2015 season.

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9. Cassidy Keelen, Texas Dreams

Training on the Texas Dream “Dream Team” of elites, Cassidy brings elite caliber routines to level 10. After finishing 5^th at last year’s JO Nationals in her first year as a level 10, earning her an invitation to the ranch for JO National Team Camp, she has demonstrated strong routines on all events, missing her chance to go to the Nastia Liukin Cup by a mere 0.225 at the Texas Prime Meet. She is only 15 years old and in the 9^th grade, and will be one to watch out for in upcoming JO Nationals.

10. Jordan Stavrou, University of Gymnastics

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This young star has made a comeback this year after missing the 2012 season due to injury. Competing as an elite in 2011 at only 12 years old, she placed 5^th on bars at the American Classic. She has been attending Developmental Training Camps at the ranch since 2009, where she was named to the National Team Training Squad as a level 8. She has passed elite compulsories, but will continue to compete as a level 10 for the rest of the level 10 season before she attempts to once again compete at the US National Championships. The time off does not show on this young star, as she currently has the 4^th highest uneven bar score in the country with a 9.8 and has placed in the top five in every meet this season. 

Written by: The Split Leap