P&G Championships- Who Will Take The Title? (Juniors)

The P&G Championships are just a week away and I'm most excited for the junior competition because we are guaranteed a new national champion! With the reigning junior national champion Bailie Key out with an injury, the door is wide open for a new face to step in and claim the title. There are a few candidates who have the potential to do it, so it's bound to be a real showdown!

Nia Dennis (Buckeye) 
Maximum AA scoring potential: 63.3



Nia enters these Championships as one of the automatic favorites to win. Her gymnastics is really big and powerful, and her scoring potential is really high- so it's no surprise that many people are pointing at her to win. The good thing about Nia is that she can post a score in the high/mid 14's on any event, even if she's not perfect. At last years Championships, Nia didn't have her best meet but still managed to place 4th all around! At Classics a few weeks ago, she placed 1st on bars and 2nd all around after counting a fall on floor. She also placed 2nd on vault and beam. If Nia can hit eight for eight next week, she has a very good chance of taking home the title.

Jazmyn Foberg (MG Elite)
Maximum AA scoring potential: 63.0


Jazmyn is the only candidate on the list who is vying for the title while also making her first National Championships appearance! Don't let that fool you though. With a maximum scoring potential just 3 tenths less than Nia Dennis, it's just as likely that she could take the title if she hits eight for eight. Jazzy comes into these Championships as the American Classic champion and with several upgrades from last year. (Her bar routine currently has the highest start value in the junior division.) At the Secret Classic, Jazzy had a strong showing placing 5th in the all around and 3rd on vault. I'm so impressed with how much she's improved since last season! Don't be surprised to see Foberg's name atop the standings if she does what she's capable of this weekend!

Ragan Smith (Texas Dreams)
Maximum AA scoring potential: 62.8



The gym switch seems to have worked in Ragan's favor. Not only has her difficulty raised by two full points, but she looks much more clean and confident when she competes. Ragan sometimes struggles with consistency (and there is little room for error if you want to win) so she's really going to have hit all her routines if she wants a chance at the title. Ragan's strongest events are beam and floor, so she's going to look towards those two events to boost her score.

Deanne Soza (Arete)
Maximum AA scoring potential: 62.7



Deanne's name wasn't really in the conversation until she surprised everyone at the Secret Classic with her 3rd place all around finish. Like Ragan, her difficulty has improved significantly since last year and when she hits she can be right up there with the best. Deanne also has really nice lines and good form, so she can use that to help boost her execution score.

Jordan Chiles (Naydenov) 
Maximum AA scoring potential: 62.5



Jordan Chiles comes into these Championships fresh off a win at the Secret Classic. However if she wants to take the national title too, she needs to be better then she was at Classics in my opinion. She can be a little inconsistent at times, which is something she would need to improve on in order to stay at the top. But she looked much more confident then she did last season and she has excellent technique. Her all around potential is huge when she keeps it together.

Norah Flatley (Chow's) 
Maximum AA scoring potential: 62.4



A long time fan favorite, Norah Flatley has all the goods to be a superstar. While she may lack in difficulty on vault and floor, Norah can really make up some ground on bars and beam. Norah is also known for her clean gymnastics and consistency, so she still has a good chance of winning despite not having the highest all around scoring potential. If Norah competes how she normally does in competition I don't think she'll have any problem staying in the top 3!

The first day of competition begins on Thursday, August 21st at 1 p.m EST! Good luck to all the gymnasts competing!