© John Cheng

INDIANAPOLIS, April 25, 2012 – Former junior national team member Ericha Fassbender of Katy, Texas/Stars Gymnastics, NCAA standout Casey Jo Magee of Eugene, Ore./Western Michigan University, and 2011 American Classic junior all-around champion Abigail Milliet of Denton, Texas/Denton Gymnastics Center, are set to compete at the 2012 American Classic at the USA Gymnastics National Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, an official U.S. Olympic Training Site. The event, which serves as one of two qualifiers in May to the 2012 Visa Championships, will be held Saturday, May 5, beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT.

Joining Fassbender, Magee and Milliet in the senior competition are Mackenzie Brannan of Austin, Texas/Capital Gymnastics, and Claire Hammen of Loveland, Colo./GK Gymnastics.

In the junior division, Simon Biles of Spring, Texas/Bannon’s Gymnastix; Lacy Dagen of Pleasanton, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics; Peyton Ernst of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams; Ashley Foss of Towaco, N.J./North Stars Gymnastics; Ariana Guerra of League City, Texas/Texas Dreams; Amanda Huang of Roswell, Ga./Northwind Gymnastics Center; Taylor Krippner of Houston/Cypress Gymnastics; Nicole Lehrmann of Cedar Park, Texas/Capital Gymnastics; Shannon McNatt of Houston/Stars Gymnastics; Megan Skaggs of Marietta, Ga./Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta; Polina Shchennikova of Arvada, Colo./TIGAR; Meredith Sylvia of Macungie, Pa./Parkettes Gymnastics; and Mary Toronjo of Huntsville, Texas/Texas Dreams, are scheduled to compete.

Additional athletes may be added to the roster following the conclusion of National Qualifier scheduled for May 3-4 at the Karolyi Ranch, as athletes have the chance to earn international elite status and, thus, the ability to compete at the American Classic.

On May 26, the Secret U.S. Classic will be held. The U.S. Classic is the final qualifying event for the 2012 Visa Championships, which is USA Gymnastics’ national championships scheduled for June 7-10 in St. Louis, Mo. Performances at the Visa Championships will determine which gymnasts advance to the U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics, June 28-July 1, in San Jose, Calif.

The U.S. champions for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics are determined at the Visa Championships. Tickets are currently on sale. For complete information on the Visa Championships, log on to www.usagym.org/visa.