INDIANAPOLIS, June 20, 2019 – U.S. Senior National Team members Sloane Blakely of Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, the 2019 Gymnix International balance beam silver-medalist, and Sunisa Lee of St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, 2019 Jesolo Trophy all-around champion, are heading to Salt Lake City, Utah, to compete in the 2019 American Classic and Hopes Classic. Tickets are on sale for both events, which will be held at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on June 21-22. Competition begins on Friday, June 21, with the U.S. Hopes Classic. USA Gymnastics will be will be live-streaming all four sessions on its YouTube Channel.
The Hopes classification is just below the elite level, and the top 18 athletes in both Hopes age groups (10-11 and 12-13-years old) who achieve the qualification score advance to the Hopes Championships. The Hopes Championships is the culmination of the Hopes season and scheduled for July 19.
Each competition has two sessions, and the schedule, which is subject to change, is below. Tickets are on sale now. Multi-day passes, which include every session of both the Hopes Classic and the American Classic, range in price from $15-$25. Single-day tickets for either day range from $10-$20 and include both sessions for that day. Ticket prices vary according to seat locations. To purchase tickets, visit utahtickets.com or call 801-581-UTIX.
The schedule is listed below, and all times are Mountain time zone, which is two hours behind the Eastern time zone.
- June 21 | Hopes Classic
2:40 p.m.– Ages 10-11
7:15 p.m. – Ages 12-13 - June 22 | American Classic
10:15 a.m. – Juniors
1:45 p.m. – Seniors
In addition to Blakely and Lee, U.S. Junior National Team member Ciena Alipio of San Jose, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, who claimed the balance beam silver at the 2019 Jesolo Trophy, and last year’s American Classic all-around silver-medalist Shania Adams of Plain City, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, are expected to compete in the American Classic. The complete field for the American Classic and the Hopes Classic is included below.
The two competitions are qualifiers for women’s gymnastics: the American Classic for the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in August; and the Hopes Classic for the Hopes Championships, held in conjunction with the GK U.S. Classic in July in Louisville, Ky.
Women’s gymnastics has several ways athletes can qualify to the U.S. Championships, including by earning a minimum of 52.000 for seniors or a 51.000 for juniors in the all-around at either the American Classic or GK U.S. Classic. The GK U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 20 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., is the final opportunity for women to advance to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Senior athletes can also qualify by earning a three-event score of 39.750 or a two-event score of 27.000 at either of these two events.
Team members and alternates from the 2018 U.S. World Championships Team automatically qualified to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. In addition to the U.S. and American Classics, national team members can earn a berth to the U.S. Championships by achieving the qualification score at a national team verification or international assignment.
Background information
- Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Jon M. Huntsman Arena on the University of Utah campus is one of Salt Lake City’s premier sports and entertainment venues. Home of the university’s Runnin’ Utes basketball team, as well as the Red Rocks women’s gymnastics team, the venue has hosted a number of different sporting events, concerts, commencement exercises and other special events. The venue hosted the 1979 NCAA Final Four Tournament and the 1989 Western Athletic Conference. It is the largest arena in the Pac-12 conference system and in 2019, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.
2019 American Classic field
Athletes are alphabetical by state; indicates hometown/club and competition level.
Arkansas
Chavala Shepard, Bentonville, Ark./Hopes and Dreams Gymnastics, junior
California
Chavala Shepard, Bentonville, Ark./Hopes and Dreams Gymnastics, junior
Ciena Alipio, San Jose, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, junior
Ellorie Cane, Upland, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Chloe Cho, Canyon Country, Calif./Wallers GymJam Academy, Hopes/12-13
Kaitlyn Cohen, Glendale, Calif./The Klub Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Carsyn Coleman, Anaheim Hills, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Mia Heather, San Francisco, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, junior
Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Woodland Hills, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics, junior
Emily Lee, Los Gatos, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, senior
Nola Matthews, Gilroy, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, junior
Rafaela O’Neill, San Jose, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, Hopes/12-13
Sophie Parenti, Menlo Park, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, junior
Autumn Reingold, North Hills, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica USA, Hopes/12-13
Ava San Jose, Northridge, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Jolyn Sicat Valeros, Chino Hills, Calif./Sokol Elite Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Paloma Spiridonova, Torrance, Calif./WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Tiana Sumanasekera, Pleasanton, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Paityn Walker, Hercules, Calif./Head Over Heels, Hopes/12-13
Eleanor Wyly, Fairfield, Calif./North Bay Athletic Association Inc., Hopes/12-13
Colorado
Cambry Haynes, Evergreen, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Florida
Charlotte Booth, Clermont, Fla./Brandy Johnson’s Global Gymnastics, junior
Emerson Fisk, Valrico, Fla./Golden City Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Maddie Losee, Bradenton, Fla./World Champions Centre, Hopes/10-11
Khloe Timmer, Cutlery Bay, Fla./Leyva Gymnastics Academy, Hopes/10-11
Mya Witte, Greenacres, Fla./Genie’s Gymnastics, junior
Kaela Yee, Miami, Fla./Leyva Gymnastics Academy, Hopes/12-13
Illinois
Tori Kitzmiller, Winfield, Ill./Naperville Gymnastics Club, Hopes/10-11
Avery Schlichting, Loves Park, Ill./Gymnastic Academy of Rockford, Hopes/10-11
Indiana
Elizabeth Gantner, Indianapolis, Ind./Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center, junior
Iowa
Nora Brewer, Iowa City, Iowa/IGN, Hopes/10-11
Ly Bui, Swisher, Iowa/IGN, Hopes/10-11
Louisiana
Ella Parker, West Monroe, La./North East Texas Elite Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Maryland
Karleigh DiCello, Boyds, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Sydney Morris, Bowie, Md./First State Gymnastics, junior
Anya Pilgrim, Germantown, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, junior
Azaraya Ra-Akbar, Baltimore, Md./United Gymnastix, Hopes/12-13
Kimberly Shiau, Rockville, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Audrey Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Sydney Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Massachusetts
Hailey Kriz, Westborough, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Minnesota
Sunisa Lee, St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, senior
Lily Pederson, White Bear Lake, Minn./Flips Gymnastics LLC, Hopes/12-13
Lyden Saltness, Forest Lake, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, junior
Grace Weisser, Maplewood, Minn./Flips Gymnastics LLC, Hopes/10-11
Ella Zirbes, Stillwater, Minn./Flips Gymnastics LLC, junior
Nevada
Kailin Chio, Henderson, Nev./Gymcats Gymnastics, junior
Sienna Robinson, Las Vegas, Nev./Browns Gymnastics Las Vegas, junior
New Jersey
Giovannina Beltra, Monroe Twp, N.J./Rebound Gymnastics Inc., Hopes/10-11
Kylee Bromley, Runnemede, N.J./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
eMjae Frazier, Erial, N.J./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, junior
Ariel Posen, Manalapan, N.J./MG Elite, junior
New York
Annalise Newman-Achee, Brooklyn, N.Y./Chelsea Piers Gymnastics, junior
North Carolina
Lauren Little, Mooresville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, junior
Autumn Miller, Gatesville, N.C./Coastal Point Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Ohio
Shania Adams, Plain City, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, senior
Izzy Stassi, North Royalton, Ohio/Five-Star Gymnastics Academy of Ohio, Hopes/10-11
Gabriella Van Frayen, Lewis Center, Ohio/Gym X-Treme, Hopes/12-13
Carly Weinberg, Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Pennsylvania
Nicole Desmond, Wind Gap, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, Hopes/10-11
Sophee El-Attar, Landenberg, Pa./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Natalie Gatlos, Lincoln University, Pa./First State Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Lucy Tobia, Schnecksville, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, Hopes/12-13
Tennessee
Olivia Ahern, Memphis, Tenn./River City Gymnastics Inc., junior
Texas
Sloane Blakely, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, senior
Karis German, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, junior
Jaylene Gilstrap, McKinney, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, senior
Olivia Hollingsworth, Seabrook, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior
Madray Johnson, Dallas, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Katelyn Jong, Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Kaitlynd Kastl, Forney, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Avery King, Dallas, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Zoe Miller, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, junior
Zoey Molomo, Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/10-11
Victoria Nguyen, Sugar Land, Texas/Everest Gymnastics, senior
Michelle Pineda, Dallas, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Jaylyn Pomager, Schertz, Texas/Mavericks Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Joscelyn Roberson, Texarkana, Texas/North East Texas Elite Gymnastics, junior
Katelyn Rosen, Boerne, Texas/Mavericks Gymnastics, junior
Rebekah Smith, Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre, Hopes/12-13
Ashlee Sullivan, Richardson, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Shanell Valles, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, Hopes/10-11
Abigael Vides, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior
Eva Volpe, Pearland, Texas/Pearland Elite, junior
Brooklyn Webster, Arlington, Texas/Empire Gymnastics Academy, Hopes/10-11
Utah
Ava Jackson, Riverton, Utah/Olympus Gymnastics, Hopes/12-13
Virginia
Sophia Dennis, Burke, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, Hopes/12-13
Leah Fontaine, Falls Church, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, Hopes/12-13
Jamison Sears, Yorktown, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior
Ava Siegfeldt, Hampton, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior
Raquel Simmons, Fredericksburg, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, Hopes/12-13
Jamie Wright, Toano, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior
Washington
Hailey Avellar, Seattle, Wash./Auburn Gymnastics Center Inc., Hopes/10-11
Isabelle Futch, Orting, Wash./Auburn Gymnastics Center Inc., Hopes/12-13
Sammy Smith, Fall City, Wash./Gymnastics East, Hopes/12-13