2013 Secret Classic Watch List: The Juniors

Jul 19, 2013 by Elizabeth Stranahan

Bailie Key of Texas Dreams

As the 2013 Secret US Classic shapes up, a lot of hype surrounds the entrance of 2012 Olympians McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross. But as many of last year's juniors join the senior ranks, the junior session promises an excitement of their own. Before the competition launches at the Sears Centre Arena on July 27, catch up on the newest faces to the elite scene and check out which athletes, skills, and thrills you should be looking out for at this year's Secret US Classic!

The most notable feature of this season's junior competition is the amount of spots open on the National Team. Only two members of the 2012 Junior National Team will be returning to compete in the Classic. This means a great number of spots are up for contention forcing a fierce battle between a multiplicity of new elites.

Of the 2012 Team, Junior Bailie Key of Texas Dreams returns for competition. Key comes to the Classic having already kicked off her 2013 elite season at the Jesolo Trophy Cup where she took home the all around title. Key also swept the vault, beam, and floor event titles at the event. Long lines, crisp twisting, and explosive tumbling, Key holds the whole package as she transitions seamlessly between a dynamic flick-flick-layout two-foot connection on beam to a graceful switch-ring to tourjete-full on the floor. Key possesses the experience, the poise, and the performance quality to make her one to watch for many seasons to come.

Also returning from the 2012 Junior National Team is Amelia Hundley of Cincinnati Gymnastics. Hundley also joined Key at the 2013 Jesolo Trophy Cup where she finished third on the balance beam and all around competition. A strong all around competitor, Hundley's double twisting yurchenko on vault and extreme difficulty on bars set her apart. Hundley packs a large number of skills including a shaposh, a tkachev to pak salto combination, and a jeagar into her bar routine. Hundley shows off high risk skill placing her on our Secret Watch List. Plus, she's a fantastic performer on floor with new choreography for 2013.

Next up, the most recent additives to the Junior National Team: Polina Shchennikova, Nia Dennis, and Laurie Hernandez. These three athletes joined the 2013 National Team this year after their time at the famous Karolyi Ranch.

Polina Shchennikova performs her stunning beam mount.

Shchennikova of TIGAR Gymnastics flaunts some astounding flexibility. While her onodi and leg up full turn on the beam look effortless, it is Schennikova's mount that truly registers as breath-taking. The subtle mixture of strength and refinement deserves your attention.

In contrast, there is nothing subdued about newcomer Nia Dennis of Buckeye Gymnastics. Dennis shines, literally, as she scrapes the lights in her high-flying tumbling and release moves. Dennis's quick-twitch muscles go on full display as she easily finishes a standing arabian on the beam, a double layout and a double arabian on the floor, and a piked tkachev on the bars. If you do not see Dennis in the arena, make sure you look up; she may just be showing off her incredible air time.

Last of the new additions is Laurie Hernandez of Monmouth. While some may credit Hernandez's success to the secret Monmouth elite handshake, more likely Hernandez qualified to the National Team because of her strong performances at training camps. Hernandez is sassy, showy, and downright talented. She performs a double arabian and a full-in on floor, showcases stunning leaps in split position on beam, and throws a giant tkachev on bars to boot. The best part, Hernandez puts on a show. A quality that appears as a trademark for Monmouth Gymnastics as Hernandez's teammate Ari Agrapides, who will also be competeing at the Classic, shows the same propincity for showmanship. Personality exhudes from these little ones, so they top our Watch List.

Norah Flatley smiles for the camera during Gymnastike's Beyond the Routine shoot at Chow's

With so many participants in the Junior session, it comes as no surprise that many gyms bring multiple kids. The distinguished Chow's Gymnastics and Dance fits easily into that classification as Head Coach Liang Chow leads three newly qualified elites to the Classic: Senior Rachel Gowey, Junior Norah Flatley, and Junior Alexis Vasquez. Both Flatley and Vasquez compete as first-time entrants to the junior Secret US Classic, but their skill level hardly feels out of place. Flatley twists like a top, but her front aerial-front aerial-side aerial-switch leap-back pike beam connection is the stunner. Lengthy combos will not be an unusual sighting as many athletes will perform similar front-front and front-side beam connections as they compile routines under the new code of points. Flatley's teammate Alexis Vasquez does a similar combination.

Alexis Vasquez executes a Memmel turn on floor.

Vasquez also completes a beautiful handspring-layout-layout series on the beam, but keep an eye out for her Memmel turn. The two youngsters form a dynamic duo, and alongside Senior newcomer Gowey, Chow's Gymnastics has a lot to present this coming weekend.

The legendary WOGA and Parkettes also bring large squads to the competition. Most noteably of WOGA is Nadia Cho and Alyssa Baumann. Cho shows great promise on the beam, and despite past injuries, Baumann joins the roster looking strong after her performance at the 2013 WOGA Classic.

Some final athletes to keep your eye on include Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, daughter of Olympian Brandy Johnson. Johnson-Scharpf is a firecracker that sparkles especially bright on the floor with her energetic routine. Ashley Foss of North Stars comes off a win at the Parkette's Elite Qualifier and looks to be in the mix for a spot on the National Team.

With such a talented field this year, we extend our Watch List to include: newcomers Emily Gaskins of Cincinnati Gymnastics, Grace Quinn of Texas Dreams, Ragan Smith of Northwind Gymnastics, Jordan Chiles of Naydenov Gymnastics, and Nica Hults of Texas Dreams.

Keep a watchful eye for all these skilled young ladies, and tune into Gymnastike for the latest updates from the 2013 Secret US Classic!