2017 Metroplex Challenge

Elite And Level 10 Stars To Watch At 2017 Metroplex Challenge

Elite And Level 10 Stars To Watch At 2017 Metroplex Challenge

The Metroplex Challenge is annually one of the most impressive club competitions of the year. This year is surely no different, with numerous elite competitors and level 10 superstars prepared to take center stage.

Jan 26, 2017 by Rebecca Johnson
Elite And Level 10 Stars To Watch At 2017 Metroplex Challenge
The Metroplex Challenge is annually one of the most impressive club competitions of the year. This year is no different, with numerous elite competitors and level 10 superstars prepared to take center stage on podium equipment at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas.

null

FloGymnastics will be LIVE-streaming every level 10 session on Friday, January 27, and Saturday, January 28, along with the NCAA session on Saturday night, featuring George Washington, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, and San Jose State.

Below, we've highlighted some of the top level 10 and elite athletes who you won't want to miss this weekend:

Complete roster of level 10s competing at the Metroplex Challenge


Paula Mejias (Universal Gymnastics)

Mejias is an elite gymnast and a member of Puerto Rico's national team who trains at Universal Gymnastics, Inc. In 2016, she competed at the Ljubljana World Cup and the Osijek World Cup, and she also competed at the 2015 World Championships, where she showed an impressive floor routine:

Video via FIG

Jaylene Gilstrap (Metroplex)

Gilstrap is a junior elite on the rise. She has consistently continued to improve over the last few years, and in 2016, she had solid showings at the Secret U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut,and P&G Championships in St. Louis. Her floor routine combined great difficulty with precision and clean form:

Video via USA Gymnastics

Payton Richards (Aerial Gymnastics IL)

Richards tied for the all-around title at 2016 Junior Olympic Nationals with a 38.350. She scored a 38 or higher in the all-around in the final five meets of the 2016 season, peaking at an incredible 38.725 at Region 5 regionals. She won gold on beam at JOs with a 9.8:

Video via USA Gymnastics

Helen Hu (IK Gymnastics)

Hu was a standout competitor in 2016 and qualified as a junior to the Nastia Liukin Cup from the IGI Chicago Style Meet with a season-high 37.900. She took fourth at regionals with a 37.725 to qualify for JO Nationals. Hu has competed in one meet so far in 2017 -- the St. Jude Benefit Meet -- and she won the all-around title with a 36.900. She has outstanding flexibility and style which she puts on display in her floor routine:



Chae Campbell (Metroplex)

This is Campbell's first year as a senior elite, and we are excited to see her shine. Campbell competed at the 2016 Secret U.S. Classic as well as the P&G Championships last season and took the vault title in the junior division. On day two she scored a 15.1 for her big double-twisting Yurchenko:

Video via USA Gymnastics

Leah Clapper (Gym America)

Clapper is a consistency queen. She scored a 37 or higher at every single level 10 meet in which she competed all-around last season, finishing up the season at JO Nationals by taking seventh with a 37.950. Clapper also went on to compete as a senior elite at the 2016 Secret U.S. Classic:

Video via USA Gymnastics

Kyana George (Metroplex)

George had a strong 2016 season, which ended with big excitement at JO Nationals where she not only took second all-around with an amazing 38.550 but also had her signature triple full wolf turn named after her on beam:

Video via USA Gymnastics

Amanda Elswick (Capital)

Elswick is coming off a solid 2016 season in which she tied for second on floor at 2016 JO Nationals with a 9.650. She started out the 2017 season incredibly strong at the Lady Luck Invitational where she scored a 37.100 all-around for third place. The highlight of her meet was on vault where she scored a 9.925 to easily secure the gold:



Shaylah Scott (Metroplex)

The 2016 Metroplex all-around champion will be looking to defend her title this year after a truly outstanding 2016. Scott had a 38.575 at JO Nationals to tie for first in the all-around and also tied for first on vault with a 9.750. Last weekend at the Sand Dollar/Whitlow Invite, she's proved that she is back for a big 2017 when she scored a huge 38.475 all-around. Watch her gold medal-winning vault from JOs last season:



Other gymnasts to watch:

Adela Stonecipher (Flips TX)
Asia Dewalt (AIM Athletics)


Related:
Roster: 2017 Metroplex Challenge



Stay up-to-date in the gymnastics world!

Sign up below for the FloGymnastics Newsletter and get updates on news, videos, results, rankings, live events, and more.