2013 PG ChampionshipsAug 9, 2013 by Elizabeth Stranahan
Meet the Seniors
Meet the Seniors
Meet the Seniors
Before the competition begins in Hartford for the P&G Championships, get aquainted with the Senior squad. These athletes will duke it out at the XL Center August 15-18 for a spot on the National Team and ultimately one of the four coveted positions on the World Championship Team. So study up, and prepare for the excitement of the P&G Championships!
Kennedy Baker
Age: 17
Club: Texas Dreams
2012-13 Highlights: Baker just came off of a solid performance at the 2013 Secret Classic where she tied for third on beam and placed fifth all around. In 2012, Kennedy qualified to Olympic Trials where she finished eighth overall.
What to Watch: A powerful tumbler, Baker performs a piked arabian double front on floor that should catch your eye, but do not overlook Baker's beam. The triple turn in wolf position near the start of the routine demands attention.
Simone Biles
Age: 16
Club: Bannon's
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Secret Classic, Biles competed only three events opting out of the vault after lukewarm performances on the other apparatuses. Biles made her senior debut earlier this year at the AT&T American Cup where she finished second all around behind Gold medalist and best friend Katelyn Ohashi, and first on vault and bars. Biles went on to compete at the 2013 Jesolo Cup where she won the vault, beam, floor, and all around titles.
What to Watch: Biles is a must watch on the vault and floor. At the 2013 Classic, Biles unveiled an enormous double layout with a half twist out. Keep in mind the routine already comes stacked with a double twisting double back and a full-in to boot. On the vault, Biles is often pitted at strong competition for renown vaulter McKayla Maroney. Biles did not compete vault at the Classic this year, but rumor has it she will show two vaults in Hartford. The P&G Championships should mark the first time these two athletes face off on the event.
Madison Desch
Age: 15
Club: GAGE
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Classic, Desch competed only beam as she continues to recover from meniscus surgery. However, Desch petitioned and will compete at Championships. In 2012, Desch finished second all around at both the Classic and Championship meets in the junior division.
What to Watch: A true all around gymnast, Desch performs with power and grace. At the Classic, Desch admitted that she felt she was only competing at 85-90% of her full potential, so the P&G will show just how far along she is in recovery. But Desch could be a real contender if she pulls out all the stops. Especially take note of her bars. At the Classic, Desch revealed she is working a stalder immediate pac salto upgrade, so make that a priority to catch.
Brenna Dowell
Age: 17
Club: GAGE
2012-13 Highlights: Brenna Dowell finished third all around at the 2013 Classic. Earlier this year, Dowell competed at the Jesolo Cup placing third in the bars final and winning a gold in the team competition. Dowell made her senior debut at the 2012 Visa Championships where she finished eighth on bars and ninth overall.
What to Watch: Dowell brings strong competition on every event, but some highlights include her brand new Amanar on vault, a Tweddle to straddle back combination on bars, and a front handspring double pike on floor. Dowell keeps the audience guessing and puts on a show the entire night.
Peyton Ernst
Age: 16
Club: Texas Dreams
2012-13 Highlights: Peyton Ernst holds the title as the breakout star of the 2013 Classic finishing second in the all around behind gold medalist Kyla Ross, and winning the beam title at the event. In 2012, Ernst competed as a junior elite finishing seventh all around.
What to Watch: While beam is an obvious attraction for Ernst, I actually suggest cuing into Ernst's landings. Ernst provided the cleanest finishes out of any competitor at the Secret Classic. Superior technique lends to exceptional landings, and Ernst demonstrates true mastery of execution.
Ariana Guerra
Age: 16
Club: Texas Dreams
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Classic, Ariana Guerra pulled a high enough score to qualify her to Championships. Guerra is a first year senior elite and finished 12th in the junior division last year.
What to Watch: Texas Dreams brings a strong elite squad to this year's Championships, and Ariana Guerra sits among them. Guerra makes a yurchenko 1 1/2 look downright, simple, but on bars she shows remarkable control putting these routines as top priority when considering what to watch.
Madison Kocian
Age: 16
Club: WOGA
2012-13 Highlights: At the Classic a few weeks ago, Madison Kocian finished second on the bars. Injury prevented Kocian from participating in a majority of the 2012 season, but in 2011 Kocian won gold in the all around competition at the City of Jesolo Cup and also helped USA bring home a gold in the team competition.
What to Watch: Madison Kocian commands audience attention on the bars. Two shaposh half variations and a jaeger that flies, Kocian's routine tops the charts.
Erin Macadaeg
Age: 17
Club: San Mateo
2012-13 Highlights: Erin Macadaeg held her own at the 2013 Secret Championships tying for third on the balance beam. In 2012 Macadaeg competed as a level 10 placing first on beam at the Junior Olympic Championships.
What to Watch: Although she incurred a slight hiccup on bars at the Classic, Macadaeg shows a nice rhythm on the bars. She also flaunts clean lines giving her gymnastics a elegant flair. An easy yurchenko full on the vault also foretells room for upgrades, so perhaps what to watch in the future if not necessarily at this competition.
McKayla Maroney
Age: 17
Club: All Olympia
2012-13 Highlights: In 2012, McKayla Maroney competed with the Fierce Five to win a gold medal at the London Olympics. Maroney also competed in the vault final finishing with a silver. Two weekends ago, Maroney made her way back to elite competition at the Secret Classic competing only floor and vault, but debuting a new double layout on the floor and showing off her signature Amanar.
What to Watch: Missing Maroney's vault is almost a crime at this point. Despite encroaching competition from other strong vaulters, Maroney continues to maintain that she is the one to beat on this event. However, it would be a mistake to write Maroney off as a one-trick pony. Maroney stated at the Classic that she hopes to compete in the all around competition, so fingers crossed that audiences and judges alike get to see all she has to offer.
Abigail Milliet
Age: 16 (Abigail will turn 17 the day the competition starts!)
Club: Denton Gymnastics Academy
2012-13 Highlights: Abigail Milliet placed third on bars, fifth on beam, and fourth all around at the 2013 Secret US Classic. In 2012, she competed at both the Classic and Championships. At the 2013 American Classic, Milliet finished first on the bars and second on the vault, beam, and overall in her senior session.
What to Watch: Milliet included a lot a upgrades to her beam routine. Although she suffered a fall at the Classic, Milliet still placed fifth demonstrating the overall quality of this routine. The switch half to back layout step-out especially delights in its demonstration of dance and power. If she hits, Milliet stands as one of the top athletes on the event, so makes sure not to miss out.
Maggie Nichols
Age: 15
Club: Twin City Twisters
2012-13 Highlights: A strong performance on the floor gave Maggie Nichols a sixth place all around finish at this year's Classic. In 2012, Nichols also competed at the Classic as a junior finishing well enough to qualify her to the Championship competition.
What to Watch: Nichols brings high difficulty to the floor exercise making this routine a must. The opening pass, a double layout, kicks off this high-intensity routine that will not dissapoint.
Elizabeth Price
Age: 17
Club: Parkette's
2012-13 Highlights: In 2012, Elizabeth Price surprised nearly everyone when she finished fourth at Olympic Trials. Also in 2012, Price finished fifth all around at the Visa Championships, and second on vault, fourth on bars, and fifth all around at the Secret Classic. In 2011, Price placed fourth on bars and fifth on vault as a junior at Championships. At that year's Classic, Price came away with a third place finish on bars. Price also competed at the 2010 Championships placing fifth on vault and bars.
What to Watch: As clearly denoted by her biography, Price holds a special talent for both the bars and vault. Traditionally USA needs strong bar workers, so Price may be a real asset in the competitions to come. While her entire bar routine commands attention, the toe-on to piked tkachev to immediate overshoot holds special appeal. Price makes the skill appear misleadingly easy and entirely exciting.
Lexie Priessman
Age: 16
Club: Cincinnati Gymnastics
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Secret Classic, Lexie Priessman won the floor exercise while also placing fourth on the bars. Earlier in 2013, Priessman competed at the tri-meet between the US, Germany, and Romania where she took home a gold for the team competition and placed sixth overall. Priessman also competed at the City of Jesolo Trophy where Team USA received a gold, and Priessman finished third on the vault and fifth all around. In 2012, Priessman competed as a junior at the Visa Championships where she won the all around and floor titles. She also placed second on the vaut and bars. At the 2012 Classic, Priessman won the floor title and placed third on beam, fifth on bars, sixth on vault, and fourth all around. Also in 2012, Priessman competed at the City of Jesolo Trophy finishing first all around, second on bars, third on floor, and won a gold in the team competition. She also participated at the 2012 Pscific Rim Championships where again she aided Team USA to a gold in the team final whil placing fourth on bars, sixth on beam, and second all around in the junior division.
What to Watch: Make Lexie Priessman's floor routine a priority on your watch list. Priessman jam-packs this routine with difficulty. Every pass in the exercise contains a double flipping element and three out of the four include a twist among them a full-twisting double layout. This routine keeps the energy moving from start to finish.
Kyla Ross
Age: 16
Club: Gym Max
2012-13 Highlights: In 2012, Kyla Ross competed bars and beam for Team USA at the Olympics to help secure the gold. A member of the Fierce Five, Ross returned to elite competition earlier this year at the City of Jesolo Trophy winning the bar title and placing second overall. Just a few weeks ago at the 2013 Classic, Ross won the all around title proving she still has her competition edge.
What to Watch: The youngest of the Fierce Five members, Kyla Ross continually proves that she is now a veteran competitor. While you should not miss out on Ross's new floor routine that debuts stunning passes like the double arabian to stag, what should really draw your attention is this athlete's composure. Small wobbles that quickly become catastrophic for new elites are no match for Ross. She keeps a level head throughout the competition making her mental edge her biggest asset and the item to watch.
MyKayla Skinner
Age: 16
Club: Desert Lights
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Secret Classic, MyKayla Skinner placed second on the vault and ended up tenth in the all around competition. In 2012, Skinner competed at the Visa Championships were she again impressed on vault landing in third place.
What to Watch: The Skinner cannot go unseen. No, not the gymnast, but the skill she pioneered. At the 2012 Fiesta Classic MyKayla Skinner became the first female to compete a double twisting double layout. Skinner performed the skill at the Classic, so hopefully she continues the trend at Championships. Floor is not all, though. Skinner also brings a Cheng vault to the table alongside a yurchenko double twist making her eligible for the vault final.
Kennedy Baker
Age: 17
Club: Texas Dreams
2012-13 Highlights: Baker just came off of a solid performance at the 2013 Secret Classic where she tied for third on beam and placed fifth all around. In 2012, Kennedy qualified to Olympic Trials where she finished eighth overall.
What to Watch: A powerful tumbler, Baker performs a piked arabian double front on floor that should catch your eye, but do not overlook Baker's beam. The triple turn in wolf position near the start of the routine demands attention.
Simone Biles
Age: 16
Club: Bannon's
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Secret Classic, Biles competed only three events opting out of the vault after lukewarm performances on the other apparatuses. Biles made her senior debut earlier this year at the AT&T American Cup where she finished second all around behind Gold medalist and best friend Katelyn Ohashi, and first on vault and bars. Biles went on to compete at the 2013 Jesolo Cup where she won the vault, beam, floor, and all around titles.
What to Watch: Biles is a must watch on the vault and floor. At the 2013 Classic, Biles unveiled an enormous double layout with a half twist out. Keep in mind the routine already comes stacked with a double twisting double back and a full-in to boot. On the vault, Biles is often pitted at strong competition for renown vaulter McKayla Maroney. Biles did not compete vault at the Classic this year, but rumor has it she will show two vaults in Hartford. The P&G Championships should mark the first time these two athletes face off on the event.
Madison Desch
Age: 15
Club: GAGE
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Classic, Desch competed only beam as she continues to recover from meniscus surgery. However, Desch petitioned and will compete at Championships. In 2012, Desch finished second all around at both the Classic and Championship meets in the junior division.
What to Watch: A true all around gymnast, Desch performs with power and grace. At the Classic, Desch admitted that she felt she was only competing at 85-90% of her full potential, so the P&G will show just how far along she is in recovery. But Desch could be a real contender if she pulls out all the stops. Especially take note of her bars. At the Classic, Desch revealed she is working a stalder immediate pac salto upgrade, so make that a priority to catch.
Brenna Dowell
Age: 17
Club: GAGE
2012-13 Highlights: Brenna Dowell finished third all around at the 2013 Classic. Earlier this year, Dowell competed at the Jesolo Cup placing third in the bars final and winning a gold in the team competition. Dowell made her senior debut at the 2012 Visa Championships where she finished eighth on bars and ninth overall.
What to Watch: Dowell brings strong competition on every event, but some highlights include her brand new Amanar on vault, a Tweddle to straddle back combination on bars, and a front handspring double pike on floor. Dowell keeps the audience guessing and puts on a show the entire night.
Peyton Ernst
Age: 16
Club: Texas Dreams
2012-13 Highlights: Peyton Ernst holds the title as the breakout star of the 2013 Classic finishing second in the all around behind gold medalist Kyla Ross, and winning the beam title at the event. In 2012, Ernst competed as a junior elite finishing seventh all around.
What to Watch: While beam is an obvious attraction for Ernst, I actually suggest cuing into Ernst's landings. Ernst provided the cleanest finishes out of any competitor at the Secret Classic. Superior technique lends to exceptional landings, and Ernst demonstrates true mastery of execution.
Ariana Guerra
Age: 16
Club: Texas Dreams
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Classic, Ariana Guerra pulled a high enough score to qualify her to Championships. Guerra is a first year senior elite and finished 12th in the junior division last year.
What to Watch: Texas Dreams brings a strong elite squad to this year's Championships, and Ariana Guerra sits among them. Guerra makes a yurchenko 1 1/2 look downright, simple, but on bars she shows remarkable control putting these routines as top priority when considering what to watch.
Madison Kocian
Age: 16
Club: WOGA
2012-13 Highlights: At the Classic a few weeks ago, Madison Kocian finished second on the bars. Injury prevented Kocian from participating in a majority of the 2012 season, but in 2011 Kocian won gold in the all around competition at the City of Jesolo Cup and also helped USA bring home a gold in the team competition.
What to Watch: Madison Kocian commands audience attention on the bars. Two shaposh half variations and a jaeger that flies, Kocian's routine tops the charts.
Erin Macadaeg
Age: 17
Club: San Mateo
2012-13 Highlights: Erin Macadaeg held her own at the 2013 Secret Championships tying for third on the balance beam. In 2012 Macadaeg competed as a level 10 placing first on beam at the Junior Olympic Championships.
What to Watch: Although she incurred a slight hiccup on bars at the Classic, Macadaeg shows a nice rhythm on the bars. She also flaunts clean lines giving her gymnastics a elegant flair. An easy yurchenko full on the vault also foretells room for upgrades, so perhaps what to watch in the future if not necessarily at this competition.
McKayla Maroney
Age: 17
Club: All Olympia
2012-13 Highlights: In 2012, McKayla Maroney competed with the Fierce Five to win a gold medal at the London Olympics. Maroney also competed in the vault final finishing with a silver. Two weekends ago, Maroney made her way back to elite competition at the Secret Classic competing only floor and vault, but debuting a new double layout on the floor and showing off her signature Amanar.
What to Watch: Missing Maroney's vault is almost a crime at this point. Despite encroaching competition from other strong vaulters, Maroney continues to maintain that she is the one to beat on this event. However, it would be a mistake to write Maroney off as a one-trick pony. Maroney stated at the Classic that she hopes to compete in the all around competition, so fingers crossed that audiences and judges alike get to see all she has to offer.
Abigail Milliet
Age: 16 (Abigail will turn 17 the day the competition starts!)
Club: Denton Gymnastics Academy
2012-13 Highlights: Abigail Milliet placed third on bars, fifth on beam, and fourth all around at the 2013 Secret US Classic. In 2012, she competed at both the Classic and Championships. At the 2013 American Classic, Milliet finished first on the bars and second on the vault, beam, and overall in her senior session.
What to Watch: Milliet included a lot a upgrades to her beam routine. Although she suffered a fall at the Classic, Milliet still placed fifth demonstrating the overall quality of this routine. The switch half to back layout step-out especially delights in its demonstration of dance and power. If she hits, Milliet stands as one of the top athletes on the event, so makes sure not to miss out.
Maggie Nichols
Age: 15
Club: Twin City Twisters
2012-13 Highlights: A strong performance on the floor gave Maggie Nichols a sixth place all around finish at this year's Classic. In 2012, Nichols also competed at the Classic as a junior finishing well enough to qualify her to the Championship competition.
What to Watch: Nichols brings high difficulty to the floor exercise making this routine a must. The opening pass, a double layout, kicks off this high-intensity routine that will not dissapoint.
Elizabeth Price
Age: 17
Club: Parkette's
2012-13 Highlights: In 2012, Elizabeth Price surprised nearly everyone when she finished fourth at Olympic Trials. Also in 2012, Price finished fifth all around at the Visa Championships, and second on vault, fourth on bars, and fifth all around at the Secret Classic. In 2011, Price placed fourth on bars and fifth on vault as a junior at Championships. At that year's Classic, Price came away with a third place finish on bars. Price also competed at the 2010 Championships placing fifth on vault and bars.
What to Watch: As clearly denoted by her biography, Price holds a special talent for both the bars and vault. Traditionally USA needs strong bar workers, so Price may be a real asset in the competitions to come. While her entire bar routine commands attention, the toe-on to piked tkachev to immediate overshoot holds special appeal. Price makes the skill appear misleadingly easy and entirely exciting.
Lexie Priessman
Age: 16
Club: Cincinnati Gymnastics
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Secret Classic, Lexie Priessman won the floor exercise while also placing fourth on the bars. Earlier in 2013, Priessman competed at the tri-meet between the US, Germany, and Romania where she took home a gold for the team competition and placed sixth overall. Priessman also competed at the City of Jesolo Trophy where Team USA received a gold, and Priessman finished third on the vault and fifth all around. In 2012, Priessman competed as a junior at the Visa Championships where she won the all around and floor titles. She also placed second on the vaut and bars. At the 2012 Classic, Priessman won the floor title and placed third on beam, fifth on bars, sixth on vault, and fourth all around. Also in 2012, Priessman competed at the City of Jesolo Trophy finishing first all around, second on bars, third on floor, and won a gold in the team competition. She also participated at the 2012 Pscific Rim Championships where again she aided Team USA to a gold in the team final whil placing fourth on bars, sixth on beam, and second all around in the junior division.
What to Watch: Make Lexie Priessman's floor routine a priority on your watch list. Priessman jam-packs this routine with difficulty. Every pass in the exercise contains a double flipping element and three out of the four include a twist among them a full-twisting double layout. This routine keeps the energy moving from start to finish.
Kyla Ross
Age: 16
Club: Gym Max
2012-13 Highlights: In 2012, Kyla Ross competed bars and beam for Team USA at the Olympics to help secure the gold. A member of the Fierce Five, Ross returned to elite competition earlier this year at the City of Jesolo Trophy winning the bar title and placing second overall. Just a few weeks ago at the 2013 Classic, Ross won the all around title proving she still has her competition edge.
What to Watch: The youngest of the Fierce Five members, Kyla Ross continually proves that she is now a veteran competitor. While you should not miss out on Ross's new floor routine that debuts stunning passes like the double arabian to stag, what should really draw your attention is this athlete's composure. Small wobbles that quickly become catastrophic for new elites are no match for Ross. She keeps a level head throughout the competition making her mental edge her biggest asset and the item to watch.
MyKayla Skinner
Age: 16
Club: Desert Lights
2012-13 Highlights: At the 2013 Secret Classic, MyKayla Skinner placed second on the vault and ended up tenth in the all around competition. In 2012, Skinner competed at the Visa Championships were she again impressed on vault landing in third place.
What to Watch: The Skinner cannot go unseen. No, not the gymnast, but the skill she pioneered. At the 2012 Fiesta Classic MyKayla Skinner became the first female to compete a double twisting double layout. Skinner performed the skill at the Classic, so hopefully she continues the trend at Championships. Floor is not all, though. Skinner also brings a Cheng vault to the table alongside a yurchenko double twist making her eligible for the vault final.