Returning and Rising: Recapping the U.S. Classic

Courtesy of USA Gymnastics

A new U.S. Classic champion has been crowned.

The U.S. Classic, which took place last weekend, is the last qualifying opportunity ahead of next month’s U.S. Gymnastics Championships which determines the National Team and, ultimately, who gets to represent the U.S. at Worlds in October.

This year’s competition saw key returning athletes such as Olympian Hezly Rivera, Olympic alternates Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong, members of last year’s National Team, as well as new faces ready to shine in the bright future of USA Gymnastics. 

All-Around

One of the important new athletes in the competition is Claire Pease, a first year senior, who won the all-around title. Pease won the all-around by four tenths over returning National Team member Simone Rose with a score of 54.6. Pease began her day on bars, and her long lines reminded me of Nastia Liukin; other than her dismount, she had a very solid routine. She was cool, calm, and collected on the balance beam, and still has room for improvements in dance elements and upgrades in series. On floor, Pease’s tumbling was powerful; her first pass was underrotated, but her second pass was controlled and her last two were overrotated, which is good to see endurance wise at the end of a routine as well as in an earlier meet such as this one. Pease finished the meet by competing two vaults, both of which were clean in the air and just need absorption on the landing, which is a great spot to be at in this part of the season. The pressure is off for Pease, who became the first new senior to win the all-around at Classics since 2017, as she is getting invaluable experience this season, and looking calm and rising as a star while doing so.

Simone Rose, one of the 2024 Olympic Trials finalists, opened up her night on a high note when she stuck the landing on her Yurchenko 1.5. Rose nailed her bar routine, which features a difficult full twisting double layout dismount, as well as her beam routine. The second year senior finished her competition with a strong performance on the floor exercise with clean dance elements, controlled landings, and room for upgrades. While Rose won’t begin competing in the NCAA until the 2027 season, I already cannot wait to see her with the Gators.

Arkansas gymnastics star Joscelyn Roberson made her elite return after a stellar first season in the NCAA. Roberson opened her first elite meet of the year on the balance beam, an event she tumbles so effortlessly on and greatly resembles Shawn Johnson. She nailed all four tumbling passes in her floor routine, including her opening Moors, one of the most difficult tumbling passes, and still has plans to increase her difficulty. Roberson only competed one vault, but will definitely add a second one in later competitions. The Razorback’s bars have seen great improvement under coach and former Olympian Chris Brooks at Arkansas. Roberson finished the night with four hit routines and a podium finish. She also had her biggest fan and former World Champions Centre teammate was also in attendance supporting her: Simone Biles.

Event Titles

As the only athlete to compete two vaults, Pease was automatically the vault winner, but as aforementioned both of her vaults were clean and executed well.

Myli Lew only competed on bars at the U.S. Classic, and her clean lines led her to a first place finish with a score of 14.05. Lew will begin competing for Michigan next season, and I see 10s on the event in her future. Rose finished behind her with a 13.95, and Alicia Zhou and Pease tied for third with a 13.70.

Ashlee Sullivan nailed every skill in her beam routine and won the event title with a score of 13.55. Sullivan will be an incredible addition to the Bruins beam lineup next season. New senior Harlow Buddendeck came in second with a 13.45, and Pease took third with a 13.40. 

Reese Esponda competed in the first session for the seniors and scored a 13.95 on her floor routine which featured difficult tumbling; her score upheld through the entire second session. Hezly Rivera took second with a 13.85, and the Pan American bronze medalist on the event, Gabrielle Hardie, took third with a 13.65.

What’s Next?

Athletes have a couple weeks of training before the U.S. Championships take place August 7-10, which gives them the chance for tune ups and upgrades. The results of Championships will decide the gymnasts on this year’s National Team, and, from there, which four athletes have the opportunity of making the team for the World Championships in October. There is no team competition at Worlds in the year following the Olympics, so Team USA will look to bring athletes who are strong all-arounders and athletes who have a chance at medaling in individual event finals.

Courtesy of USA Gymnastics