Gymmin' Miel!

The seventh annual Nastia Liukin Cup begins a weekend full of Gymnastics at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. I am officially in love with this year's leotards! Seniors are wearing pink and black and Juniors are in pink and white. Good start from Brooklyn Bloxom on the Floor Exercise followed by a lovely routine from Makarri Doggette. Some massive tumbling from Gabryel Wilson! Lovely sportsmanship from all the gymnasts. A little short on a couple of handstands but a solid routine from Rachel Lukacs. Lovely vault from Abigail Brenner. Lovely vaults from Wynter Childers. Beautiful routine from Rachel Baumann. After the first rotation, Gabryel Wilson of Michigan Academy of Gymnastics leads the Junior division over Abbie Thompson of Orlando Metro and Andrea Li of Legacy Elite. After a gorgeous Floor routine, Natalie Wojcik of Berks Gymnastics sits behind Abigail Brenner of Twin City Twisters in the Senior division. WOGA's Rachel Baumann is in third. 

A couple of bobbles but a solid Beam routine from Rachael Flam. Awesome save from Kyla Bryant on the Beam. Beautiful Bars set from Abigail Brenner, Nice Beam set from Rachael Lukacs - step on the dismount. And of course my computer decided to have issues! With one rotation to go Melissa Reinstadtler of North Stars leads Doggette with Wojcik and Rachael Flam tied for third. For the Juniors, Amanda Cashman of Arena Gymnastics is tied with Legacy Elite's Andrea Li with Lali Dekanoidze of Southeastern Gymnastics in third. 

Great Bars set from Kimberly Tessen. Fantastic Balance Beam routine from Natalie Wojcik. Solid Vaults from Melissa Reinstadtler see her move to first over Wojcik in the Senior division. Powerful Vault from Flam - massive step forward. Massive step on the landing of her second Vault too. Moves into second place for the Seniors. Kyla Bryant is another powerful Vaulter. Phenomenal Vaulting from Rachael Lukacs!! Lukacs takes the Senior All Around over North Stars team mate Melissa Reinstadtler with Rachel Flam of Stars Gymnastics Training Center - Houston in third. Legacy Elite Gymnastics' Andrea Li took the Junior All Around honors over Lali Dekanoidze of Southeastern Gymnastics with Amanda Cashman of Arena Gymnastics in third.

For the Seniors - Lukacs finished first on the Vault and Floor Exercise. Brenner was the second highest scorer on the Vault with Flam and Kimberly Tessen (All American) tying for third. Kyla Bryant of Georgia Elite Gymnastics was the top scorer on the Uneven Bars with Reinstadtler and Olivia Raymond of North Stars Gymnastics Academy tying for second. Natalie Wojcik of Berks Gymnastics Academy was the high scorer on the Balance Beam over Flam and Chloe Widner of Texas Dreams Gymnastics. Reinstadtler was the second highest scorer on the Floor Exercise over Alexandria Ruiz of ACE Gymnastics. 

For the Juniors - Gabryel Wilson of Michigan Academy of Gymnastics was the top scorer on the Vault over Cassie Stevens of Arizona Sunrays and Haleigh Bryant of Everest Gymnastics. Li and Dekanoidze tied for the top score on the Uneven Bars with Lauren Little of Everest Gymnastics earning the third highest mark. Li and Abbie Thompson were the equal top scorers on the Balance Beam over Wilson, whilst Cashman was the top scorer on the Floor Exercise over Wilson and Bryant. 

This year marks the seventh edition of the Nastia Liukin Cup, with the 2016 Nastia Liukin Cup being held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on the 4th of March at 7.00pm ET. A total of 18 Seniors and 18 Juniors will be making up the field after qualifying from one of the Invitationals that make up the Nastia Liukin Cup series. Senior Abbey Nkansah of Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC will be replacing team mate Shea Mahoney in the lineup whilst Junior Kiya Johnson of Texas Dreams Gymnastics is being replaced by team mate Gabrielle McLaughlin.

JUNIOR QUALIFIERS: 

Can Charity Jones of Dynamo Gymnastics defend the title she won last year? Or what about three time participants Alex McMurtry and Ashleigh Gnat, could they pose a challenge? Seven other gymnasts have participated previously in the Nastia Liukin Cup, could they be successful in 2013? Brandy Johnson's Aja-Monet Sims and Cincinnati's Brianna Brown, scored the highest All Around score to qualify to the NLC. Sims also scored the highest mark on the Balance Beam, whilst Ashleigh Gnat (ACE, FL) scored a perfect 10.0 on the Vault on the way to qualifying. Ashton Locklear (Everest) and Kiera Brown (World Class) both scored the top marks on the Uneven Bars and  Rachel Daum (Stars Houston) was successful on the Floor Exercise, on their way to qualifying to tonight. Could they impact on tonight's competition?

Juniors are in pink leotard with black swirls, whilst the Seniors are in Black leotard with pink swirls. After the first rotation, Kaytianna McMillan and Ashleigh Gnat are tied for first with Alexis Mattern in third. At the halfway point, McMillan leads over Rachel Daum and Mackenzie Brannan. And with one rotation to go, Kari Lee leads over Mackenzie Brannan and Aja-Monet Sims. Brianna Brown and Alma Kuc only competed two events each in the competition. And it's Alex McMurtry who takes the title over Aja-Monet Sims and Samantha Partyka.