Many of the nation’s top female gymnasts are headed to Chicagoland this weekend to compete at the 2017 U.S. Classic, set for July 29 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The senior field features 2017 AT&T American Cup champion Ragan Smith of Lewisville, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, and fellow 2016 Olympic replacement athlete Ashton Locklear of Hamlet, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, along with 2017 Stuttgart World Cup all-around bronze-medalist Morgan Hurd of Middletown, Del./First State Gymnastics, and 2017 Jesolo Trophy all-around and balance beam champion Riley McCusker of Brielle, N.J./MG Elite.
The U.S. Classic, which has athletes competing on the junior and senior levels, is the last opportunity for female gymnasts to qualify for the P&G Gymnastics Championships, USA Gymnastics’ national championships, scheduled for Aug. 17-20 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Gymnasts who have already qualified to the P&G Championships use the U.S. Classic as a final tune-up for competition in Anaheim.
The competition schedule is: U.S. Classic – July 29 at 1 p.m. CT for juniors and 6:30 p.m. CT for seniors. The Hopes Championships, which features young, aspiring female gymnasts, is held in conjunction with the U.S. Classic and is scheduled for July 28 at 2:30 p.m. CT.
The six members of the U.S. Junior National Team in the field will compete during the senior session but will vie for junior titles: Olivia Dunne of Hillsdale, N.J./Eastern National Academy of Paramus; Adeline Kenlin of Iowa City, Iowa/IGN; Sunisa Lee of Saint Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center; Emma Malabuyo of Flower Mound, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics; Maile O'Keefe of Las Vegas, Nev./Salcianu Elite Academy of Gymnastics; and Gabby Perea of Geneva, Ill./Legacy Elite. The six are competing in the senior session due to the large number of junior gymnasts who qualified for the U.S. Classic.
Victoria Nguyen of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute, withdrew from the U.S. Classic and looks to return to competition at next month’s P&G Championships.
Fans attending the U.S. Classic will have the chance to enjoy some fun activities sponsored by KT Tape and Hershey’s.
· Visit the Hershey’s booth outside section 112 to snap a photo with Miss Kiss, the Hershey’s mascot, and sample the delicious Hershey’s Cookie Layer Crunch bar.
· KT Tape will greet USA Gymnastics fans with free taping, samples and helpful information about using KT Tape’s elastic sports tape for pain relief and support. Athletes of all levels are encouraged to drop by the booth to learn about KT Tape so they can train longer and finish stronger.
Fans can purchase everything gymnastics, including event-specific tees, Under Armour and GK leotards, and more, at merchandise booths on the concourse.
The Hopes Championships is set for Friday, July 28, and tickets range from $20-$30. The Hopes classification is just below the elite level, and the Hopes Championships, previously known as the U.S. Challenge, is the culmination of the Hopes season.
Single session tickets for competition on July 29 are $35-$45 for the junior session at 1 p.m. and $39-$59 for the senior session at 6:30 p.m. All times are Central and subject to change. All-session ticket packages, which include admission to the junior and senior elite sessions along with the Hopes Championships, are still available and range from $79-$129.
Ticket prices vary according to competition session and seat location. To purchase tickets, visit www.SearsCentre.com, call 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or visit the Wintrust Box Office at the Sears Centre Arena.
Fans who cannot make the trip to the Chicago area can watch the junior session and the Hopes Championships via a live webcast at usagymclassic.com/live. The Olympic Channel is televising the senior competition live, and the webcast may be viewed on mobile devices via olympicchannel.com. For more information, go to usagymclassic.com.
The P&G Championships is the national championships for USA Gymnastics and determines the U.S. champions and the U.S. National Team. For more information, go to pgchamps.com.
Background information
Sears Centre Arena. Sears Centre Arena is an 11,000-seat multipurpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates’ Prairie Stone Business Park. The Sears Centre Arena, which opened in 2006, is designed to accommodate a variety of events including concerts, family shows and sporting events. For more information regarding the Sears Centre Arena and upcoming events, please visit the arena’s website at www.searscentre.com.?
USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to www.usagym.org.?
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