World-Class Gymnastics Coming to Louisville

2018 World and 2016 Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas, and her team gold-medal World Championships’ teammates Kara Eaker of Grain Valley, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, Morgan Hurd of Middletown, Del./First State Gymnastics, Grace McCallum of Isanti, Minn./Twin City Twisters, and Riley McCusker of Brielle, N.J./MG Elite, headline the field at the 2019 GK U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 20 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. Also in the field are 2019 World Cup gold-medalist Jade Carey of Phoenix, Ariz./Arizona Sunrays, 2019 American Cup champion Leanne Wong of Overland Park, Kansas/Great American Gymnastics Express, and 2016 Olympic alternate MyKayla Skinner of Gilbert, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics. The 2019 U.S. Hopes Championships is being held on July 19 in conjunction with the GK U.S. Classic.

With athletes competing on the junior and senior levels, the GK U.S. Classic is the last opportunity for female gymnasts to qualify for the 2019 U.S. Championships, the national championships for men’s and women’s gymnastics. Gymnasts who have already qualified to nationals use the GK U.S. Classic as a final tune-up for the U.S. Championships. The GK Hopes Championships is the culmination of the Hopes season.

In addition, eight women are pursing berths on the five-woman U.S. Team for the 2019 Pan American Games, which begin on July 24.  The eight women are:  Sloane Blakely of Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics; Eaker; Aleah Finnegan of Lee’s Summit, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express; Hurd; Shilese Jones of Westerville, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy; Sunisa Lee of St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center; McCusker; and Wong. The process for selecting the team is detailed in the selection procedures.

The competition schedule, which is subject to change, is: GK U.S. Classic – July 20 at 1 p.m. ET for juniors and 6:30 p.m. ET for seniors; and GK Hopes Championships, July 19 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Single-session tickets for the GK U.S. Classic on July 20 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 Eastern and subject to change. The GK Hopes Championships takes place Friday, July 19, the day prior to the GK U.S. Classic, and tickets range from $20-$30. All-session ticket packages range in price from $79-$129, plus applicable fees, and prices vary depending on the seat location. The all-session ticket includes both the junior and senior sessions for the GK U.S. Classic on July 20, as well as the GK Hopes Championships on July 19.

Tickets may be purchased at the KFC Yum! Center Box Office or ticketmaster.com. For information on club sales or group tickets, call Kelsie Hall at 502.690.9029. Discounted tickets are available through local gymnastics clubs that are participating in the club ticket sales program.  The KFC Yum! Center, in partnership with the Louisville Sports Commission, is playing host to the GK U.S. Classic and U.S. Hopes Championships.

Set for Friday, July 19, the GK Hopes Championships is the culmination of the Hopes season. The GK Hopes Championships has two age groups, 10 -11 year-olds and 12 -13 year-olds. The top 18 from each age group advanced to the GK Hopes Championships from the Hopes Classic.

Past senior Classic all-around champions include Simone Biles, 2018, 2014-15; Olivia Courtney, 2009; Mattie Larson, 2010; Ashley Priess, 2006; Aly Raisman, 2016, 2011-12; Kyla Ross, 2013; Alyona Shchennikova, 2017; Bridget Sloan, 2007; and Ashley Stott, 2008.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its athlete safety policies and procedures, including adopted the updated USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Policy. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s 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, visit usagym.org.

2019 GK U.S. Classic and Hopes Championships field

Athletes are listed alphabetically by state

Alabama

Julianne Huff, Hoover, Ala./JamJev Gymnastics, junior

Arizona

Jade Carey, Phoenix, Ariz./Arizona Sunrays, senior

MyKayla Skinner, Gilbert, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics, senior

Arkansas

Chavala Shepard, Bentonville, Ark./Hopes and Dreams Gymnastics, junior

California

Ciena Alipio, San Jose, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, junior

Ellorie Cane, Upland, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Chloe Cho, Canyon Country, Calif./Wallers GymJam Academy, Hopes 12-13

Carsyn Coleman, Anaheim Hills, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Mia Heather, San Francisco, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, junior

Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Woodland Hills, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics, junior

Emily Lee, Los Gatos, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, senior

Nola Matthews, Gilroy, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, junior

Rafaela O'Neill, San Jose, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, Hopes 12-13

Sophie Parenti, Menlo Park, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, junior

Autumn Reingold, Van Nuys, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica USA, Hopes 12-13

Ava San Jose, Northridge, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Jolyn Sicat Valeros, Chino Hills, Calif./Sokol Elite Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Paityn Walker, Hercules, Calif./Head Over Heels, Hopes 12-13

Colorado

Cambry Haynes, Evergreen, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Delaware

Morgan Hurd, Middletown, Del./First State Gymnastics, senior

Florida

Charlotte Booth, Clermont, Fla./Brandy Johnson's Global Gymnastics, junior

Maddie Losee, Bradenton, Fla./World Champions Centre, Hopes 10-11

Kaela Yee, Miami, Fla./Leyva Gymnastics Academy, Hopes 12-13

Illinois

Gabby Perea, Geneva, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics, senior

Indiana

Elizabeth Gantner, Indianapolis, Ind./Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center, junior

Iowa

Ly Bui, Swisher, Iowa/IGN, Hopes 10-11

Kansas

Leanne Wong, Overland Park, Kansas/Great American Gymnastics Express, senior

Louisiana

Ella Kate Parker, West Monroe, La./North East Texas Elite Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Maryland

Karleigh DiCello, Boyds, Md./Hill's Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Kayla DiCello, Boyds, Md./Hill's Gymnastics, junior

Sydney Morris, Bowie, Md./First State Gymnastics, junior

Anya Pilgrim, Germantown, Md./Hill's Gymnastics, junior

Kimberly Shiau, Rockville, Md./Hill's Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Audrey Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Sydney Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Minnesota

Sunisa Lee, St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, senior

Grace McCallum, Isanti, Minn./Twin City Twisters, senior

Lily Pederson, White Bear Lake, Minn./Flips Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Lyden Saltness, Forest Lake, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, junior

Grace Weisser, Maplewood, Minn./Flips Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Ella Zirbes, Stillwater, Minn./Flips Gymnastics, junior

Missouri

Kara Eaker, Grain Valley, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, senior

Aleah Finnegan, Lee's Summit, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, senior

Alexis Jeffrey, Warrensburg, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, senior

Nevada

Kailin Chio, Henderson, Nev./Gymcats Gymnastics, junior

Sienna Robinson, Las Vegas, Nev./Browns Gymnastics Las Vegas, junior

New Jersey

Giovannina Beltra, Monroe Twp, N.J./Rebound Gymnastics Inc., Hopes 10-11

eMjae Frazier, Erial, N.J./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, junior

Riley McCusker, Brielle, N.J./MG Elite, senior

Ariel Posen, Manalapan, N.J./MG Elite, junior

New York

Olivia Greaves, Staten Island, N.Y./MG Elite, junior

Annalise Newman-Achee, Brooklyn, N.Y./Chelsea Piers Gymnastics, junior

North Carolina

Lauren Little, Mooresville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, junior

Amber Lowe, Huntersville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, junior

Kaylen Morgan, Huntersville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, junior

Ohio

Shania Adams, Plain City, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, senior

Shilese Jones, Westerville, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, senior

Lilly Lippeatt, Mason, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, junior

Izzy Stassi, North Royalton, Ohio/Five-Star Gymnastics Academy of Ohio, Hopes 10-11

Gabriella Van Frayen, Lewis Center, Ohio/Gym X-Treme, Hopes 12-13

Carly Weinberg, Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Pennsylvania

Nicole Desmond, Wind Gap, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, Hopes 10-11

Addison Fatta, Wrightsville, Pa./Prestige Gymnastics, junior

Trinity Thomas, York, Pa./University of Florida Gymnastics, senior

Lucy Tobia, Schnecksville, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, Hopes 12-13

Tennessee

Olivia Ahern, Memphis, Tenn./River City Gymnastics Inc., junior

Texas

Sydney Barros, Lewisville, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, junior

Simone Biles, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior

Skye Blakely, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, junior

Sloane Blakely, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, senior

Sophia Butler, Houston, Texas/Discover Gymnastics Inc., junior

Jordan Chiles, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior

Karis German, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, junior

Jaylene Gilstrap, McKinney, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, senior

Olivia Hollingsworth, Seabrook, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior

Katelyn Jong, Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Avery King, Dallas, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Emma Malabuyo, Flower Mound, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, senior

Zoe Miller, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, junior

Zoey Molomo, Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes 10-11

Victoria Nguyen, Sugar Land, Texas/Everest Gymnastics, senior

Michelle Pineda, Dallas, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Joscelyn Roberson, Texarkana, Texas/North East Texas Elite Gymnastics, junior

Katelyn Rosen, Boerne, Texas/Mavericks Gymnastics, junior

Rebekah Smith, Houston, Texas/World Champions Centre, Hopes 12-13

Ashlee Sullivan, Richardson, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, Hopes 12-13

Shanell Valles, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, Hopes 10-11

Abigael Vides, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior

Eva Volpe, Pearland, Texas/Pearland Elite, junior

Brooklyn Webster, Pantego, Texas/Empire Gymnastics Academy, Hopes 10-11

Virginia

Leah Fontaine, Falls Church, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, Hopes 12-13

Jamison Sears, Yorktown, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior

Ava Siegfeldt, Newport News, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior

Jamie Wright, Toano, Va./World Class Gymnastics, junior

Washington

Hailey Avellar, Seattle, Wash./Auburn Gymnastics Center Inc., Hopes 10-11

West Virginia

Konnor McClain, Cross lanes, W.Va./Revolution Gymnastics, junior

Wisconsin

Faith Torrez, Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Legacy Elite Gymnastics, senior