Field set for 2021 GK U.S. Classic and GK Hope Championships, updated event schedule announced

INDIANAPOLIS, May 13, 2021 – Many of the nation’s top women’s artistic gymnasts are set to face off May 21-22 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The 2021 GK U.S. Classic features junior and senior competitions and will be headlined by numerous Olympic medalists and World champions. The event also serves as the final opportunity for female gymnasts to qualify to the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which will be held June 3-6 in Fort Worth, Texas. The 2021 GK Hopes Championships will be held in conjunction with the GK U.S. Classic and features rising stars from the women’s artistic discipline. The annual event marks the end of the 2021 Hopes season.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre will look to defend her 2019 GK U.S. Classic all-around title. Fellow Olympic medalists Laurie Hernandez of Old Bridge, N.J./Gym-Max Gymnastics and Chellsie Memmel of Dousman, Wis./M and M Gymnastics are also set to compete with the latter marking her return to elite competition after a nine-year hiatus. 2017 World all-around champion Morgan Hurd of Middletown, Del./First State Gymnastics and team World gold medalists Jade Carey of Phoenix, Ariz./Arizona Sunrays, Kara Eaker, of Grain Valley, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, Sunisa Lee of St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, Grace McCallum of Isanti, Minn./Twin City Twisters, Riley McCusker of Brielle, N.J./Arizona Sunrays, and MyKayla Skinner of Gilbert, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics hope to use this opportunity to establish themselves as contenders for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Winter Cup all-around champion Jordan Chiles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, American Classic all-around champion Skye Blakely of Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, and 2019 GK U.S. Classic junior all-around champion Konnor McClain of Cross Lanes, W.Va./Revolution Gymnastics will add even more competition to a crowded field of senior gymnasts.

In the junior division, Winter Cup all-around champion Ella Kate Parker of West Chester, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics and American Classic all-around champion Kailin Chio of Henderson, Nev./Gymcats Gymnastics will look to build on their early-season success with another strong showing ahead of the U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

Due to the volume of competitors qualified to compete in the GK U.S. Classic senior division, the field will be divided between two sessions on Saturday, May 22. Session assignments were chosen by random draw per USA Gymnastics’ rules and policies. The junior competition has been moved to Friday, May 21, and both GK Hopes Championships divisions, 11-12 and 13-14, will compete in a single session.

The event will be open to limited spectators with the priority for purchasing tickets given to local member clubs.

The GK Hopes Championships will air live on FloGymnastics May 21 at 1:45 p.m. ET, followed by the GK U.S. Classic junior competition at 6:45 p.m. ET. The first senior session on May 22 will stream on the free part of NBC’s Peacock, starting at 1 p.m. ET; the second senior session will be broadcast on NBCSN May 22 at 7 p.m. ET.

The fields for the 2021 GK U.S. Classic and GK Hopes Championships are listed below alphabetically by state. This list is as of May 13, 2021, and may be subject to change.

GK U.S. Classic

Arizona
Jade Carey, Phoenix, Ariz./Arizona Sunrays, senior, session II
MyKayla Skinner, Gilbert, Ariz./Desert Lights Gymnastics, senior, session II

California
Ciena Alipio, San Jose, Calif./Midwest Gymnastics Center, senior, session II
Emily Lee, Los Gatos, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, senior, session II
Nola Matthews, Gilroy, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, junior
Autumn Reingold, Van Nuys, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica USA, junior
Paloma Spiridonova, Torrance, Calif./WOGA Gymnastics, junior
Tiana Sumanasekera, Pleasanton, Calif./West Valley Gymnastics School, junior
Paityn Walker, Hercules, Calif./Head Over Heels, junior

Delaware
Morgan Hurd, Middletown, Del./First State Gymnastics, senior, session II

Florida
Mya Witte, Greenacres, Fla./Genie’s Gymnastics, senior, session I
Charlotte Booth, Clermont, Fla./Brandy Johnson’s Global Gymnastics, junior

Georgia
Alonna Kratzer, Suwanee, Ga./Top Notch Training Center, senior, session II

Illinois
Hailey Klein, Lake Forest, Ill./Flips Gymnastics North Shore, senior, session I

Kansas
Leanne Wong, Overland Park, Kan./Great American Gymnastics Express, senior, session II

Maryland
Kayla DiCello, Boyds, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, senior, session II
Anya Pilgrim, Germantown, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, senior, session II
Azaraya Ra-Akbar, Columbia, Md./World Class Gymnastics, junior

Minnesota
Temple Landry, Maple Grove, Minn./Twin City Twisters, senior, session I
Sunisa Lee, St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, senior, session II
Grace McCallum, Isanti, Minn./Twin City Twisters, senior, session I
Elle Mueller, Ham Lake, Minn./Twin City Twisters, senior, session I
Lyden Saltness, Chisago City, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, senior, session II

Missouri
Kara Eaker, Grain Valley, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, senior, session II
Aleah Finnegan, Lee’s Summit, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, senior, session II

Nebraska
Lexi Zeiss, Omaha, Neb./Omaha Gymnastics Academy, senior, session I

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

New Jersey
eMjae Frazier, Erial, N.J./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, senior, session I
Laurie Hernandez, Old Bridge, N.J./Gym-Max Gymnastics, senior, session I
Riley McCusker, Brielle, N.J./Arizona Sunrays, senior, session II

North Carolina
Lauren Little, Mooresville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, senior, session II
Kaylen Morgan, Huntersville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, senior, session II

Ohio
Shilese Jones, Westerville, Ohio/Future Gymnastics Academy, senior, session I
Ella Kate Parker, West Chester, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, junior
Izzy Stassi, North Royalton, Ohio/Gym X-Treme, junior
Gabriella Van Frayen, Lewis Center, Ohio/Gym X-Treme, junior

Pennsylvania
Skylar Draser, Breinigsville, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, senior, session I
Addison Fatta, Wrightsville, Pa./Prestige Gymnastics, senior, session I
Lucy Tobia, Schnecksville, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center, junior

Texas
Sydney Barros, Lewisville, Texas/World Champions Center, senior, session II
Simone Biles, Spring, Texas/World Champions Center, senior, session II
Skye Blakely, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, senior, session I
Sage Bradford, Flower Mound, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, junior
Sophia Butler, Houston, Texas/Discover Gymnastics, senior, session I
Jordan Chiles, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior, session II
Amari Drayton, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior, session II
Karis German, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior, session II
Madray Johnson, Dallas, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, junior
Katelyn Jong, Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, junior
Avery King, Dallas, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, junior
Kaliya Lincoln, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, junior
Emma Malabuyo, Flower Mound, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, senior, session I
Zoe Miller, Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, senior, session II
Zoey Molomo, Frisco, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, junior
Ella Murphy, Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, junior
Joscelyn Roberson, Texarkana, Texas/North East Texas Elite Gymnastics, junior
Katelyn Rosen, Boerne, Texas/Mavericks Gymnastics, senior, session I

Virginia
Jamison Sears, Yorktown, Va./World Class Gymnastics, senior, session I
Ava Siegfeldt, Williamsburg, Va./World Class Gymnastics, senior, session I

West Virginia
Konnor McClain, Cross Lanes, W.Va./Revolution Gymnastics, senior, session I

Wisconsin
Chellsie Memmel, Dousman, Wis./M and M Gymnastics, senior, session I
Faith Torrez, Bristol, Wis./Legacy Elite Gymnastics, senior, session I

GK Hopes Championships

California
Carsyn Coleman, Corona, Calif./Precision Gymnastics, 13-14
Allyn Damelio, San Mateo, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, 11-12
Myli Lew, Belmont, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics, 13-14
Jolyn Sicat Valeros, Chino Hills, Calif./Sokol Elite Gymnastics, 13-14
Tyler Turner, San Jose, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center, 11-12

Florida
Emerso Fisk, Valrico, Fla./Golden City Gymnastics, 13-14
Mia Puig, Miami, Fla./International Gymnastics Training Center, 11-12

Maryland
Audrey Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, 13-14
Sydney Snyder, Annapolis, Md./First State Gymnastics, 13-14
Camie Westerman, Frederick, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics, 11-12

New Jersey
Anna Tava, Hackettstown, N.J./U.S. Gymnastics Development Center, 13-14

New York
Kieryn Finnell, Pittsford, N.Y./Rochester Gymnastics Academy, 13-14

North Carolina
Addy Fulcher, Dallas, N.C./First in Flight, 11-12

Ohio
Sadie Goldberg, Columbus, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics, 11-12
Quinn Harris, Maineville, Ohio, Cincinnati Gymnastics, 11-12
Carly Weinberg, Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics, 13-14

Pennsylvania
Nicole Desmond, Wind Gap, Pa./First State Gymnastics, 13-14

Tennessee
Anabelle Dewey, Mount Juliet, Tenn./E.T.C. Gymnastics, 13-14

Texas
Dulcy Caylor, Irving, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, 13-14
Payton Chandler, Frisco, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, 13-14
Kaitlynd Kastl, Forney, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics, 13-14
Claire Pease, Sunnyvale, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, 11-12

Virginia
Charleigh Bullock, Spotsylvania, Va./Capital Gymnastics National Training Center, 11-12
Brynn Torry, Yorktown, Va./World Class Gymnastics, 13-14

Washington
Hailey Avellar, Seattle, Wash./Ascend Gymnastics Center, 13-14
Jayla Hang, Bellevue, Wash./Ascend Gymnastics Center, 13-14

Background Information

  • USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, encompassing seven disciplines: women’s gymnastics, men’s gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, rhythmic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, gymnastics for all (a.k.a. group gymnastics) and, most recently, parkour. USA Gymnastics sets the rules and policies that govern the sport of gymnastics, including selecting and training the U.S. Gymnastics Teams for the Olympics and World Championships; promoting and developing gymnastics on the grassroots and national levels, as well as a safe, empowered and positive training environment; and serving as a resource and educational center for the more than 200,000 members, clubs, fans and gymnasts throughout the United States. The organization is deeply committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority: the safety and well-being of athletes and our community.
  • About GK Elite. GK is the world’s leading brand of gymnastics apparel and is recognized around the globe for superior variety, quality, fit and service. For over 35+ years, GK has been dedicated to the sport of gymnastics contributing millions of dollars to support hallmark grassroots gymnastics programs globally. Known for their signature collections of gymnastics workout leotards, GK has historically partnered with over ten Olympic athletes and currently offers leotards designed by Olympic gold medalist, Simone Biles, Olympic gold medalist, Laurie Hernandez, and viral gymnastics sensation, Katelyn Ohashi. Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Elite Sportswear, L.P., the company behind the GK Elite brand, continues its commitment to American-made quality and continuous innovation in designs for gymnastics apparel. For more information regarding GK, visit www.gkelite.com.
  • Indiana Convention Center. One of the largest convention centers in America, the center is connected by skywalks to more hotel rooms than any other city in the nation. Also linked to the center is a four-story urban shopping mall, surrounded by more than 200 restaurants and clubs, well-known sports venues, and a 10-block state park that features top museums, green space and a convenient canal walk. With over $3 billion in convention industry investments, no other city in the nation can match Indianapolis’ collection of upgrades and developments. Located in the heart of downtown, the Indiana Convention Center has hosted events since 1972.