What to Watch for at the Cal Classic

Mar 6, 2014 by Becca Reed

This year SCEGA has added an elite qualifier to their already enormous California Classic competition. This elite qualifier has tons of up and coming elites with a lot of talent. Below are just some of the elite hopefuls competing that you should definitely watch for.

Milan Clausi - GymWorld

Milan is the daughter of 1988 US Olympian, Melissa Marlowe. She is a beautiful gymnast to watch with great lines and dynamic gymnastics. Make sure to look for her bar routine which includes a Weiler kip, Tkatchev, toe on Shaposh, and a full out dismount. Watch an interview with here HERE.

Olivia Dunne - ENA Paramus

This bubbly young gymnast is known for her gorgeous lines and beautiful form, especially on beam. Olivia had an impressive second place finish all-around at the 2013 US Challenge. Olivia’s rap video went viral last year where she rapped “I’m a gymnast and I know it.” Watch it HERE.

Rachael Flam - Stars

Rachael was named our Gymnastike Gymnast of the Week just this past week after her incredible performance and win at the Nastia Cup. She has a ton of difficulty in her routines and she is also able to compete in pressure situations with confidence and grace. You won’t want to miss any of her events and some of her skills include a yurchenko 1 1/2, laid out full in off bars, double pike off beam, and arabian double front on floor. Watch her bar routine HERE.

Shilese Jones - Auburn Gymnastics Center

Shilese is another gymnast that shines brightly with her big skills. Last year Shilese was a level 9 and she won floor at Western Nationals with a routine that opened with a tuck full in! Watch that routine HERE. Make sure to watch for her on floor where she flips through the air with ease and grace.

Maile O’Keefe - Salcianu

Is a talented rising star and has a bright future ahead of her. At the developmental team camp in November, Maile was named the most improved gymnast for the second time this year. Maile was the youngest gymnast to compete at the 2013 Secret Classic. Maile’s favorite event is beam and her confidence shines through on this event. Watch for her triple series- handspring, handspring two foot to layout step out, her beautiful switch ring, and her quick twisting 2 1/2 dismount. Watch her floor routine HERE.

Camden May - AOGC
Camden is a beautiful talented gymnast who's elegant lines define her gymnastics. While she has gorgeous dance on beam and floor her bars and vault are just as good and even with her slender frame she is powerful. Watch her 9.775 stuck yurchenko full HERE. Watch her floor with a beautiful triple full opening pass HERE.

Emily Muhlenhaupt - Colorado Aerials

Emily competed as a junior elite last year and qualified to the Secret Classic. Emily has an elegant style and beautiful lines. Emily is only a freshman in high school but she has already verbally committed to Utah. Watch her floor routine HERE.

Alyssa Pritchett - Gym Jam

Alyssa was a successful gymnast at UCLA and has decided to continue her gymnastics career and try for elite. Alyssa walked on at UCLA but became a key contributor her last two years. She graduated in 2013 after a breakout year where she received second team All-America honors on floor. Alyssa doesn’t fit the norm of a first time elite gymnast but has the passion and determination that it takes to be successful. Make sure to watch for her on floor where she has a wide array of passes she has to choose from including a double layout full out, tuck double double, arabian double pike, and half in half out. Watch her college floor routine HERE.

Melissa Reinstadltler - Rebound

Melissa qualified for junior elite last year and competed at the Secret Classic and the P&G Championships. Melissa has beautiful lines and is an elegant gymnast. Melissa is a sophomore in high school and has committed to Utah for college. Her favorite event is floor where she performs a huge arabian double front. Watch her floor routine HERE.

Sage Thompson - All-American

This tiny little star has lit up the stage with her big gymnastics. She has gained a huge following on the internet after putting up videos of her gymnastics. Sage has natural talent and after only 4 years in the sport she became a level 10 gymnast. Make sure to watch for her on beam, her favorite event, where she training a handspring layout layout, front aerial, side aerial, and side somi. Watch her bar routine from this year HERE.

SCEGA

SCEGA has three young gymnasts competing in the elite qualifier this weekend- Alysen Fears, Erin Elkabchi, and Ruby Hernandez. They are all very talented and full of promise. Erin has been competing level 10 this season and you should watch for her floor routine with a beautiful double pike. Alysen has a beautiful beam routine including a full twisting swing down that you don’t want to miss. Ruby has natural talent on bars and you should watch for her beautiful stalder work.

Georgia Elite

Samantha Durante and Elena Arenas both come from families very familiar with gymnastics. Samatha’s mom is Danna Durante, head coach for the University of Georgia. Watch for Samantha on bars where she has competed a full in dismount and has been training a Mustafina (tuck full in with an extra half twist). Elena’s parents are the owners of Georgia elite, her mom was a former Georgia Gymnast, Kim Arnold, and Elena’s dad is Pete Arenas, who also coaches her. Elena placed seventh all-around at the 2013 US Challenge.

Parkettes

Seven gymnasts from the prestigious Parkettes will being competing in the elite qualifier this weekend including Molly Frack, Megan Freed, and Christina Desiderio. Molly qualified to junior elite last year and competed at both the US Classic and P&G Championships. Watch Molly's floor HERE. Christina also competed junior elite last year and she finished eighth on beam at the 2013 P&G Championships. Watch her floor routine HERE.

IGI

IGI has always had an impressive and strong optional team and now they have a group of amazing young elite hopefuls. Competing this weekend are Makenzie Sedlacek, Beth Luther, Micaela Dugan, and Anastasia Webb. Watch for Anastasia’s floor routine with exquisite dance and beautiful tumbling including a front double twist to punch front.

WOGA

WOGA’s next batch of new elites include Rachel Baumann, Natalie Morton, and Erin Hutchison. Rachel is the sister of elite gymnast and future Florida Gator, Alyssa Baumann. Rachel hopes to follow in her sister’s footsteps and is already making her own mark. Alyssa has great form and lines and you want to watch for her beautiful beam routine, at last weekend’s Nastia Cup she placed first on beam with a 9.6 - watch it HERE. Watch for her beautiful opening side aerial to layout step out series.

Related:
See the full list of elite competitors here.