JO Contender: Felicia Hano

May 2, 2013 by Jennifer Teitell

(c) Felicia Hano

Gymnastike will cover the 2013 Junior Olympic women's National Championships, May 9-11, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. JO Nationals are the annual national championships for USA Gymnastics' level 10 athletes. The top seven gymnasts from each of USAG's 8 regions have advanced to nationals in 8 different age groups. Competition is hosted by USA Gymnastics and Twin City Twisters.

Over the next week Gymnastike will feature some of the top all around contenders heading into this year's competition.

Hano's 9.55 on FX at the 2012 JO Nationals where she won the JR A all around.

Felicia Hano- Region 1, JR B

Club: West Coast Elite

College: UCLA

Grad Year: 2016
2013 Highlights:

Region 1 Championships- 2nd AA, 1st VT, 2nd BB, 2nd FX

SoCal State Championships- 2nd AA, 2nd VT, 2nd UB, 3rd BB ad 10th FX

Fun Fact: Hano placed 2nd at the 2009 World Championships for Tumbling and Trampoline

Hano after her all around win at the 2012 J.O. National Championships

Felicia trains at West Coast Elite Gymnastics in California and is the defending J.O. National All Around Champion. A mistake on bars at Region 1 Championships resulted in her second place finish in the all around but expect her to be in contention to defend her all around title in Minneapolis. Last year, Hano won the title with an impressive all around score of 38.200 highlighted by her 9.8 on vault. Hano competes a gorgeous double twisting yurchenko on vault.

Hano has committed to compete for Valorie Kondos-Field and her UCLA Bruins.