Results
RECAP: Sims, Lee, and Johnson-Scharpf win Chicago Style
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L to R: Aja Sims, Kari Lee, and Sydney Johnson-Scharpf
In what was the most competitive level 10 competition Gymnastike has seen since last year's J.O. National Championships, three standout gymnasts advanced to the 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup. A total of six sessions of level 10's took place throughout the day at Navy Pier for the 2013 IGI Chicago Style, the 15th anniversary for the World's Largest Gymnastics Meet.
We also saw a heated team battle with Twin City Twisters of Minnesota edging Brandy Johnson's Gymnastics of Florida for the title. World Class of Virginia finished 3rd, High Point of North Carolina 4th, and the host team of IGI finished 5th after trouble on beam.
We also saw a heated team battle with Twin City Twisters of Minnesota edging Brandy Johnson's Gymnastics of Florida for the title. World Class of Virginia finished 3rd, High Point of North Carolina 4th, and the host team of IGI finished 5th after trouble on beam.
Reigning J.O. National All Around Champion and former junior elite Aja Sims of Brandy Johnson's dominated all around competition with a massive 38.725!
Sims began her night on floor with a 9.525, delivered a near-perfect yurchenko full for a 9.90 on vault, then earned a 9.575 on bars for a routine highlighted by a Comaneci salto. She finished the night on beam with Nastia Liukin Cup qualification on the line and nailed her routine for a 9.725 with a stuck double tuck dismount!
World Class gymnasts Taylor Harrison (38.20) and Ashley Lambert (38.00), finished second and third in her age division.
While Sims delivered veteran performances, her youngest teammate, Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, burst into the spotlight as a first year level 10. She's the daughter of 1988 U.S. Olympian Brandy Johnson with loads of talent and charisma packed in her tiny frame. The 12-year-old snagged the sole junior age division qualification spot the the Nastia Liukin Cup with a 38.250 all around score.
Finishing close behind in her 15 & under age division were Maddie Karr of Twin City Twisters (38.150) and Sydney Snead of Sonshine (38.125).
In the 16-year-old age division, Kari Lee of Peoria, AZ and Flames Gymnastics qualified to the Nastia Cup for the second year in a row. She posted a 38.450 all around score highlighted by a 9.825 on vault and an absolutely gorgeous 9.550 floor routine.
Lee was followed up by Kaitlyn Schou of Brandy Johnson's (38.10) and Gracie Cherrey of Twin City Twisters (37.875).
Gymnastike provided video coverage of all six level 10 sessions today at Navy Pier. You can watch those videos right here.
As a place to start, here are some links to a few highlight routines:
Coming soon… Jillian Winstanley's Perfect 10 Vault!