Kieryn Finnell wins American Classic as nine junior elites qualify to U.S. championships

By Hannah Johnson | July 9, 2023
Kieryn Finnell on beam at the 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships.
(© Amy Sanderson)

2023 junior world team alternate Kieryn Finnell started a bit slow on floor but used three 13+ scores on her final three events to propel her to victory in the junior women’s division at the American Classic on Saturday evening at Stars Gymnastics in Katy, Texas.

Finnell’s bars and beam were particularly impressive, scoring 13.650 and 13.600, respectively. 

Finnell was the only competitor at the meet who had already qualified to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, set for August 24-27 in San Jose, California. The rest of the field was aiming for a 50+ in the all-around to qualify to championships.

In the end, nine juniors surpassed the mark to qualify: Tatum Drusch (52.200), Claire Pease (52.100), Reese Esponda (51.800), Isabella Anzola (51.350), Maliha Tressel (51.300), Ally Damelio (50.900), Sage Bradford (50.650), Nicole Desmond (50.100), and Camie Westerman (50.050).

Those that did not qualify through this meet will have one more chance to qualify to nationals at next month’s Core Hydration Classic (formerly the U.S. Classic) in Chicago.

Of note: While it originally appeared as though Westerman had just missed the cutoff, a late score change pushed her over the qualifying threshold.

In terms of difficulty, Esponda and Desmond were stood out from the group. Esponda showed a double-double on floor and a standing full on beam, and Desmond showed a Chusovitina (full-twisting double layout) on floor. 

Two-time Winter Cup champion Ella Kate Parker had a bit of a tough day, with falls on floor and bars and a labored Yurchenko full. She will be looking to rebound in a big way at Classics in order to qualify to nationals. The fall on bars was particularly scary, but hopefully it looked worse than it was.

American Classic is always a great meet for the junior and senior women to get their feet wet in a competition setting ahead of Classics and championships. There were many routines that were strong despite falls, and it’s clear there is great potential among the junior ranks.

American Classic Junior All-Around Results

  1. Kieryn Finnell (RGA) – 52.850
  2. Tatum Drusch (Flips) – 52.200
  3. Claire Pease (WOGA) – 52.100
  4. Reese Esponda (Roots) – 51.800
  5. Isabella Anzola (Georgia Elite) – 51.350
  6. Maliha Tressel (Twin City Twisters) – 51.300
  7. Ally Damelio (San Mateo) – 50.900
  8. Sage Bradford (WOGA) – 50.650
  9. Nicole Desmond (Parkettes) – 50.100
  10. Camie Westerman (Hill’s) – 50.050
  11. Tyler Turner (Airborne) – 49.800
  12. Charleigh Bullock (Capital) – 49.600
  13. Payton Chandler (Metroplex) – 49.450
  14. Addy Fulcher (Bull City) – 49.400
  15. Cambry Haynes (5280) – 49.100
  16. Ayla Miller (Twin City Twisters) – 49.050
  17. Trinity Wood (Capital) – 48.750
  18. Carly Weinberg (Buckeye) – 48.250
  19. Lacie Saltzmann (Texas Dreams) – 47.800
  20. Ella Kate Parker (Cincinnati) – 47.750
  21. Ly Bui (GAGE) – 47.700
  22. Cora Burke (Olympus) – 47.450
  23. Catherine Guy (Buckeye) – 47.050
  24. TIE Sophia Buechler (Midwest), Jazlene Pickens (Buckeye) – 46.050
  25. –––
  26. Lavi Crain (GAGE) – 45.650
  27. Adele Ossi (Parkettes) – 45.150

American Classic Junior Event Winners

Vault

  1. Tatum Drusch (Flips) – 13.500
  2. Nicole Desmond (Parkettes) – 13.400
  3. Cambry Haynes (5280) – 13.300

Bars

  1. Ally Damelio (San Mateo) – 13.850
  2. Kieryn Finnell (RGA) – 13.650
  3. Tyler Turner (Airborne) – 13.550

Beam

  1. TIE Isabella Anzola (Georgia Elite), Claire Pease (WOGA) – 13.650
  2. –––
  3. Kieryn Finnell (RGA) – 13.600

Floor

  1. Reese Esponda (Roots) – 13.000
  2. Sage Bradford (WOGA) – 12.900
  3. Maliha Tressel (Twin City Twisters) – 12.850