First of all, let's clarify some people who will NOT be competing.
-Shawn Johnson. She hasn't even gotten back into the gym, so NO.
-Jordyn Wieber has pulled out of the competition. HUGE opportunity here for the rest of the juniors. Jordyn won last years junior title... and quite honestly, she (barring any major mistakes) probably would have won it again.
-Alicia Sacramone, as she is retired (OR NOT! See below post).
-Shayla Worley, as she has retired from elite gymnastics to focus on her upcoming NCAA career at Georgia.
Now... the playing field!
SENIORS;
Kaitlyn hasn't made the national team yet. She was injured before the US Classic last year, and had to compete some watered down routines at nationals. She finished 16th. She did finish 3d AA at the Covergirl (US) Classic this year.
Mattie Larson
We all know Mattie. She made a decent play at the Olympic team last year. Many believe she would have gotten one of three alternate positions if she hadn't injured herself at the training camp. She did pretty well during the European tour, but is injured once again. She probably won't be competing all-around, but rather focusing on bars and trying to make the worlds team (which I have doubts about, but who knows?).
Samantha Shapiro
Much as I wish this girl would WAX HER EYEBROWS, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, she is a pretty gymnast. Unfortunately, she's injured as well. Again, she'll focus on one or two events and try to make the worlds team as a specialist.
Jana Bieger
The girl who went from a world silver medalist... to a nobody. Jeez! How does that happen? She choked at the Olympic selection camp competition... twice. But for some reason, she hasn't given up hope. She didn't do fantastically at the 2009 Us Classic, but she was sick. Hopefully we'll see a much healthier, cleaner Jana at nationals.
Olivia Courtney
This girl won the US (Covergirl) Classic this year! Granted, she WAS the only one to hit all four events, and that won't happen again at nationals. But still, she has a legit shot at placing top 5-7.
Mackenzie Caquatto
Mackenzie only competed the first day of competition at Olympic Trials, and only competed bars at the US Classic this year. I'm not sure what the plan is for nationals, though I doubt she'll do all-around.
Samantha Peszek
Sam! She's back and ready to rock. Despite a torn labrum in her shoulder, she's (supposedly) competing everything but bars at nationals (and worlds, if she makes the team). Glad to see so many of the Olympians coming back, even if only on a few events. :]
Bridget Sloan
If you ask me... this girl's got it. She's posted the highest AA out of any elite competitor in the world so far this year (59.6 at the American Cup), and she's consistent. I have a feeling she'll be making the world team as well.
Rheagan Courville
Does not have much of a shot... her score at the US Classic was a 52.7. To qualify to senior elite, you have to score 52.5. Talk about just squeaking by! Still... good for her! And who knows, she may surprise us!
Kytra Hunter
2008 JO National Champion. She also won floor at the dual meet with Germany during the European tour. Floor looks like her best shot for a medal.
Georgia Dabritz
Just qualified to senior elite earlier this year. Can't find much dirt on her. She was the 2007 US Challenge champion... but that's about all I can find.
Rebecca Clark
The next one from GAGE. Earned a bronze medal on bars and a 7th place finish on beam at the US Classic. She did not compete floor. She was 6th place at nationals last year as a junior.
Cassandra Whitcomb
Cassie was the bronze medalist in the AA as a junior at last years nationals. She's been on the national team for 2 years. She trains at Cincinnati Gymnastics under Mary Lee Tracy. She won bars and was 4th AA at this years US Classic with a 54.7. She has a decent shot at placing top 10.
Kimberly Jacob
She qualified to last years nationals and has a full ride scholarship to Bama... that's about all I've got! :P
Annette Miele
OK, I REALLY can't find anything on her. Really, all I got was that she was 11th AA and 3'd on VT after day 1 of nationals last year as a junior. :P
Morgan Steigerwalt
Trains at the infamous Parkettes. She was 10th AA at the 09 US Classic with a 52.5. Her best score was 14.15 on floor, which got her 4th place. Wouldn't expect her to place very high.
Rebecca Bross
Trains at WOGA... supposedly the next Nastia! Her bars are great! Unfortunately, the girl is plagued by injuries. She only competed bars at the US Classic this year, where she scored a 13.15 (with a fallen, watered down dismount). Not sure if her plan for nationals is AA or just certain events. If she does AA, she definitely has a legitimate shot at medaling.
Ivana Hong
Ivana... what to say? She's now training with Papa Liukin at WOGA, after leaving GAGE (with quite the controversy!). She's a beautiful gymnast... she's just inconsistent! If she can pull together a good, consistent meet... she has a shot at being national champion. Unfortunately, that seems to be asking alot. I just really want to see her go 4 for 4!
Alaina Johnson
Finished 12th AA at the Olympic trials. Haven't seen much on her since then, so no word if she'll be doing AA.
Anastasia “Nastia” Liukin
Well... it's Nastia! The Olympic champ! She WILL NOT be doing all around. Bars and beam she has confirmed, POSSIBLY floor, but not vault. She looked good on beam at the US Classic a week or so back... and from what we saw from the videos of training, she's pretty much back on bars as well! Very excited to see what she does. And I DEFINITELY want to see her new floor routine... aghhh!
Brooke Parker
Finished 8th AA at the US Classic this year. She also was 7th on bars and 8th on beam. She was 19th at last years nationals.
Kayla Williams
Talk about crashing onto the scene! Ever since she won JO Nationals earlier this year, she's been talked about like crazy! Lots of people are billing her as "the next Sacramone"... and many are talking worlds for her! Her vault and floor sets are amazing... she does a triple full AS A SIDE PASS. Ridiculous. :P She finished 5th AA at the US Classic this year and should be a force to be reckoned with, at least on vault and floor, at nationals.
Chellsie Memmel
She is... crazy! Everytime you think she's down and out, she comes back! I don't know if she'll be doing all-around, but if she does, she DEFINITELY has a shot! She was 3'd at nationals AND Olympic Trials last year. She has yet to win a national title... could this FINALLY be her year?
Juniors coming soon!
