U.S. Pan Am Squad Selection Camp Begins

/ June 1, 2015

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The U.S. women arrived in Huntsville, Texas today for the Pan American Games squad selection camp, led by national team coordinator Martha Karolyi.

At the conclusion of the camp on Friday June 5, eight women will be chosen to be part of the Pan Am training squad, from which the five member team for this year’s Games will be selected at the next camp beginning June 29.

“Athletes vying for the Pan Am squad will verify nearly full routines and work to finalize routine construction,” according to a press release by USA Gymnastics. “Athletes not attempting to be named to the Pan Am squad will verify half routines. All athletes attending the camp will continue to refine their technical execution, upgrade their dance preparation, and participate in physical abilities testing.”

Selection to the Pan Am Games teams will automatically qualify athletes to this year’s U.S. Championships alongside those who have already qualified at the 2014 World Championships. Simone Biles mentioned on her ask.fm account that she and 2012 Olympic medalist Aly Raisman will be among those not attempting to be named to the Pan Am squad, though the reasoning behind this is unclear.

2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas, who made her return to the sport at this year’s City of Jesolo Trophy, is sitting this camp out due to a very minor foot injury and is expected to compete in the domestic meets this summer.

A full list of those in attendance at this month’s camp is below.

Seniors

Alyssa Baumann, WOGA
Simone Biles, World Champions
Madison Desch, GAGE
Nia Dennis, Buckeye
Rachel Gowey, Chow’s
Felicia Hano, Gym Max
Amelia Hundley, Cincinnati
McKenna Kelley, Stars
Bailie Key, Texas Dreams
Lauren Navarro, Gliders
Maggie Nichols, Twin City Twisters
Aly Raisman, Brestyan’s
Kyla Ross, Gym Max
Emily Schild, Everest
Megan Skaggs, Gym Academy of Atlanta
MyKayla Skinner, Desert Lights

Juniors

Jordan Chiles, Naydenov
Christina Desiderio, Parkettes
Norah Flatley, Chow’s
Jazmyn Foberg, MG Elite
Margzetta Frazier, Parkettes
Laurie Hernandez, MG Elite
Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Brandy Johnson
Victoria Nguyen, Chow’s
Abby Paulson, Twin City Twisters
Grace Quinn, Texas Dreams
Ragan Smith, Texas Dreams
Deanne Soza, Arete

Article by Lauren Hopkins

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29 thoughts on “U.S. Pan Am Squad Selection Camp Begins”

    • I would imagine all seniors are going out for spots with the exception of Simone and Aly according to Simone’s Ask.fm, so my guess would be Ross, Douglas, Key, Baumann and Nichols for the team? Maybe swap one or two of those out for Skinner, Desch, Hano, and Dennis? It’s unclear where Dennis is at because of her knee injury but she’s been back at camp for a couple of months now so maybe she’ll be able to contend?

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    • Same! I know she was just still on the mend as of earlier this year and had surgery in January so I’m not quite sure what we can expect but I hope she’s awesome!

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  6. On USAG’s page they said not all athletes are vying for a spot on the PanAms team and those that aren’t are only verifying half routines. I think Ross is someone who has literally nothing to prove and is gonna spend her time upgrading so i doubt she’s going. Also, Gabby is not going to Pan Ams; it’s been confirmed by USAG because they said she won’t be attending this camp.

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    • Yeah, Gabby was originally on the list of those attending but they took her off in the hour or so after first posting. Ross has ‘nothing to prove’ technically but as far as I know, she was on the list of those at the last camp planning on contending at this camp for the squad.

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      • oh. KYLA WWWHHHHYYY? This bish betta have a 6.4 on beam…I am not even gonna look at her if her UB is anything less than a 6.5. #crying

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        • Yeah, I’d imagine going to Pan Ams would make sense to test out any upgrades?? But who knows. I’m pretty sure Martha said something along the lines of EVERYONE needs to be in the mix, but obvs gave Simone a pass and then with Aly they’re trying to protect her body as much as possible I guess. But I didn’t hear of any of that “leeway” given to Kyla, so who knows?!

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  7. Simone said herself, Aly , and others would not being going to Pan Ams for other seniors to get more international experience.

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  8. Any ideas as to why Gabby isn’t attending? Just curious. Also, is Peyton Ernst officially done and just going on to college (I may have missed this so apologies if it’s old news)?

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  10. So Gabby out this time with minor foot injury but that would make it improbable for her to be at pan am since they select 8 this time and obviously she’s not there this time. Maybe Key? Kyla? looks like Skinner could make it? I am getting a little confused…

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  12. Nia Dennis
    Madison Desch
    Rachel Gowey
    Felicia Hano
    Amelia Hundley
    Lauren Navarro
    Emily Schild
    Megan Skaggs

    So out of these 8, 5 will go? any speculation on who? I am def hoping to see Rachel gowey go since she’s the only one we haven’t seen at all this year in any vids. This is not exactly the strongest US team there is (although by no mean a bad team) so any danger of not getting the team gold and AA nailed down? I imagine this would leave open the door a little for others.

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    • I’d say Desch is pretty likely and Gowey if she’s back in shape, which it appears she is. I’d predict the other three would be Felicia, Nia, and Amelia, with Felicia being the one I think is the top contender.

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  13. Anyone got a link to any 2015 vid of Gowey, Navarro, or Hundley? I can’t find 2015 on any of those 3. I am guessing based on jesolo that Desch is strong enough to make this team

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