Hezly Rivera
The U.S. Classic held in Hoffman Estates, Illinois this weekend marks the final stop for athletes hoping to earn a spot at this year’s national championships, but with many athletes already qualified, it’ll also be a way for established elites to get some last-minute practice in.
Among the group of young veterans returning this year is Hezly Rivera, a member of the gold medal-winning 2024 Olympic team. After a short break post-Paris, Rivera made her comeback on beam at the Winter Cup early this year before returning to the international stage at the Pan American Championships, where she won bronze medals in the all-around and on beam.
Rivera is joined by 2024 Olympic reserve athletes Leanne Wong, who just wrapped up her NCAA career at the University of Florida, and Joscelyn Roberson, who just finished a stellar freshman year at Arkansas. Other notable seniors include 2025 Pan Ams all-around champion Jayla Hang, her club teammate Simone Rose, who won gold on bars in Jesolo earlier this year, Pan Ams medalists Gabrielle Hardie and Dulcy Caylor, Winter Cup champion Ashlee Sullivan, who also had some international successes this year, and Nola Matthews and Claire Pease, both of whom won apparatus medals at world cups and challenge cups this spring.
The junior field is led by Lavi Crain, who started her 2025 season with a Winter Cup all-around win before going on to win the titles at the City of Jesolo Trophy and then again at last month’s American Classic. Her Jesolo teammates Charleigh Bullock, Addy Fulcher, Caroline Moreau, Kylie Smith, and Addalye VanGrinsven are also among those to watch.
The weekend in Hoffman Estates begins with the Hopes Championships on Friday, July 18, with the junior women competing later that evening. On Saturday, July 19, the senior women will compete across two separate sessions, at 2 pm and 7 pm CT. You can find live stream links and additional information on the USA Gymnastics event website.
| SENIOR WOMEN | |
| Sage Bradford* Harlow Buddendeck* Dulcy Caylor Ally Damelio* Jordis Eichman* Reese Esponda* Catherine Guy* Jayla Hang Gabrielle Hardie Myli Lew Nola Matthews Annalisa Milton* Malea Milton* Avery Moll* Claire Pease |
Brooke Pierson* Hezly Rivera Joscelyn Roberson Alessia Rosa Simone Rose Izzy Stassi Ashlee Sullivan Maliha Tressel* Audree Valdenarro* Sabrina Visconti* Camie Westerman* Halle Wittenberg* Leanne Wong Alicia Zhou |
*Not yet qualified to nationals
| JUNIOR WOMEN | |
| Ashley Andrews* Isabella Anzola* Sophia Buechler Charleigh Bullock Espy Chang Lavi Crain Vivi Crain Emmy Cunningham* Aulya Daniels* Eva Doherty* Mavie Fitzgerald* Carla Fronc* Addy Fulcher Blake Green* Leah Higgins* Maya Kosarikova* Greta Krob* |
Isla Lazzari* Anslee McCauley Amariah Moore* Caroline Moreau Amia Pugh-Banks Paisley Ritger* Mary Salazar* Kaylee Sath* Elaina Sliney Kylie Smith Ansley Stevens* Sage Stiggers* Sydney Strong* Addalye VanGrinsven Grace Wickham* Sydney Williams Mattie Mae Young* |
*Not yet qualified to nationals
| HOPES CHAMPIONSHIPS 13-14 | |
| Brynley Applegate Tiraia Ballard Hadley Bird Alden Dante Sofie Davtyan Chrysette Diggs Sadie Drake Brianna Heath Micayla Madden |
Sapphire Martin Brenna McClure Annabel Melnyk Alexis Reiner Jazzy Saravia Daisy Skolaut Agnes Song Cassie Tan |
| HOPES CHAMPIONSHIPS 11-12 | |
| Isabella Alban Ericka ChaFong Hannah Darling Piper Graves Nora Greenfield Avery Haines Brooklyn Hardman-Smith Hadassah Kahlig Lainee Kate Kelley Kyndall Keys |
Brooklyn Klauser Kinsley Jo Kruiter Claudia Lasak Kinsley Myers Najla Oby Olivia Ransom Mary Sizemore Harper Usseglio Audrey VanGrinsven |
Article by Lauren Hopkins
The Gymternet 