presented by: Midwest Gym Supply
Results: Session 2A- Juniors | Seniors Session 3A- Juniors | Seniors
The 2025 BIG Classic hosted by BIG Gymnastics was one of the last chances to qualify to the Nastia Cup, which will take place next weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. This year’s BIG Classic had two level 10 sessions with some of our regions top teams and all 5 states represented.
The highlights for both sessions (full results linked above) and some routines you need to Press Play for are included below. Click arrow for more highlights
The Junior Nastia qualifier came out of the first session with Reagan Nowak from Branch Gymnastics, taken the title with a 38.3.
Reagan just missed qualifying a few weeks ago at a qualifier in Virginia and made a trip to Illinois with qualifying as the main objective. She began on bars with her huge Ray bail combo and 9.625, and she closed with a very nice Yurchenko 1/1 for a 9.7 winning both events. Her 9.7 on floor took top honors for all juniors and was the 2nd highest score amongst all athletes.
Gabi Ursu, from Naperville, who took her acrobatic talents to the diving board representing her high school this past fall, was well balanced on her front aerial and BHS layout flight series to grab the top beam score of 9.3 for juniors in the first session.
The second Junior session (combined age groups) was won by the host gym’s Jillian Luif (BIG) who took the all around title with a 37.5 swinging her Maloney Pac combo to the highest bars score of the competition 9.65. Jillian would close the competition with a very nice double pike and the top floor score for juniors in the 2nd session 9.575.
Hunts Gymnastics first year level 10 Erin Tuladziecki had the top junior beam score in the 2nd session and second highest junior score (tied) of both session combined triple flighting her way to a 9.275.
Erin wouldn’t be the only first year level 10 to grab the gold, as Peyton Gregory from BIG Gymnastics blasted a very nice Yurchenko Full for the first time in competition into the Romeoville Athletic Center’s rafters. She unfortunately had way too much power, causing her to take a big step back for a 9.7 which tied for the 3rd highest vault score of the competition.
The Senior Nastia Qualifier came out of the 2nd session of level 10 and the overall top score amongst all athletes. 2025 Level 10 National Champion and future UCLA Bruin Cameron Tassone from IK Gymnastics scored a 38.55 and won 2 of the 4 events (combined all 2nd session seniors).
Her 9.825 floor, which features a very nice front double full front pike, was the highest individual score awarded to any level 10 on any event. She also vaulted her nice Yurchenko 1 1/2 to a top 9.75.
Macy Nihart from Capitol City Flips took top honors on bars for all seniors with her 9.625. Her clear hip Shaposh bail handstand has a very dynamic rhythm and was very nicely executed with no leg separation like you see many times on the low to high circle releases elements.
The top score on beam was a 9.5 from Flip Star’s Emma Bazan. Her front aerial to scale was well controlled and long with her nice switch leap switch leap series.
In the first session the senior age group was a tight fight between two 2024 Level 10 National Qualifiers and came down to 25 hundredths of a point. Julia Rausa from Libertyville won with a 37.15 over Lulu Ton That for CPD with her 37.125. Julia won bars with a 9.6 for her huge Ray bail combo as well as floor with a 9.55.
In possibly her final club performance before she heads to Michigan State University in the fall, Jazlynn Chism from MEGA vaulted a very nice Yurchenko Full for 9.7. It looks like she can easily add a half to that and hope to see it in the Spartan line-up in the near future.
However, as in all competitions, there are many routines that stand out for one reason or another and either are missed or just overshadowed by other routines. Here are some of those routines that HEY….. YOU NEED TO PRESS PLAY!
Anelise Johnson from CC Flips has some of the best form on bars which makes her gymnastics stand out. However, when she combines the form with the huge Ray you can’t help but showcase the routine. 9.6
Alexandra Karkowski from IK on beam stands out because of her unique style and choice of skills and choreography from the single leg break dancing in the beginning to the flight series and different arm and body movements. It’s definitely not boring at least in my opinion. 9.475
Isla Lazzari from CITY has really improved over the last year. Her expression and presentation continues to improve much of that due to her goals of qualifying junior elite. The new front layout step out to double back at the beginning of her routine is a nice edition and she closes with a strong double pike. 9.675
Esphyr Koren from Perfection is always a contender in the all around at any meet she competes. However, it’s her bars for me. Her Chow (it’s a Maloney but from a Stalder) is one of my favorite skills in all of gymnastics and she does it well. 9.5
Raegan McCarty from Flip Stars on floor, I mean she starts with a neck kip, but Raegan has a nice mix of strong front twisting and back twisting but the split and height of her leaps and jumps is very impressive. 9.65
Lulu Ton That from CPD has really improved on bars over the last 2 years. Though I would say beam is her premier event (checkout her flight series dismount video on our socials), this routine has evolved into a very strong event for her. The new dismount combo is very well done and a Toe full at the end of her routine to handstand EXCELLENT! 9.525
