Phoenix, here we go. The senior women take the floor tonight at Mortgage Matchup Center for night one of the 2026 US Championships.
Can Hezly Rivera defend her national all-around title? Will Jade Carey feel the support of the hometown crowd? Skye Blakely in the all around, Reese Esponda brani double back and we can’t forget Oklahoma’s first elite on the competition floor with KJ! That athlete would be region 5’s very own Izzy Stassi. Every landing matters, every tenth counts, and one mistake can completely change the leaderboard.
Stay with us throughout the competition for live scores, routine-by-routine updates, standout performances, major saves, and all the key moments from Phoenix. Let’s GO!
Welcome to our live coverage of the 2026 US Championships from here in Phoenix. I will be bringing you live updates of all that is going on here in the arena. Real time updates with routine highlights, scores, behind the scenes action in the arena, and of course a special focus on our Region 5 athletes. Follow along as we get ready for Day 1 of the Junior competition.
Center for all Region 5 coverage of the 2026 Xfinity US Championships at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix Arizona. This is place to find coverage of our Region 5 athletes all week with highlights, competition live blogs, competition recaps, photo galleries, interviews and more. Follow along on our socials and check back here for more championship content.
Friday Aug 7th- Day 1 Coverage beginning at 10:00am Pacific Time
Sunday Aug 9th– Day 2 coverage beginning at 8:30am Pacific Time
HARTFORD, Conn. — The final competition before next months Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships took place Saturday as many of our top junior and senior elites competed at the 2026 U.S. Classic in PeoplesBank Arena. This competition served as the final change or final tune up for nationals in Phoenix. Amidst the excitement of Katelyn Ohashi’s return, we had five Region 5 gymnasts (one now representing her University) sharing the competition floor. Four were competing for their qualifying score to championships, while one was returning from injury and already qualified.
The US Classic kicked off Saturday afternoon with the junior competition and the trio from Cincinnati Gymnastics were in action. Claire Ekart, in her first elite season, was solid on beam, tumbling into her double full dismount and onto the podium finishing 3rd with a 12.85. She improved her all around score from American Classic by near a point to total a 49.95 and qualifying to championships. Ansley Stevens competed in her 2nd US Classic and had a solid performance improving over a point and a half from her American Classic with a 47.1. She has made some big changes to her gymnastics this year especially on vault and bars, but it was the fight on her layout layout series on beam during the competition that was very impressive; off a bit and under rotated, Ansley just stood up , squared her hips, and moved along…. Awesome!!
Kylie Smith, the 2026 Winter Cup Junior all around champion, returned to competition after an injury kept her out of Pan American Championships selection. Kylie, who is already qualified for championships, competed only on beam and floor. She hit a solid beam routine for a 12.45 and watered down her floor a bit but looked strong on all three tumbling passes including her last double back for a 12.85 and onto the awards podium in 2nd place.
Cincinnati Junior Trio Ansley Stevens, Claire Ekart and Kylie Smith during the 2026 US Classic Junior session
“Can Only go Up from Here, I will be Back”- Izzy Stassi after Day 2 of 2025 US Championships
Izzy Stassi was back, Winter Cup being her last competition she competed in. She told the Insider after the 2026 Xfinity US Championships, she would be back but this go around she is now an Oklahoma Sooner, moving to Norman in June. She kicked off the competition with a very solid layout step out onto the beam but unfortunately fell on her series. After the fall in the first rotation, Izzy went on to hit the last three routines all above 13.3 including a stuck 1/2 front pike vault (already Oklaho-ming it) and the 2nd best bars routine of the competition. She was pre qualified to nationals on two event score from Winter Cup but scored a 52.55 making her a contender in the all around in Phoenix.
Video from USA Gymnastics Youtube Channel
Elaina Sliney, Cincinnati who qualified to US Championships as a junior in 2025, competed in her first senior US Classic in Hartford. Elaina who had to deal with adversity before the meet started (check out her IG post) had a solid day hitting all four events and noted has made huge improvement on her first pass front layout front double full front tuck on floor which was very well done to score a 12.5. She scored a 50.5 in the all around which was short of the 52.5 (51.5 unofficial) score needed for move onto championships.
Looking ahead to the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix next month, Region 5 will have 3 athletes on the floor vying for spots on the national team. It will be exciting and hopefully will start a trend of Region 5 alums continuing elite while competing in the NCAA. Gymnastics fans will be treated to an exciting competition at the Mortgage Matchup Center three weeks from now in Phoenix.
