Advanced: New Gymnasts on the US Elite Scene

So, much as I love the current US Senior national team, it is nevertheless a post-Olympic year and the start of the quad preceding the 2012 games, so it's time to look forward to some new blood. I watched each of them perform once, so this is what I saw right then, not necessarily how they perform all the time. More like a first taste.

Sabrina Vega - Part of the US Junior National squad who won gold at the Junior Pan American  Championships, I was immediately drawn to her when I first saw her compete. Her coaches, Sorin and Teodora are products of the Karolyis and Teodora was a teammate of Nadia Comaneci. Having already coached champions in France, they set their sights on the US. Sabrina describes them as her "second parents," and indeed they seem to be strict but kind and effective coaches. She seems to have the makings of America's next wunderkind, as she has been regional and state champion basically since Level 8, it seems. She has lovely European form but awesome skills to back it up. And, can I just say this right now without being creepy? I love white leotards. Sabrina wore one the first time I saw her, and was able to see that she has a six-pack! That would be why I love white leotards. It lets you know that this is an elite sport, with lots of iron-clad muscle. Sometimes it just seems like people lose sight of that in all the music and makeup and talk of who has the best leo.

Bridgette Caquatto - The younger half of the awesome Caquatto gymnastics sister act, this leggy little pixie has the cuteness factor going strong, but I'm not sure how I feel about her. Her constantly flexed feet on bars irks me to no end. Her long legs give her good twists on floor, but the music is a little weird (a techno remix of a classical song), and the dancing is just not strong and fast enough to look right with the music. Still, I have confidence she'll grow into herself, perhaps in time to follow in Mackenzie's steps and make the Senior National team.

Sophina DeJesus - Oh, how do I love this girl. Much as the constant debate between grace and power is present in my mind (as it is in every gymnastic fan's mind), I value originality above all else, especially with the new code nearly making optionals seem like the old compulsory routines. Enough with the constant Aerial walker/flic-flac/layout-stepout combination on beam already! About half the time, the gymnast loses the .2 connection bonus anyway. In my head it's just "the dreaded beam series." Anyway, her floor is a sight to see. It's techno like Bridgette's, but she makes it work for her. She makes that floor her bitch. Enough said.

Briley Casanova - Besides having a kick-ass last name, she has the power of WOGA behind her. But unlike most WOGA gymnasts, she seems almost Shawn-esque with her strong petite build and unfortunate tendency not to hit her splits on beam. But considering Shawn's success, is that really necessarily a bad thing? Props also to her for not having the dreaded beam series either. Her floor is uninspired, good tumbling for sure, but boring recycled WOGA choreography. Bars is pretty good, with crisp turns (which is coincidentally what I love about her gymmate, Rebecca Bross) and mostly hit handstands. I'm bad at judging vault, but she seemed alright, if a little chaotic.

Jordyn Wieber - This young lady with the weirdly spelled first name is kind of like Sabrina in that you may have actually heard about her once or twice. Most Junior National Team members (which all of these ladies are) toil away in obscurity until they reach the blessed sixteenth year of their life, when they can finally get some recognition. You may have heard her name connected to the Tyson American Cup, which she won (and why oh why did the principal sponsor have to manufacture meat? I've always thought that just sends the wrong message). She has also been the Junior National Champion, which is often the stepping stone for Senior National Champ and who knows what other glories and riches? Her Shushunova (jump with stretched hips to planche) mount on beam is safe for the code yet original, as is her attempt to relieve the monotony of the dreaded beam series with a one-armed flic-flic. Standing full to tuck back is risky, but nice, and I'm amazed she would have enough energy, as that combo is her final skill before dismount. Her floor features a swingy jazz number and she at least smiles throughout it, and has decent tumbling. Uneven bars--meh, could be better. Minor form breaks that bother me, but seems to have a good handle on her dismount (full twisting double straight). I love how Elfie goes, "Just like Shawn Johnson!" Uh, no, Elfie. Think double twisting double straight. That woman is, quite frankly, a moron. Even more surprising than Elfie's little gaffe (which we've come to expect, haven't we, US fans?), is her handspring 2.5 on vault. Impressed me quite a bit that she'd even attempt it as a Junior. Yeah, I like her.

Alexandra Raisman - When I watched her floor routine, somebody compared her to Alicia Sacramone. I can see why. She has explosive tumbling, but unlike Alicia, can't seem to control her landings, and bounces all over the place. Her dancing is lackluster, and in some parts, it seems like it's been copied and pasted from Alicia's routine (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery--just not in gymnastics, that's just lazy). Beam had some interesting acrobatics (flic-flac back handspring back layout was the best), but she refuses to hit her splits either on floor or beam, as though allergic to 180 degree angles. Stuck her double back dismount cold, however. Bars, not even going to talk about it, I'm sorry. Well, maybe a little. Most of the Junior team seems to struggle with their flight to high bar transition, coming just a little too close, but Raisman was so close she ended up in a dead hang. Crossed ankles, separated legs at one point, and it all adds up "ugh." Vault seems to be her best skill, with lots of good height and glued legs.

Well, that's only 6 of the 11 team members, but it's late, I'm tired and you wouldn't want me to give away the whole surprise, right? Just look for more the US Junior National Team in the coming years!