It’s time to put another gymnast on your radar. Reese Esponda won the U.S. Classic on Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut, edging out Olympic champion Jade Carey in a career-best effort. Esponda posted a massive 54.900 to win the all-around, defeating Carey by just short of a full point.
Esponda’s lead came in large part due to her meet-best floor routine, where the 17-year-old posted a huge 13.950 to win the gold medal. Carey, a three-time Olympic medalist, posted a strong 54.050 as she continued to ease back into elite competition after announcing her comeback.
The result marked a full-point improvement from Carey’s total at June’s American Classic. After an impressive all-around effort, Zoe Molomo rounded out the podium with the bronze medal.
World champion Skye Blakely competed on just bars and beam in Hartford, but the veteran showed impressive difficulty to finish in first place on both. Five-time World medalist Leanne Wong competed only on balance beam due to a recent wrist injury, posting a 11.900.
Katelyn Ohashi had to wait until nearly the end of the meet to make her debut, but the timing made no impact on the veteran. Starting on balance beam, Ohashi was confident and crisp in her second elite beam routine since 2013, nailing her flight series and dismount to one of the loudest crowd roars of the night.
“So cool, so cool,” Ohashi stated, hugging her coach, Cale Robinson (Pacific Reign), following her routine. Ohashi received a 13.200 for her routine, finishing sixth in the event. Later on floor, she danced to a near two-point improvement from her score at June’s American Classic, earning her second 13.200 of the night.
While Ohashi’s combined total of 26.400 fell short of the 26.800 needed to qualify to August’s U.S. Championships, it displayed a remarkable improvement from her comeback effort at the American Classic.
2026 U.S. Classic Medalists
All-Around
- Reese Esponda (World Champions Centre): 54.900
- Jade Carey (Oregon State): 54.050
- Zoe Molomo (Metroplex): 53.900
Vault
- Jade Carey (Oregon State): 14.275
- Izzy Stassi (University of Oklahoma): 13.550
- Tatum Drusch (Flips Gymnastics): 13.200
Uneven Bars
- Skye Blakely (University of Florida): 14.100
- Izzy Stassi (University of Oklahoma): 13.650
- Simone Rose (Pacific Reign): 13.600
Balance Beam
- Skye Blakely (University of Florida): 14.250
- Isabella Anzola (WOGA): 13.800
- Reese Esponda (World Champions Centre): 13.750
Floor
- Reese Esponda (World Champions Centre): 13.950
- (Tie) Jade Carey, Isabella Anzola, Izzy Stassi: 13.300
What’s Next for Team USA’s Gymnasts
Next up, the focus turns to Phoenix, Arizona. The nation’s top gymnasts will convene in the ‘Valley of the Sun’ for the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships from August 6-9. In Phoenix, gymnasts will vie for spots on the U.S. National Team squad and for invitations to the World Team Selection Event.
From there, the USA Gymnastics selection committee will determine its six-gymnast team to compete at the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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