Three Illinois athletes represented the state at the prestigious Nastia Liukin Cup on March 7, 2026 at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada. The event features the top Level 10 gymnasts in the country who qualify through invitationals held throughout the winter season.
Competing in the senior division were Cameron Tassone of IK Gymnastics, Raegan McCarty of FlipStar Gymnastics, and Avery Schlichting of Energym.
Tassone finished 13th in the all-around with a score of 37.950. She delivered one of the top vaults of the competition with a 9.900 and added strong performances on beam and floor. Tassone trains at IK Gymnastics in Chicago under head coach Irina Kudina and is committed to compete for UCLA.
McCarty, who trains at FlipStar Gymnastics, placed 16th in the all-around with a score of 37.450. Her performance included solid routines on all four events as she represented Illinois on the national stage. McCarty has committed to continue her gymnastics career at the University of Missouri.
Schlichting of Energym finished 18th in the all-around with a score of 37.325. She had one of the standout performances of the meet on vault, scoring a 9.925 to capture the event title. Schlichting has committed to the University of Alabama and has been one of Illinois’ top Level 10 athletes in recent seasons.
The Nastia Liukin Cup continues to be one of the premier showcases for Level 10 gymnastics in the United States. The event regularly features athletes who go on to compete successfully in NCAA gymnastics.
Illinois is proud to have three athletes represented at the 2026 competition, highlighting the strength and depth of gymnastics programs across the state.