2012 Olympic team champions Maroney, Ross set to compete at Secret U.S. Classic

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – 2012 Olympic team gold-medalists McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./All-Olympia Gymnastics Center, and Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max, are among the field of competitors expected to compete at the 2013 Secret U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 27 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

In addition to Maroney and Ross, 2013 AT&T American Cup all-around silver medalist Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/Bannon's Gymnastix, and reigning U.S. junior champion Lexie Priessman of Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, are also in the field. Fellow U.S. Senior National Team members Madison Desch of Lenexa, Kan./Great American Gymnastics Express; Maggie Nichols of Little Canada, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brenna Dowell of Odessa, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express; Kennedy Baker of Flower Mound, Texas/Texas Dreams; and Peyton Ernst of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams, join the quartet.

The junior field has 46 athletes from 16 states, including all five members of U.S. Junior National Team: Nia Dennis of Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics; Laurie Hernandez of Old Bridge, N.J./MG Elite; Amelia Hundley of Hamilton, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics; Bailie Key of Montgomery, Texas/Texas Dreams; and Polina Shchennikova of Arvada, Colo./TIGAR.

The event, which features some of the USA's top female gymnasts, is the final qualifying event for women's gymnastics for the P&G Gymnastics Championships, which determines U.S. champions and national team members.

Single session tickets range in price from $20-$35 for the junior session and $25-$45 for the senior session, including facility fees. All-day tickets, which include admission to both the junior and senior elite sessions, are also on sale and range from $40-$69, including facility fees. To purchase tickets, visit www.SearsCentre.com, call 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or visit the KIA Box Office at the Sears Centre Arena. Group tickets may be purchased by calling 847-649-2368.

The July 27 competition schedule is 1 p.m. for the junior session and 6 p.m. for the senior session. All times are Central and subject to change. For more information, go to secretclassic.com.

The 2013 P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 15-18 in Hartford, Conn., is USA Gymnastics' national championships. For more information, go to pgchamps.com.

Background information

Sears Centre Arena. Sears Centre Arena is an 11,000-seat multipurpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates' Prairie Stone Business Park. The Sears Centre Arena, which opened in 2006, is designed to accommodate a variety of events including concerts, family shows and sporting events. For more information regarding the Sears Centre Arena and upcoming events, please visit the arena's website at www.searscentre.com.

World Sport Chicago. World Sport Chicago, the legacy of Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid, believes that sport has the power to transform lives and is dedicated to helping children in Chicago find a sport to meet their interests and abilities. The organization promotes the Olympic ideals of fitness, education and well-being by working with partner organizations to launch or expand sport programs for kids. WSC is working to introduce Chicago's youth to the fun and benefit of sports and the ideals of fair play, teamwork, respect and leadership. For more information, go to www.worldsportchicago.org.