Hailey Reiff, a fifth grader at the Litchfield Middle School, has made this year’s USA Gymnastics TOPs National B Team and earned the right to train at the Women’s National Team Training Center located at the Bela Karolyi’s Ranch in Houston.

The 10-year-old Level 8 gymnast out of the New England Gymnastics Training Center in Hudson is coached by Melanie Streeter. Her gymnastics accomplishments to date include All-Around State Champion at Spring States in 2008, All-Around State Champion at Winter States in 2009 and State Champion in beam, vault and floor at the Spring States in 2010.

Reiff and her coach will workout at the National TOPs Training Camp in Houston starting today and return on Friday. They will work with the USA Gymnastics National coaching staff.

USA Gymnastics, the national governing body of the sport in the United States, conducts an annual Talent Opportunity Program (TOPs) to identify young gymnasts who have the ability to excel in the sport.

Through a series of tests, USA Gymnastics identifies approximately 100 gymnasts (ages 8-11) to make up the TOPs National A and B Teams.

TOPs Regional testing took place throughout the summer with thousands of gymnasts participating. From those who participated, 300 gymnasts from around the country were invited to TOPs National Testing. The National Testing was held at the National Team Training Center in Houston Oct 1-3, where approximately 100 gymnasts were selected to the TOPs National Teams.

Women’s Program Director for USA Gymnastics, Gary Warren has high hopes for Reiff and the other gymnasts at the National Camp.

“This really is a gathering of the girls who will become America’s elite female gymnasts,” Warren said. “The girls you see at National Camp will be showing up in the Olympics in 2016 and 2020.”

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