© John Cheng

INDIANAPOLIS, March 17, 2013 – After the March Women's National Team Camp at the USA Gymnastics Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, an official U.S. Olympic Training Site, USA Gymnastics has selected eight women, who will represent Team USA the next two weeks at events in Italy and Germany. Olympic team gold-medalist Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max, headlines the squad.

Joining Ross in the senior division are AT&T American Cup runner-up Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/Bannon's Gymnastics; Brenna Dowell of Lenexa, Kan./Great American Gymnastics Express; Peyton Ernst of Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics; Maggie Nichols of Little Canada, Minn./Twin City Twisters; and Lexie Priessman of Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, the reigning U.S. junior champion.

With their selection, Nichols and Ernst have been added to the U.S. Women's Senior National Team.

Amelia Hundley of Hamilton, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, and Bailie Key of Montgomery, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, will compete in the junior division.

The women will first compete at the 2013 Jesolo Trophy in Jesolo, Italy. Competition begins on March 23 with the team and all-around finals, followed by event finals on March 24.

The following week, the team will travel to Chemnitz, Germany, for a tri-meet with Germany and Romania. Members of the U.S. delegation will perform with German athletes to create a fourth, mixed team.