Six Deep: My College Beam Lineup From the Class of 2028

Beam is an event that requires not just impressive tumbling, high leaps, and artistry, but also confidence and consistency. It takes a special athlete with extreme focus to shine on beam and bring a crowd into the performance. Narrowing the field down to six for a lineup is hard with the amount of talent the Class of 2028 shows.   Welcome to Six Deep, where I'm putting together my own six-gymnast lineup for each event. First up is vault, where I'm looking for the athletes I'd trust to set the tone, build momentum, and deliver when it matters. These are the six gymnasts I'd want on my beam roster.    Alabama commit Abigail Ballard brings a distinctive flair to the beam, combining long, clean lines with the kind of artistry that immediately draws you into her routine. There is a natural confidence in the way she moves across the beam, allowing each skill and choreographic moment to flow seamlessly into the next. Her tumbling is especially impressive, performed with speed and precision while still feeling like an intentional part of the choreography rather than simply a series of skills. Ballard has a way of making the entire routine feel connected, polished, and purposeful. With her confident presentation and ability to keep the energy moving from one element to the next, her beam routine holds your attention from the opening movement all the way through the dismount.     Mariemma Sanders brings a polished and confident presence to the beam, combining clean, precise choreography with a touch of personality that makes her routine stand out. Her front toss-back handspring and front aerial add difficulty while fitting naturally into the overall flow of the routine. She performs each element with control and confidence, never letting the difficulty take away from the presentation. Her choreography is crisp and intentional, and she brings it to life with a natural smile and an engaging performance quality. Sanders has a way of making the routine feel both composed and personable, creating a beam performance that is easy to watch and keeps you invested from beginning to end.     Quinn Harris brings the kind of steady confidence to beam that can make her a valuable piece of a college lineup. Her aerial, back handspring-layout, Barani, and leaps are all performed with power, but she pairs that aggression with an impressive level of precision. Harris attacks the routine with confidence without allowing that intensity to compromise her control, creating a performance that feels dependable from skill to skill. She has a composed presence on the event and a clear sense of purpose in the way she moves through the routine. That combination of difficulty, power, and consistency gives Harris the tools to become the type of beam worker coaches can trust when the pressure is on. In a college lineup, her ability to bring a confident, aggressive routine while maintaining precision could make her a reliable contributor when every tenth matters.     Sierra Davis brings a distinctive style to the beam, blending unique choreography with powerful tumbling and big, impressive jumps. There is a quiet confidence to the way she performs, as if she knows exactly what she wants to accomplish before she ever steps onto the beam. That intentional approach shows in every part of her routine, from her controlled tumbling to the way she presents each choreographic moment. Davis pairs her difficulty with clean lines, strong form, and precise execution, giving the routine a polished and composed feel. Her ability to combine power with artistry makes her beam work especially engaging, while her calm, deliberate presence allows the difficulty to speak for itself. In a college lineup, that combination of confidence, execution, and individuality could give her a routine that stands out while still bringing the consistency coaches are looking for.     Cheyenne Machen brings a clean, confident presence to the beam, working through each skill with purpose and efficiency. She attacks her routine without hesitation, moving quickly from one element to the next while maintaining the precision needed to keep the routine together. That confidence is backed up by a strong finish to her season, as Machen scored a 9.5 or higher in each of her final five meets. That kind of consistency is exactly what can make a gymnast valuable in a college lineup. Coaches need athletes who can step onto the beam, trust their preparation, and deliver the routine they've trained, and Machen has demonstrated that ability repeatedly. Her combination of confidence, clean execution, and proven consistency gives her the potential to be a dependable contributor in a lineup where every routine counts.     Kate Seaman, a Michigan commit, brings the kind of difficulty and polish that immediately stands out on beam. She starts her routine with a bang, opening with a clean back dive mount before moving confidently into a triple series that she makes look effortless. Her Onodi adds another layer of difficulty and uniqueness, giving the routine challenging skills without ever making them appear forced. Seaman's confidence allows her to attack each element with composure, while her choreography already carries the feel of an NCAA-style routine. She blends difficulty, artistry, and presentation seamlessly, giving her beam routine a polished, collegiate quality that makes her an exciting final piece of this lineup.

Beam is an event that requires not just impressive tumbling, high leaps, and artistry, but also confidence and consistency. It takes a special athlete with extreme focus to shine on beam and bring a crowd into the performance. Narrowing the field down to six for a lineup is hard with the amount of talent the Class of 2028 shows.