US Brevet Judges (WAG)

[MaryClare]

The recent news regarding Kittia Carpenter had me looking up to see who the US current has registered with WorldGym (the artist formerly known as FIG). And there were some surprises and notable things. I’ve left the best until last.

New to the ranks are Pacific Reign coaches Stephanie Gentry and Cale Robinson. I’m not sure that the US has had a male judge for WAG before. I’m somewhat surprised to see them go down this path. Of course it’s very advantageous for coaches to have more in depth knowledge of the COP but they are young and ambitious coaches with a sizeable elite/L10 team which won’t leave much time for judging assignments. That said, they are currently rated at Level 4, so there are extremely limited judging opportunities but L4s often do line and time duties at World Cup type events.

Kittia is still there currently. As in Anna Li. But I don’t know the ins and outs of what the outcome of her safe sport investigation actually was.

From the national team team there is Betty Okino and Chellsie Memmel. I’m not sure under what circumstances these 2 would find themselves judging? Perhaps in an emergency situation at an overseas competition.

Several stalwarts of the US judging ranks. Cheryl Hamilton, Sylvia Brestyan, Kristie Phillips, Amanda Stroud. But no one is rated higher than 2. Nearly all other major gymnastics countries have a top ranked judge.

From NCAA world, Ashley Johnston, Liz Crandall and Corrine Tarver. I don’t think I’ve seen Corrine’s name on the list before. The college schedule probably means that they are realistically only available for US Classic and Nationals.

And. Ranked at level 2, making her one of the highest ranked judges in the country? Peggy Liddick. I had no idea she was back. And judging.

 

[RedBirdie]

Anna Li's suspension ended, so she's allowed back into USAG.

Corrine Tarver is interesting, I wonder when she got rated. Maybe USAG finally opened up brevet judging to non past national team members (Cale Robinson would also point to this being the case).

Peggy Liddick.......very very very interesting.

 

[Concorde]

Corrine Tarver is interesting, I wonder when she got rated. Maybe USAG finally opened up brevet judging to non past national team members (Cale Robinson would also point to this being the case).

Peggy Liddick.......very very very interesting.

Tarver(maiden name Wright) was on the 1985-1986 and 1986-1987 U.S. National teams.

 

[MaryClare]

Also, no Tatiana Perskaia. I think she was previously a L1

 

[Matilda23]

Peggy Liddick was at Australian Nationals 6 months ago in July 2025. Anyone know if she has left Australia??

 

[Passion]

From the national team team there is Betty Okino and Chellsie Memmel. I’m not sure under what circumstances these 2 would find themselves judging? Perhaps in an emergency situation at an overseas competition.

Memmel was judging beam at Combs La Ville in 2024 when she took the juniors there.

She judged at 2023 Pan Am Games too. IIRC she won some recognition from the FIG for being the most consistent in her judging or something at that meet? Or another one recently, it's real foggy in my memory but I definitely remember she was recognized for something to do with international judging last quad.

ETA: I might be mixing this up with 2022 Pan Am Championships.

 

[Concorde]

Memmel was judging beam at Combs La Ville in 2024 when she took the juniors there.

She judged at 2023 Pan Am Games too. IIRC she won some recognition from the FIG for being the most consistent in her judging or something at that meet? Or another one recently, it's real foggy in my memory but I definitely remember she was recognized for something to do with international judging last quad.

Memmel was also on the D panel for floor exercise at the 2025 Varna World Challenge Cup.

 

[Doug1233]

Also, no Tatiana Perskaia. I think she was previously a L1

Has she retired? She was the US judge that Marta relied on and respected for years.

I seem to remember that Cheryl was a L1 for a cycle but when she retested she dropped down to a L4 (embarrassing for her) but then somehow petitioned back up to L2?! Or am I completely making that up?

 

[FrolovasDoubleLayout]

Judges have the ability to do one retest per cycle. If they went to the intercontinental course they can either retest at one of the in-person continental union courses, or do the one-off course in SUI (I believe max 40 participants) where you can obtain up to category 2, or do the online continental course (where you can get category 4 only). Judges who attend a continental union course can retest at the SUI course or at another continental union course. or the online course. There is a rule in place whereas you can only drop two category levels from your previous level, so if you were a category one and did not pass the course you would still be a category 3 (I'm not sure how this would play out for a category 1 judge course who choice the online route) So, someone who dropped from category 1 to 3 might have received true category three marks or might have failed - only the STS system knows, as the whole examination system is done via a formulaic spread sheet.

 

[Denn]

I always have thought that the limited opportunity to go to courses and to test is a detriment to the sport. Opening up courses to all gymnasts and coaches and even media people would make everyone so much more knowledgeable...

 

[MaryClare]

I always have thought that the limited opportunity to go to courses and to test is a detriment to the sport. Opening up courses to all gymnasts and coaches and even media people would make everyone so much more knowledgeable...

This is the misunderstanding that a lot of people have.

The FIG only controls who judges at FIG sanctioned competition. And yes there are limited opportunities to pass the exam to become a brevet.

But judges education is actually the responsibility of the national federations who can run as many courses as they want, train as many judges as they want and use whoever they want at national competitions. In Russia there are literally hundreds of judges who regularly judge elite level who are not on that list. Similarly in GB, only a very small number of their judges have a FIG brevet.