Mykayla Skinner, a Senior International Elite from Desert Lights in Arizona, has committed to Utah. Mykayla started her 2012 season at the Fiesta Bowl, picking up the all around title and wins on vault, beam and floor. She competed internationally at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, placing 10th AA, 5th on vault and 4th on floor. At the Visa Championships, she finished 15th AA.
Samantha Partyka, L10 from Champions in Texas, committed to Utah. In the 2012 season, she finished 1st AA (1st V/BB/FX) at the Ricki Deci meet, and 1st AA (1st V/FX) at the HNI. She rounded out her season by winning the vault title at her state meet, then winning the all around and bars titles at regionals. She placed 2nd AA at JOs and won the national vault title.
Elena Lagoski, L10 at Northeast Gymnastics in Pennsylvania, has committed to Michigan State. During her 2012 season, she won floor titles at the Parkettes Invitational and the Katie Baldwin Invite. She placed 9th AA at regionals and earned a spot in the NIT where she finished 2nd on floor.
Rachel Sine has committed to WVU, according to her club. The L10 from the Girls Co-Op was a L10 National qualifier out of Region VII in 2011.
Link: Recruiting Video
Alexandra DeMoura, L10 at New Image Gymnastics in New York, has accepted a scholarship offer from George Washington. This past season she won her sessions of the Big Apple Holiday Classic, the Sand Dollar and the Chicago Style, picking up various event titles as well. She made her third appearance at JOs, placing 25th AA.
Ariel Martin is off to Nebraska this summer to compete for NU in 2012-2013, according to her club. The L10 from IGI originally committed to Ohio State, but then tore her Achilles. After a lengthy rehab period, she competed one event at the state meet this season. In 2011, she won the Region V L10 Regional AA title before her injury. In 2010, she finished 2nd on VT, 4th (t) on FX, 8th on BB and 3rd AA at the L10 Junior Olympic Nationals.
Link: YouTube.com Channel and Regional Videos
Utah State has hired David Tighe as an assistant. He recently graduated from Liberty University. A former pole vaulter and college and USAG club gymnast, he has also coached at the club level. He replaced Janet Anson.
Link: USU Release
Tracey Pearson, L10 at United Gymnastix in Maryland, has committed to Pitt. This season she swept all events at the United Winterfest Invitational and finished 1st AA (1st V/FX) at the Magical Classic. She finished her season at the NIT where she came away with the vault and bars titles.
Nichole Guerrero has reportedly committed to Alabama. Nichole is a two JO qualifier who competes for Zenith Gymnastics in Texas. This season she finished in the top three AA and won every vault title at all of her meets through the regular season. She went on to win her session at regionals (1st AA; 1st V/FX) and she placed 5th AA at JOs.
The US Women's squad for the 2012 Olympics: Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber. The replacement athletes are Elizabeth Price, Sarah Finnegan and former UCLA star Anna Li.
In an exciting final day of the trials, Gabby Douglas hit her final floor routine to hold off Jordyn Wieber and earn the automatic spot on the squad. Raisman stayed consistent for third. Maroney showed strongly on vault once again, and Ross proved her worth on bars and beam.
Price made a strong push the final day and edged Ross for fourth AAer, less than a point behind Raisman. With strong scores on all four events (in particular VT and UB), she is the most versatile of the replacement athletes. Li earned her spot as a bars specialist, outperforming the other contenders for this slot. Up and coming star Finnegan excels with high start values on beam and floor.
Link: USA Gymnastics
Five team members and three replacements were named, with five of the eight having ties to OU:
Jake Dalton (OU)
Jonathan Horton (ex OU)
Danell Leyva
Sam Mikulak (Michigan)
John Orozco
Replacement athletes
Chris Brooks (ex OU)
Steven Legendre (ex OU)
Alexander Naddour (ex OU)
Link: USA Gymnastics
After 20 years at UGA, Jay Clark will join the LSU staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Danell Leyva and John Orozco punched their tickets to London at the Olympic Trials on Saturday night. The rest of the team will be named tomorrow. Former OU Sooner Jonathan Horton was third, while OU's Jake Dalton tied with former Sooner Chris Brooks for fourth. Brooks rebounded from troubles in night one to post the third highest tally.
Former Illini Paul Ruggeri was 6th while current Illini CJ Maestas was 7th. Former Sooner Steve Legendre was 8th.
Michigan's Sam Mikulak, the highest scorer on night, could only compete on pommel horse after an ill-time sprained ankle. His injury shakes up the potential Olympic squad.
In the all important individual events, athletes sought to place in the top three as many times as possible in the final tally. Some gymnasts rebounded from problems during one of the four days of competition, while others had consistent efforts all four nights. Dalton won floor and vault to strengthen his bid. Former teammate Alex Naddour won PH, but had a few problems on the final night. Horton won rings, and was 2nd on PB. Leyva won PB and HB.
Link: USAG Release
World Champion Jordyn Wieber leads the field after the first day of the US Women's Olympic Trials. Gabby Douglas was 2nd and Aly Raisman 3rd. Rising star Elizabeth Price was 4th AA (2nd on VT, 5th on FX), ahead of Kyla Ross in 5th (touch down on her Amanar vault. 6th place Sarah Finnegan had the top mark on BB while McKayle Maroney had the top single mark on vault and the #4 mark on floor as she battles back from injury.
OU commit Brenna Dowell was 8th while Florida commit Kennedy Baker was 9th. Former Brown athlete Alicia Sacramone notched a top 3 mark on BB in her best effort, keeping alive her campaign for a specialist role. Former UCLA star Anna Li tied for the top score of the day on UB (with Ross), where she hopes to make an impression. Florida incoming frosh Bridget Sloan withdrew with an injury.
Sydney Ewing, L10 at Acadiana Gymnastics in Louisiana, has committed to LSU. This season she won her state meet and took event titles on vault beam and floor. She placed 9th AA at regionals and qualified to the NIT, where she won vault and placed 5th AA overall.