New Ohio State head coach Rustam Sharipov has named Casimiro Suarez and Paul Hamm as assistant coaches. A member of the 1980 Cuban Olympic Team, Suarez has been coaching for 20 years, in a variety of club, college and National Team posts, and was most recently at Orlando Metro. Olympic Champion Hamm returns to his alma mater, where he graduated magna cum laude in 2007 (in accounting).
Link: Ohio State Release
Kim Wilson, a L-9 gymnast from Geddert's Twistars in Michigan, has accepted a walk-on offer to CMU. Wilson's season highlights included a 1st AA (1st B/BB)at the Twistars Invitational and 1st on Bars (2nd BB/AA) at UGA. She finished her season strong with a 1st on Bars (2nd AA) at L-9 State Meet, 1st AA at Regionals (2nd Bars)and 1st place on Bars at Nationals.
The USA Gymnastics Open held an elite qualifier this past weekend. Senior age level competitors needed to hit qualifying scores in order to advance to the Classics (if they have already received their compulsary score): 53.0 as an AAer, 40.5 on three events, or 27.5 on two events. AU commit Caitlin Atkinson placed 3rd in her session but did get a qualifying mark. Bama commit Lauren Beers was 4th in the same session and has previously qualified. The next qualifier is in July.
Link: Senior Results 1 and Senior Results 2
Sarah Neumann has accepted a scholarship to Air Force for the 2012-13 season according to her club's website. Neumann is a level 10 who trains at Twin City Twisters in Minnesota. This season Neumann won her session at the Sand Dollar meet, finished 10th AA at the Peppermint Twist meet, 6th AA at the Gopher Invite and 7th AA at the Chicago style. She finished up the season with a 14th place AA finish at the NIT.
Per Gymn.ca, Ti Liu is reportedly headed to UCLA as a walk-on. The sr. high performance (elite) from Canada's Gymnix club recently placed 4th on BB and 7th on UB at the 2011 Canadian Championships. At the 2010 Canadian Championships, she placed 2nd AA, 2nd on UB and 4th on BB in the National Open 16+ division.
Link: BB and UB Video and YouTube.com Channel
Nicolle Eastman, L10 at Gedderts Twistars in Michigan, has committed to Kent State. Eastman had a busy 2011 season schedule, finishing in the top six AA at nearly every meet. Season highlights include 3rd place finishes at the Luau in Leos and the Arena Classic (1st V/BB); a 2nd place finish at the Chicago Style and an all around win at regionals. She finished 19th AA at JO Nationals.
Samantha Santos, L10 at Bloomington United Gymnastics in Indiana, will join Ball State this fall. She placed 7th AA at this season's Chicago Style and 26th AA at her regional meet.
In the Men's Senior High Performance (elite) category at the 2011 Canadian Championships, Jackson Payne won the AA title. PSU grad Casey Sandy was third. In the event finals, Payne won the FX and PH while Sandy won the HB. Scott Morgan won the Rings, while Hugh Smith won the VT. Brandon O'Neill won the PB.
Link: AA and Event Finals and Gymnastics Examiner Coverage
The event finals in the senior and junior Women's High Performance categories concluded. For the Seniors, 2012 recruitable Jessica Savona won BB and FX. Another 2012 grad, Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto, won the UB. Bianca Jordaan won VT.
Link: Jr. Women and Sr. Women Scores
Recruitable Jessica Dowling won the National Open 16+ division at the Canadian Championships, posting a big win with a 56.875 under the modified National Open rules. She dominated, posting the top mark on everything but VT. Dowling will be attempting to make the Dutch National Team this year, using her dual citizenship. Iowa signee Emily Bigras was 8th AA and 4th on UB. SUU signee Rochelle Bernier was 11th AA.
Link: Results and Gymnastics Examiner Coverage
Erin Patchey, L10 at World Class Gymnastics in N.Y., has committed to Ball State according to a news account. This season Patchey placed 3rd AA (1st V) at the PKI, 4th AA at the Chicago Style and 2nd AA at the Niagra Cup. She qualified to JO Nationals after placing 13th AA at her state meet and 4th AA at regionals.
Former PSU Head Coach Steve Shephard has landed a new role at Victory Collegiate Consulting, a recruiting service.
Madeline Gardiner won the women's AA title at the 2011 Canadian Championships, in the Senior High Performance (eliite) category. Recruitable Jessica Savona was 2nd after a two year recovery from injury, while another recruitable, Canadian World Team member Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto, was 3rd. Former World VT finalist Brittany Rogers, another uncommitted recruit, was fourth in her return from injury. Roughly 20 NCAA coaches were reportedly in attendance. Arizona signee Kristin Klarenbach did not compete.
Link: Results and Gym Examiner Coverage
At the 2011 Canadian Championships, Jessica Dowling placed 1st in the preliminaries in the 16 year old and up division. SUU signee Rochelle Bernier was sixth while Iowa signee Emily Bigras was 12th.
Stanford has officially announced the addition of Alex Archer to their women's squad next fall. At the 2011 L10 Junior Olympic Nationals, she finished 22nd AA in the Senior D division. She tied for 10th AA and 2nd on UB at the 2010 Region I L10 Regionals.
Link: Stanford Release
Recruits and recruitables were in action today at the Canadian Championships. The women's high performance (elite) seniors were in action, in qualification for the AA and Event finals. Dominique Pegg posted the top mark on Day 1 with a 53.9. Arizona signee Kristin Klarenbach was 2nd.
Link: Results and Gymnastics Examiner Quick Hits