New UCLA signee Peng Peng Lee won the AA on the first day at Elite Canada. Iowa commit Emily Bigras was 19th.
Link: Results and Interview with Lee
Lisavette (Lisa) Soto has committed to Pitt for the 2012-13 season. Soto started her 2009-10 season with 2nd place AA finishes at the Twin City Invite (1st v and ub) and the Tampa Bay Turners Invite (1st fx). She picked up bars titles at both her state and regionals meets on her way to 2nd place AA finishes in each of those meets. She qualified to nationals where she placed 7th on bars. Soto is a level 10 and competes for Southeastern Gymnastics in North Carolina.
UIC signed two gymnasts to letters of intent: Chelsea Bailey and Alexandria "Lexi" Brown.
Bailey is a L10 who trains at IGI. She placed 10th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals and qualified to the JO NIT meet. In 2009, she placed 13th AA at the Regional meet. Link: YouTube.com Video
Brown is a teammate of Bailey at IGI. The L10 placed 20th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals. As a L9 in 2009, she placed 1st on FX, 3rd on UB and 5th AA at the 2009 L9 Eastern Nationals. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Link: UIC Release
The University of Alaska-Anchorage announced the signing of three athletes to letters of intent: Chelsey Baker, Morgan Cook, and Paige Pirie. The commits of Baker and Cook were covered in prior news items.
Pirie is a L10 who trains at Newnan in Georgia. She qualified to Regionals in 2010, competing in two events. In 2009, she placed 13th AA at the Region VIII L10 Regionals. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Link: UAA Release
Ohio State has announced the signing of three men to letters of intent for 2011-2012: Robert DiRugeris, Drew Moling and Alex Nork. The commits of DiRugeris and Moling were covered in prior news items. Nork trains with DiRugeris at Will-Moor in New Jersey. He finished 58th AA at the 2010 JO Nationals. Link: Nork's Personal Website
Link: Ohio State Release
If there is one area of the college recruiting process that stands above the rest, I believe it is the way prospects effectively communicate with college coaches. Let’s face it, the majority of boys and girls in any given active recruiting pool will not be blue chip prospects and a reluctance to proactively communicate with college coaches will oftentimes result in an undertow that will likely drag a prospect and family backward in the college search. Below are some simple tips to consider when making an introductory contact with college coaches.
Nicole Turner, L10 at Metroplex in Texas, has committed to Oregon State for the 2012-13 season. Her 2010 results include a 3rd place AA finish at the Texas Prime meet (1st V/FX), a 1st place AA finish at the Nadia Comaneci meet and a 1st place win (1st FX) at her state meet.
Video
Brandie Jay, an elite from GK Gymnastics in Colorado, has committed to UGA. Her 2010 results include a 2nd AA finish at the Winterest, a 3rd AA finish at the Sand Dollar meet and a 2nd AA at the Sand Dollar Elite Qualifier. She went on to win the All Olympia meet (1st V/UB/FX), her state meet (1st V/UB), regionals (1st V) and JO Nationals (1st V). During the elite season she competed at the Covergirl Classic, finishing 13th AA, and the Visa Championships, finishing 17th AA (3rd V).
Kentucky defeated Ball State in an exhibition match Friday evening. Scores were kept, but full team scores are unavailable.
Link: Ball State Release
Madeline Hanley, an elite at Parkettes in Pennsylvania, has committed to Minnesota according to her Facebook postings. In 2010, she competed at the Gymnix International Cup in Canada, placing 5th AA; 6th BB; 7th FX and 8th UB. She competed in the elite session of the Buckey Classic, finishing 14th AA and she placed 4th AA (1st UB and FX) at the 2010 PKI. In 2009 she competed at the Covergirl Classic and VISA Championships, finishing 27th AA and 25th AA respectively.
Boise State, as expected, announced the signing of Kelsey Morris, Erica Oswalt and Ciera Perkins. The commits of all three were covered in prior news items. "We are excited to be adding three extremely talented gymnasts," said Co-Head Coach TinaBird. SHe added, "With two national team members and two national title winners, this class is poised to make Boise State's quest to become a nationally competitive powerhouse a reality."
Link: Boise State Release
NU (M) has announced the signing of three athletes to letters of intent: Josh Ungar, Grant Perdue and Gabriel Jolly.
Ungar trains at the Tim Daggett Gold Medal Gymnastics. He placed 13th AA at the 2010 VISA Championships, Junior Men's 16-18 division. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Perdue trains at the Houston Gymnastics Academy. At the 2010 National Qualifier, he placed 14th AA, including a 3rd place finish on FX. He also finished 23rd AA at the 2010 JO Nationals, Jr Men 14-15.
Jolley trains at All American in Utah. He tied for 52nd AA in the prelims of the 2009 JO Nationals, Jr Men 14-15. Link: YouTube.com Video
Link: NU Release
Troester.com has published the GymInfo Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending champion UCLA leads the poll, earning 32 first place votes. Alabama is 2nd, with three first place votes. Just behind in 3rd is Florida, with three first place votes. OU is ranked fourth, with two first place votes. Utah and Stanford each picked up a 1st place vote and rank 5th and 6th, respectively.
Sac State has announced the signing of Kalliah McCartney, Tina Necas, Claire TOrgerson, and Kayla Wonderly. The commits or signing of all four was reported earlier.
Link: CSUS Release
Erin Lewallen has committed to Iowa State for the 2012-13 season. Erin is a Level 10 at Houston Gymnastics in Texas. Her 2010 season was highlighted by a 3rd place AA finish at the WOGA Classic and a 5th place AA finish at the Texas State Qualifier and the Texas Prime meet. She ended her season at the NIT, finishing 6th on Bars, her only event in that meet.
Personal web pageMichigan (M) has announced the signing of seven athlete's to letters of intent:
Adrian De Los Angeles: De Los Angeles trains at SCATS. At the 2010 VISA Championships, he finished 2nd AA and 1st on Rings in the Junior Men's 14-15 division. Links: FX Video and Parallel Bar Video and YouTube.com Channel
Stacey Ervin Jr.: Ervin trains at Mills Gymnastics. He placed 4th AA, 3rd on FX and 1st on VT at the 2010 VISA Championships, Junior Men's 14-15 division. Link: Interview Video
Taylor Harrower: Harrower trains at Integrity Gymnastics. He finished 104th AA in the preliminaries at the 2010 JO Nationals. Link: Video
Nicholas Hunter: Hunter's commit was covered in a prior news item.
Mark Panhorst: Panhorst trainst at Bartlett Gymnastics. He finished 105th AA in the preliminaries at the 2010 JO Nationals. Link: Video
Paul Rizkalla Jr.: Rizkalla trains at Surgent's Elite. He placed 38th AA in the preliminaries at the 2010 JO Nationals. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Michael Strathern: Strathern's commit was covered in a prior news item.
According to Head Coach Kurt Golder, "The class is made up of very talented individuals. I predict that a few are capable of making the Senior National Team in the future. I believe they'll all contribute and make a big difference for our team."
Link: UM Release