Cal has announced the hiring of Holly Thomas as an Assistant Coach, replacing Jessa Hansen. Thomas brings experience as an NCAA athlete and club coach to the Bears' program.
Sydney Ewing, L10 at WOGA, has committed to MSU. She finished 3rd AA at her state meet this season. At regionals, she placed 2nd AA and picked up the floor title. She finished the season at JOs with a 16th AA placement.
Haley Roy, L10 from Auburn Gymnastics in Washington, has committed to Washington. This season she won her state meet and placed 1st on Vault. She placed 2nd AA at regionals and earned the regional vault title.
Simon Biles won her fourth straight P&G US AA Championship, dominating the field by nearly four points over the two days. She had the highest two day totals on 3 of the 4 events, despite an "off" day. Aly Raisman was 2nd and UF commit Laurie Hernandez 3rd.
Winning automatic slots at the Olympic Trials were Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian (UCLA signee), Amelia Hundley (UF signee), Alyssa Baumann (UF signee) and Ragan Smith (UF commit). Also added to the Trials were Rachel Gowey (UF signee), Mykalya Skinner (Utah signee), Brenna Dowell (OU), Christina Desidero (LSU commit), Emily Schild (UGA commit), Ashton Locklear, and Maggie Nichols (OU signee).
The final slots on the Olympic Squad are up for grabs, with intense competition for UB slot(s). Both Raisman and Hernandez have strengthened their bids in the last two meets, leaving the focus on UB (and perhaps, VT). Interestingly, although Gabby Douglas has likely secured a fourth spot, the highest scoring combination of scores based on max scores on the Championships does NOT include Douglas on the team (but would depend on Biles on UB in a team finals situation, which is not her forte and is an unlikely scenario, barring injury). Kocian and Locklear are believed to be locked in a battle for the UB slot, with Kocian providing more flexibility in the AA but with Locklear posting higher two day scores (tied for max score over the two days).
Link: USA Gymnastics
The US named the 2016 Men's Olympic Squad: Sam Mikulak (ex Michigan), Jake Dalton (ex OU), John Orozco, Alex Naddour (ex OU), and Chris Brooks (ex OU). The replacement will come from the larger pool.
Superstar Simone Biles posted a 62.9 to easily lead the US P&G Championships. She had the top score on VT, BB and FX, and was tied for 4th on FX. Aly Raisman and Florida commit (2018) Lauren Hernandez tied for 2nd.
UCLA signee Madison Kocian was 5th, but 2nd on UB. Florida signee Amelia Hundley was 6th, with Utah signee Mykayla Skinner in 7th. Florida signee Alyssa Buamann was 8th, while future teammate Ragan Smith was 9th and fellow signee Rachel Gowey was 10th.
OU's Breanna Dowell was 11th while LSU commmit Christina Desidero was 12th. Emily Schild (UGA), Margzhetta Frazier (UCLA), Lexy Ramler (Minn), Olivia Trautman (OU), Maggie Musselman, Abby Paulson (Utah), and Emily Gaskins (Bama) followed behind. OU commit Kaitlyn DeGuzman was 21st, while future teammate Maggie Nichols competed two events. UCLA commit Nia Dennis also showed one event, as she too is working back from injury.
Link: USA Gymnastics
Mayleigh Vanderbeek, L10 at Champion in Michigan, has committed to Kentucky. She placed 13th AA at her 2016 state meet and 5th AA at regionals. She competed to a 19th place AA finish at JOs.
Megan Monfredi, L10 at X-Cel in Pa, has committed to Kentucky. She placed 3rd on floor and 11thAA at her 2016 state meet. She placed 4th on floor and 14th AA at regionals.
Former NCAA champ Sam Mikulak of Michigan held the lead after winning Day 1 of the Olympic Trials. The order of finish dramatically changed on the first day, with Dannell Leyva surging back to take 3rd behind former OU Sooner Chris Brooks. Former Cal star Donothon Bailey had a great day, placing 4th.
Link: USA Gymnastics
Alaska has signed Tere Alonso and Louisa Marie Knapp for 2016-2017, according to a school release. Alonso is a L10 from Excalibur. In 2016, she placed 12th AA at the Region 7 L10 Regionals. She also finished 17th AA at Regionals in 2015.
Knapp hails from Germany, and is coming back after a year off recupering with a knee injury. She's expected to excel on UB.
Link: Release
Link: Knapp Video
Paige Zaziski, a 3-event standout at Arkansas, has announced her transfer to Michigan. She is entering her Junior year as she joins the Wolverines' roster.
Sienna Schreiber, L10 from Northwind Gymnastics, has committed to Missouri. She placed 1st AA and 1st on vault and floor at her 2016 state meet. She placed 3rd AA at regionals. nd 28th AA at JOs.
Ball State head coach Joanna Saleem has announced the additional Scott Wilson as an assistant coach. He's spent the last 8 years as a coach at Team Attraction Gymnastics in NC. He was also team manager at UNC, where he did his undergrad.
Link: Ball State Release
ASU has hired Washington assistant Stephen Buckner. He joins the new staff led by Jay Santos and his wife Jessica. Before UW, Bucker was at Alabama as a strength and conditioning coach, and a graduate assistant. He did his club gymnastics at Arizona Sunrays in Phoenix.
Link: ASU Release
Canada has named 11 women to their final candidate list for their Olympic Squad. The final squad will be announced on June 30th after a combination Trials/Training Camp on June 27th and 29th.
Karissa Hoffman, a L10 from Desert Lights, has committed to Sacramento State. In 2016, she placed 12th AA at the Region I L10 Regionals. She also qualified to Regionals in 2015.
Link: Videos