In an article and video piece, ESPN features Greg and Megan Marsden talking about how they successfully marketed Utah's program. The article also touches on the future of NCAA gymnastics and the impact of the rising costs-per-athlete. (See the video and article here)
"When I look at the big picture, I'm really concerned about the future of college athletics as we know it," Marsden says, citing a recent vote by the power five conferences, including the Pac-12 and SEC, to allow schools to offer full cost-of-attendance scholarships that cover food, transportation and miscellaneous expenses. "That will add another million or more to most athletic budgets," Marsden says. "The next thing coming down the line will be long-term healthcare and the final blow will be when we start paying football and basketball players in some form. It's inevitable, and when it happens, there won't be enough money to go around. Tough decisions will have to be made and I'm concerned about Olympic sports. It's important for gymnastics to position itself right now. If our meets and championships aren't live on TV with good ratings, we might not survive."
The Marsdens have long advocated for changes to meet formats that will encourage more live TV coverage and increase revenues.
This season, both the SEC and Pac-12 networks aired regular-season women's gymnastics meets live to great success. "But our championships are not on live TV," Megan says. "Our tape-delay broadcast of championships on ESPNU was interrupted with a live softball game between two unranked teams. That tells me we have not come far enough. It is our problem to fix. That Greg wasn't able to do so during his career is his biggest regret."
Perhaps some coaches who initially disagreed with proposed format changes have had a change of heart.
"When Greg's proposal first came through years back, I was one of the only coaches against it," says Faehn, who recently announced her departure from Florida to accept the role of Senior VP of the women's program at USA Gymnastics. "But I have done a 180. We need to be live. A few years ago, I didn't follow women's softball. Last year, NCAAs was on live and I was engrossed. When our championships came on, I thought, 'Why do I want to watch this? I know the results.' A light bulb went off. We need to make our product more TV friendly."
Kytra Hunter has won the Honda Sports Award. That positions her as a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2015 Honda Cup.
A’Miracal Phillips, L10 at Alabama Elite, has signed with Auburn per a news article. She recently placed 5th AA and 1st on vault at her state meet and 12th AA at regionals.
Temple has announced the hiring of Umme Salim-Beasley as their new Head Coach. She comes to the Owls after four years as an assistant at Rutgers. She was a former standout at WVU and trained at Hill's.
Link: Temple Release
Andrienne Randall, L10 at SCEGA in California, has committed to Utah. She was the 2014 regional beam champ. This season she earned the SoCal state floor title.
Kaitlyn Menzione, L10 from Illinois, has committed to Ball State per her twitter account. She had previously committed to Arizona.
Destiny Patrick, a L10 at Show Me Gymnastics, has committed to Wisconsin-Whitewater. She recently finished 17th AA at the 2015 Region IV L10 Regionals. She also placed 5th AA at Regionals in 2014.
Link: Videos
L10 Taylor Sell has committed to Pitt. Taylor competes for Prestige in Pa. She placed 11th AA at her state meet and 10th AA at regionals.
Carl Leland has announced his retirement from the Denver program after 17 years.
The gymnasts finishing 8th and 9th in their division are qualified to the NIT and they are considered alternates to the JO meet, provided they attain a score of at least 34.0. Also, any gymnast who did not qualify to JOs or the NIT, but who won an event at regionals qualifies to the NIT in that event. In som cases, there were ties at 7th place. Under USAG rules, a minimum of two gymnasts in each division will qualify for the NIT all around, assuming a score of at least 34.00.
Region 1
Region 3
The senior division athletes who qualified to JOs: (Full results)
Sr. A
Alexis Lawrence, a L10 from Garland's Gymnastics, has committe to Seattle Pacific. At the recent Region V L10 Regionals, she placed 5th AA. She placed 53rd at the 2014 L10 JO Nationals.
Link: Personal Site
Ona Loper, a L10 from Summit Gymnastics in Savannah, GA, has committed to Minnesota for 2017-2018. At the recent 2015 Region VIII L10 Regionals, she won FX and placed 5th AA. She was 23rd AA at the 2014 Region VIII L10 Regionals.
Link: Video
Pitt has added three more athletes for the upcoming season: Lucy Brett, Meagan Oscar and Charli Spivey. We previously announced Brett's commitment.
Meagan Oscar is a Level 10 from the Gymnastics Center of Chattanooga. She finished 2ndAA at her 2015 state meet and 22nd AA at regionals.
Charli Spivey is a Level 10 from Alabama Elite Gymnastics Academy. She finished 6th AA at her state meet this season and 12th AA at regionals.
Rhonda Faehn is leaving her position as head coach at Florida to take a position with USAG.
Storee Yzaguirre signed with Missouri and will join the team for the upcoming season. She is a Level 10 from Achievers in Texas. This season she placed 10th AA at her state meet and 14th AA at regionals.