The Capsule Previews Top 25 Women's Teams as determined by the Preseason Coaches' Poll are now available. In each case, we summarized the rosters and list of newcomers, and we've quickly summarized their propsects and challenges. Defending Champion Florida seeks to retain their title. But who will challenge? And which 12 teams are in the best position to make Nationals this April?
Rachel Blair has announced her commitment to West Chester. Rachel earned first place regional honors on vault and floor last season and qualifed to the L9 Eastern Championships. In her first season at level 10 this year, she recently finished 4th AA at the Greater NY Gymnastics Invitational. Rachel competes for Silvia's Gymnastics in Pennsylvania.
Krista Walberer, L10 at Champion Gymnastiics in Michigan, will join the Bowling Green team next year. Krista has competed at level 10 since the 2012 season and she qualified to regionals last season. She started her 2014 season off with an appearance at the Gymnastics on the Grand meet and placed 3rd AA.
The NCAA has announced Regional and National sites through 2018. Here's the video: Link
Troester GymInfo has released the Preseason Coaches' poll and to no one's surprise, Florida tops the rankings. Alabama, Oklahoma, UCLA and LSU round out the top five. Florida received 21 first place votes. #2 Bama received none, but #3 OU received 7. UCLA received one and Utah two.
Emily Shugan, L10 at Indigo in N.J., has committed to join UPenn's team next year. Emily finished 2nd AA at regionals last season and qualified to JOs.
Sahara Gipson, L10 at US Gymnastics Development Center in N.J., has committed to join Rutger's team next year. Sahara is a strong vaulter, placing 1st or 2nd on vault at all of her regular season meets last season and at her state meet. She recently placed 1st on vault at her first meet of this season, the Balloon Classic.
SUU, USU, Boise State, Denver and BYU have announced the formation of a new five team gymnastics conference.
Dynamo Gymnastics in Oklahoma has announced Katrina Coca's commitment to Kentucky. Katrina competed at level 10 last season and finished 1st AA and 1st on vault, bars and floor at her state meet.
Do your part to help save Temple Men's Gymnastics, which is proposed to be cut after this season by their administration. They have less than 2,700 signatures left to their goal of 10,000.
Jordan Gillette, L10 at X-Cel in Pa., has announced her commitment to West Virginia. Jordan is a long time Level 10 with many post season appearances to her credit. Last season she earned a spot at the NIT and finished 10th AA.
Morgan Lane, L10 at Jody's Gymnastics in Indiana, has committed to join the UNC team next year. Jody has been competing at Level 10 since the 2011 season. She qualified to the NIT in 2012 and to JOs in 2013. Last season she placed 3rd AA at her state meet and 5th AA at regionals.
Emily Schild has announced her commitment to Georgia. Emily is a Jr. International Elite from Everest Gymnastics in N.C. She competed L10 last season before moving up to the elite. She competed at the Secret Classic and US Nationals.
Temple has announced its intent to drop Men's Gymnastics as one of seven programs to be eliminated at the end of the year. The loss of yet another Men's program will be felt throughout the NCAA. Temple also is setting the elimination of baseball, men's crew, Men's indoor and outdoor track, Women's crew and softball. The elimination of the two women's sports is somewhat unusual in that many schools use similar high roster count sports to achieve Title IX compliance. The women's gymnastics team was not cut.
In total, 150 athletes (208 roster positions) and 9 full time coaches were impacted by today's announcement. According to Philly.com, the school has said the savings will help improve funding of the other sports, including more scholarships for women's sports (in general). Lack of adequate facilities played a role in the elimination of baseball, softball, track and crew. The school also claims that the training facility for gymnastics is inadequate to hold both the men's and women's team.
Title IX is being cited as the motivation for the change, but reportedly has helped spare the Women's team. Temple claims that with these changes, they will correct a Title IX imbalance. Currently, the school is 51% female but only 42% of the scholarships go to the women's programs.
In 1994, the baseball and gymnastics teams were proposed for elimination but were saved.
We'll keep you updated on the efforts to save the Men's program, and how you can help.
Link: Temple Release
Link: Philly.com
Natalie Vaculik, Canadian International Elite and the younger sister of Stanford's Kristina Vaculik, has committed to Georgia according to a news article. As a senior this year, Natalie is eligible to join the team next fall. However she plans to postpone college for a season or two while she works toward the next Olympic Games.
Natalie finished 2nd AA at the 2013 Canadian Championships. In the event finals, she placed 4th on bars and 8th on beam.