The US Women dominated the qualifying competition at the Olympics, outdistancing the field by hitting 16 for 16 and outpacing 2nd place China by nearly 10 points, 185.238 to 175.279. (The format is four up, three count. It shifts to three up, three count in the finals). Simone Biles was sensational, showing only a few nerves en route to posting the highest scores of qualifying on three of four events to keep her quest for five gold medals alive. UCLA signee Madison Kocian posted the high score of the day on UB to qualify to that final.
China used big scores on PH and Rings to edge the US 270.461 to 270.405 in qualifying for the Team Finals at the Olympic Games in Rio. Russia is close behind at 269.512, Japan at 269.294, GBR at 268.67, and Brazil at 268.078. The Ukraine and Germany also made the finals. The finals should be a tight race for the medals, with the fewest mistakes likely to determine the winner in the 3 up, 3 count format.
As expected, the NCAA has officially updated the NCAA Code Modifications to change the start values of several vaults that were rated at 10.0 for last season. The original change created controversy because the Yurchenko Layout Half and the Yurchenko Layout Full were devalued from a 10.0 to a 9.95 start value last season. However, in an apparent oversight, the NCAA left the Yurchenko 1/2 to Front Layout (aka Yurchenko "Arabian" and "Hristakaeva") at a 10.0 last season, creating an unusual situation in which two vaults with slight different turn timing were given different start values.
Maryland has hired Evan Eigner as an assistant. He's a 2016 grad of Ohio State and was on the men's team for two seasons. He transferred there from Temple, where he trained under his father, Fred Turoff.
Link: Maryland Release
UNH has hired Lindsey (Bruck) Ayotte and Harris Bergman as assistants. Bruck is a former Michigan star who has been performing and coaching with Cirque du Soleil. Bergman is a former gymnast and diver who has been serving as a volunteer assistant at Pittsburgh. Former associate Head Coach Ed Datti has retired and will serve as a volunteer.
Link: Release
Barbara Gibson, head coach of more than 30 years, has announced her retirement. Assistant coach Kasey Crawford will be the interim head coach this season.
EMU has announced the hiring of Sarah (Shire) Brown as their new Head Coach. Brown has spent the last year as a volunteer assistant at Michigan. Prior to that, she was an assistant for three years at SEMO. A former Mizzou-standout (and Utah transfer) and elite gymnast, she has a masters in counseling psychology with an emphasis in sports psychology from Missouri.
Link: Release
Josh Nilson has moved from USU to PSU as an assistant coach. Josh brings many years of coaching experience and regional coaching honors to his new position.
The US named the 2016 Women's Olympic squad at the conclusion of the Olympic Trials. The team is headlined by three-time World Champion Simone Biles.
The five autonomy conference have reached an agreement on a proposal intended to promote student-athlete welfare. It centers around a concept called "Flex 21". This proposal provides for new limits on team related items, like travel, that consume student-athlete time.
Anne Meade has been hired as an assistant coach at Pitt. As a long time coach at North Stars and a former NCAA competitior, she brings many years of experience.
Washington's new Head Coach Elise Ray has announced the hiring of Caleb Phillips and Chad Wiest as assistants. Phillips comes to the Huskies from Iowa, where he was an assistant for seven years. He also spent four years as assistant at SUU. Wiest joins UW from Illinois, where he has assisted the last three years. Prior to that, he was an assistant at Bowling Green for two years. He was also a standout for the Illini men.
Link: UW Release
Brittany Roger, the former UGA star, has been named to the 2016 Olympic squad for Canada. She is a 2012 Olympian. Also named to the team were Ellie Black, Shallon Olsen, Isabel Onyshko and Rose Woo. Two alternates were named and will train with the team: Meagan Roberts (2018, UGA) and Madison Copiak, (Washington frosh).
Link: Release
Macey Roberts has has transferred from Maryland to Utah and will join the team this season as a sophmore.