UCLA commit Simone Biles won the Secret Classic, as some of the sport's biggest stars competed this Saturday. Olympic Champion Gabby Douglas was 2nd, with OU commit Maggie Nichols third. Florida commit Bailie Key was fourth, and future teammate Alyssa Baumann was sixth. Utah commit MyKayla Skinner was 7th.
A variety of commits competed but failed to earn scores that will advance them to the P&G Championships. These include Minnesota commit Lexy Ramler in 8th, UK commit Alaina Kwan in 9th, and Bama commit Kylie Dickson in 11th.
Several other commits competed less than four events but will compete at the P&G Championships, including Nia Dennsi (UCLA), Madison Kocian (UCLA), and Kyla Ross. OU star Brenna Dowell competed on UB and BB.
In the junior ranks, Florida commit Lauren Hernandez won the AA. Ragan Smith was 2nd, and Florida commit Jazmyn Foberg was 3rd.
Links:
Samantha Brown has been named Ass't Coach at PSU. Brown is a former NCAA competitor and gym owner and she is also a Brevet Judge.
15 senior and 6 junior men qualified to the VISA Championships this past weekend. The senior qualifiers include several athletes with current or former NCAA affiliations:
Chris Brooks (former OU)
Colin Van Wicklen (OU)
Jonathan Horton (former OU)
Sean Melton (Ohio State)
Eddie Penev (former Stanford)
Hunter Justus (OU)
Robert Neff (Stanford)
Joshua Dixon (former Stanford)
Steven Lacombe (University of California - Berkeley)
Jack Boyle (Iowa)
Joshua Martin
Michael Reid (OU)
Nick Hunte (Michigan)
Danny Berardini (OU)
Andrew Botto (Iowa)
Link: USA Gymnastics
The Pan Am Games wrapped up with Day 2 of the event finals.
On the Women's side, Ellie Black of Canada wrapped up a dominant Games. The veteran won both BB and FX to push her medal count to five, including three Golds. On BB, Florida commit Megan Skaggs was 2nd and Ohio State signee Victoria Kayen Woo of Canada was 3rd. Former DU star Jessica Lopez Arocha (Venezuela) was 6th and Florida commit Rachel Gowey was 8th.
On FX, Florida commit Amelia Hundley was 2nd and Bama commit Madison Desch was 4th.
On the Men's side, Colombia's Jossimar Calvo Moreno won Golds on PB and HB, to add to his previous gold on PH. Like Black, he won five medals overall.
On Vault, Manrique Larduet of Cuba won the gold. The US' Donnell Wittenburg won silver while former Illinois star Paul Ruggeri was fifth.
On PB, former Michigan star and NCAA champ Sam Mikulak won the bronze. Whittenburg was fifth.
On HB, Ruggeri claimed the bronze while Mikulak was sixth.
Link: Results
Former Bowling Green gymnast Marie Case will join the staff as assistant coach. She worked as a volunteer coach last season.
The first day of Event Finals at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto are now complete.
On Women's VT, Cuba's Marcia Jiminez easily won Gold.
On Men's FX, Guatemala's Jorge Lopez won the Gold. Ex Michigan star Sam Mikulak won bronze, with the USA's Donnell Whittenburg in 2nd.
On Men's PH, the USA's Marvin Kimble and Colombia's Jossimar Moreno for the Gold. Mikulak was fifth.
On the UB, Florida commit Rachel Gowey won the Gold. Future teammate Amelia Hundley was 3rd, with former DU star Jessica Lopez Arocha in the silver position. Washington commit Madison Copiak of Canada was 7th.
On the Rings, Olympic Champ Arthur Zanetti won the Gold. Whittenburg won the silver. Former PSU star Tommy Ramos of Puerto Rico was 4th, while teammate and current PSU star Alexis Torres was 6th.
Link: Results
To the delight and thunderous cheers of the home crowd, Canadian Ellie Black won the gold medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games, held in Toronto. She became the first Canadian woman to win the AA title in 36 years. Using a solid 58.15, she easily outdistanced runnerup Madison Desch (Bama commit), who suffered a hand touch on BB and an out-of-bounds on FX. Rising Cuban star Flavia Lopes Saraiva won the bronze. Florida commit Amelia Hundley was 4th after a fall on UB.
Link: Results
Former Michigan star and ex NCAA champ Sam Mikulak added another Gold Medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games. It was the first gold for the US men in 28 years. He edged Cuba's Manrique Larduet by just 0.05 points. Colombia's Calvo Moreno won the bronze.
Link: USA Gymnastics
The United States won the team Gold at the Pan Am Games on Sunday, easily outdistancing the field. Canada placed 2nd, one point ahead of Brazil. Several NCAA commits and one former athlete were in competition.
The US was led by Florida commit Amelia Hundley, who placed 1st AA in the prelims. She also qualified to the events finals on UB and the FX. Bama commit Madison Desch was 2nd AA, and lead the qualifiers on the FX. Teammate Megan Skaggs, a Florida commit, placed 5th AA in the prelims and qualified to the finals on BB. Another future Gator, Rachel Gowey, qualified to finals on UB and BB. UGA commit Emily Schild completed the US squad.
For the silver medalist Canadians, Florida commit Maegan Chant qualified to the vault final, Washington commit Madison Copiak qualified to the UB final while Ohio State signee Victoria Kayen Woo qualified to the beam final. Former DU star Jessica Lopez Arocha, competing on just two events, qualified on UB and BB.
Link: Results
The US Men won the team Gold, led by former Michigan star and NCAA champion Sam Mikulak. He was 2nd in the overall AA rankings, behind Cuba's Manrique Larduet. Brazil was 2nd and Colombia was 3rd. Host Canada was 4th. The US squad includes ex OU star and new assistant coach Steven Legendre, and former Illinois standout Paul Ruggeri.
Mikulak made the finals on FX, PH, PB and HB while Ruggeri made the finals on VT and HB. Former PSU star Tommy Ramos, competing for Puerto Rico, made the Ring final, as did countrymate Alexis Torres, a current PSU standout.
Link: USA Gymnastics
William and Mary has hired Mike Powell as an assistant. A former W&M team member, he's been club coaching in Ohio and Massuchusetts for over a decade.
Link: W&M Release
OU has hired former standout Steven Legendre as an assistant for the men's team. He will continue training as a National Team member.
Link: OU Release
UC Davis has hired former Ute star Annie DiLuzio as an assistant. The former local and elite Natonal Team member has been coaching in Salt Lake City and Silicon Valley, while also doing sports psychology consulting.
Link: UC Davis Release
Former Cal star Donothon Bailey won the gold medal on the Pommel Horse as competition at the World University Games concluded. Stanford's Akasha Modi earned the bronze. Modi also finished 7th on the Floor, 5th on the Parallel Bars and 6th on the High Bar.
Alaska-Anchorage's Simone Penker, competing for Austria, placed 6th on Vault.
Link: Medalists