World Champion Simone Biles leads the field after day 1 at the P&G (US) Championships. She posted a total of a 61.1 after suffering a rare miscue on the FX (fall on full-in dismount).
OU commit Maggie Nichols was 2nd, ahead of Olympic Champion Gabby Douglas. Olympian Aly Raisman was 4th. Florida commit Bailie Key was 5th, ahead of another future Gator, Alyssa Baumann, in 6th. Current OU star Brenna Dowell was a strong 7th, while Utah signee McKalya Skinner was 8th. Florida commit Amelia Hundley was 9th, while UCLA commit Nia Dennis was 10th. UCLA commit Madison Kocian with 11th, with the top score of the day on UB. Olympian Kyla Ross was 12th at 56.9, as the Top 11 all scored over 57.
Biles was the top vaulter, Baumann the tops on BB and Raisman the best on FX.
In the Junior competition, 2014 junior national champ Jazmin Foberg led the way, with future Gator teammate Lauren Hernandez in 2nd. Ragan Smith was 3rd and Jordan Chiles was 4th.
Link: USA Gymnastics
UNH has hired former Ohio State standout Sarah Miller as an assistant. She replaces Ali Carr, who is pursuing other educational opportunities.
Link: UNH Release
OU men's team has added one of their former gymnasts, Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, to the staff as assistant coach.
Rutgers has hired former UNC gymnast Teri Diamond as an assistant. Since graduation from UNC, the former Hill's athlete has been coaching at the Unique Sports Academy in Maryland.
Link: Rutgers Release
The Women's NCAA Code Modifications have been released for 2016 & 2017, and they include a number of changes that are causing a buzz around the country. We've confirmed these changes take effect in January for the upcoming 2016 season. Read on, where we break down the changes and assess their impact. (The document link has been updated following an NCAA update on 9/1/15)
SUU has hired Jeff Richards and Jamie Wysong as assistants. Richards comes to SUU after stints at PSU and GWU. He is the former head coach at USU. Wysong is the former Director of Gymnastics Operation. Former assistant Kari Louthan will step down to spend more time with her family.
Link: SUU
Don Osborn joins the Illinois staff. He served as Illinois Head Coach from 1994-96.
A vote from the coaches is pending on format changes to eliminate the separate event finals and to reconfigure the schedule. Read more about it HERE.
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