NC State has announced the hiring of former Illinois Head Coach Bob Starkell as an assistant.
Link: NC State Release
It's been ten years since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Today we honor the heroes of September 11th, 2001, including those who lost their lives. One of those people, Mari-Rae Sopper, closely touched the collegiate gymnastics community. As you may know, Mari-Rae Sopper was Head Coach of the University of California, Santa Barbara's women's gymnastics team. She was also a former standout collegiate gymnast and team captain for Iowa State. Many of you knew her in the capacity of coach, teammate, competitor, colleague and friend.
Ohio State has announced it has fired Men's assistant coach Paul Hamm. Hamm was arrested over the weekend, after an alleged assault.
Link: Ohio State Release
Every fall, a new set of Women's code modifications are published by the NCAA. These code modifications outline variances in the NCAA code from the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Level 10 code. This is the means by which all routines are evaluated during the upcoming season. The latest update contains some changes for the new season, with balance beam the most impacted. Here's a summary of the changes:
Craig Ballard has joined the staff at Kent State, according to a school release. He had been an assistant at Bowling Green.
Link: Kent State Release
Jackie Fain has been named the new Head Coach at Centenary, according to a school release. She had been an assistant at TWU, and has experience as a coach, judge and former UK competitor.
Link: Centenary Release
Vaculik is taking a year off from Stanford to prepare for upcoming international competitions. So far she has earned a spot at Worlds. Others named to the team are UCLA recruit Peng Peng Lee, Dominique Pegg, Talia Chiarelli, Mikaela Gerber, Coralie Leblond-Chartrand, and Madeline Gardiner.
USU announces that TeShawne Jackson has been named Assistant Coach. Jackson has previously coached at Iowa State, Ball State and William and Mary.
Former Missouri standout Sarah Shire returns to the program in a staff position. Shire is pursuing a Masters in Sports Psychology.
San Jose State has announced the addition of Liz Major as an assistant. After graduation from San Jose State, she received her masters from DU and coached at Aurora.
Link: SJSU Release
MSU has announced its new assistant coaches: Mo Mitchell, former head coach at Kentucky, and Nicole Curler, a former MSU gymnast.
USA Gymnastics announced the men's squads for the World Championships and Pan Am Games. Several past and present NCAAers are on the rosters:
2011 Men's World Championships Team
Jake Dalton, OU
Jonathan Horton, Team Hilton HHonors (former OU)
Steven Legendre, Team Hilton Honors (former OU)
Danell Leyva, Team Hilton HHonors
Alexander Naddour, OU
John Orozco, U.S. Olympic Training Center
Alternate: Chris Brooks, Team Hilton HHonors (former OU))
Head coach: Kevin Mazeika, Houston
2011 Men's Pan American Games Team
Donothan Bailey, California - Berkeley
Glen Ishino, California – Berkeley
C.J. Maestas, University of Illinois
Sho Nakamori, former Stanford
Paul Ruggeri, University of Illinois
Brandon Wynn, Team Hilton HHonors (former Ohio State)
Alternate: Tyler Mizoguchi, University of Illinois
Jordyn Wieber won the AA title at the 2011 VISA (US) Championships, posting a big second day tally of 61.45 to widen the gap over 2nd place McKayla Maroney. Florida commit Alexandra Raisman was third, and current Gator Mackenzie Caquatto was fourth. Wieber won the national titles on UB and FX, while Maroney was the VT champion. Former Brown star Alicia Sacramone won the BB. The Senior Women's National Team was also named:
Rebecca Bross, WOGA
Bridgette Caquatto, Legacy Elite (Florida commit)
Mackenzie Caquatto, Legacy Elite (Florida)
Gabrielle Douglas, Chow's
Shawn Johnson, Chow’s Gymnastics
McKayla Maroney, All-Olympia
Chellsie Memmel, M&M Gymnastics
Alexandra Raisman, Brestyan’s American Gymnastics (Florida commit)
Alicia Sacramone, Brestyan’s American Gymnastics (ex Brown)
Sabrina Vega, Dynamic
Jordyn Wieber, Gedderts’ Twistars USA
Bross (dislocated kneecap) and Memmel (dislocated shoulder) were both injured during the competition.
Katelyn Ohashi of WOGA won the Junior title easily, capturing the UB, BB and FX in the process. She is not age-eligible for the 2012 Olympics, but her total of 120.95 would have placed her 2nd in the Senior competition. Junior runnerup Kyla Ross of Gym Max, who is age eligible for the 2012 Olympics, also outpointed the Senior runnerup. Lexie Priessman of CGA won the VT.