USA Gymnastics has agreed to sanction the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association, providing a respected National Governing body for the fledgling sport derived from competitive cheer. The NCATA intends to pursue "emerging sports" status with the NCAA next spring. The lack of a governing association and a standard set of rules were among the evidence cited when a federal judged ruled against Quinnippiac's attempt to cut its women's volleyball squad, and the subsequent conversion of its existing cheer squad to a competitive team (to meet Title IX requirements).
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UF sophomore Marissa King earned a spot on England's Commonwealth Games team and she will compete in India in October.
AU assistant Kurt Hettinger will remain with the Tiger program, according to a school release. AU recently hired Jeff Graba as their new head coach.
Link: AU Release
The NCAA Code Modifications for 2010-2011 are now available at the Judge's web site. As always, the NCAA Code Modfications can be impacted by changes to the underlying JO Code, effective through November 2010. So far, the changes described in the document, as they compare to last season, appear to be neglible and won't have an impact on routine construction.
Be sure to vote in the latest site poll on which skill you think the NCAA should devalue in the next update.
Link: Code Modifications
CMU has added Huneth Lor as an assistant coach. Lor is a former competitor and 2009 grad at Michigan.
Link: CMU Release
Former Cal great Tim McNeill has been hired as the Head Coach at Cal, according to a school release. He graduated from Cal in 2008 and has been training as a member of the US National Team.
Link: Cal Release
J.J. Ferreira has been named as an assistant at Maryland, according to a school release. The former Springfield athlete was a coach at Springfield and at the Unique Sports Academy.
Link: Maryland Release
Former Olympian and Honda Award winner Kristen Maloney joins the staff at New Hampshire as an assistant coach, replacing Lindsey Bruck. As a NCAA athlete, Maloney helped UCLA to several national team titles while picking up individual titles on vault and beam.
Read More about her achievements.
Illinois has announced the resignatin of Bob Starkell, who has worked on the Illinois coaching staff for 17 years. Starkell was named National Head Coach of the Year in '09 and he was recently made Director of Gymnastics, overseeing both the men's and women's programs. Kim Landrus, the team's Associate Coach, has been named to replace him as interim head coach this season.
SEMO has announced the hiring of Jessie Kinder as an assistant at SEMO. The former Sooner athlete spent last season as a graduate assistant at OU.
Link: OU Release
Utah has announced the hiring of Tom Farden as Assistant Coach. He replaces Jeff Graba, who was recently named Head Coach at Auburn. Farden makes the move to Utah from Arkansas, where he was named Assistant Coach in 2009. Prior to that, he was the head coach at SEMO for six years.
Kirsten Browder has been promoted to Head Coach, replacing Amy Martelli. Browder has been the team's Assistant Coach for seven seasons. As a college athlete, she competed for Pitt.
Rebecca Bross won the AA title Saturday night at the VISA (US) Championships. UCLA signee Mattie Larson was 2nd, with Alexandra Raisman in 3rd. UF signee Kytra Hunter was 4th, with future teammate Mackenzie Caquatto in a tie for fifth with UGA commit Chelsea Davis. UCLA's Vanessa Zamarripa dropped to 8th after problems on VT and BB.
Link: AA and Event Results