Bridgeport's Sasha Tsikhanovich won the AA with a 39 to lead the Purple Knights to a win. Tsikhanovich also won the Beam and tied for titles on Vault (with teammate Natalie Saimeri) and Floor (with teammate Kamri RIles). Bridgeport's Lisette La Fex won bars.
Link: Bridgeport Release
Gracie Cherrey has committed to UGA, according to a site submission. Cherrey is a L10 who trains at the Twin City Twisters. In 2012, she placed 17th AA and 10th on FX at Regionals, after winning her Regional meet and several major invitationals through the year. She was a JO NIT AA champ in 2010.
Link: Video Channel
Michigan State has announced that Holly Ryan will join the team next season. Holly competes for Water's Edge Gymnastics in Michigan. She qualified to Eastern Nationals as a level 9 in 2011 and she qualified to regionals last season as a level 10.
CMU announced the signing of Rachel Carr, Caroline Fitzpatrick, Kara Podgorski, Shaila Segal and Kirstin Stambaugh. Carr's commit was covered in a previous news item.
Fitzpatrick is a L10 from Arena Gymnastics. She qualified to the L10 JO National Championships in 2012, after her first year competing L10. She was the L9 Eastern National AA Champ in 2011.
Podgorski is a L10 from Libertyville. In 2012, she tied for 9th AA at the Region 5 L10 Regionals, and qualified on to the JO NIT Meet. She also made the NIT meet in 2011.
Segal is L10 from Deary's. She placed 11th AA at the 2012 Region VI L10 Regionals. In 2011, as a Level 9, she won the BB and placed 8th AA at the L9 Eastern Nationals.
Stambaugh is a L10 from Prestige. At the 2012 Region VII L10 Regionals, she placed 14th AA. She qualified to the JO NIT meet in 2010.
Link: CMU Release
Lacy Dagen, an elite training at San Mateo Gymnastics in California, has committed to Florida. In 2012, Lacy competed at her state and regional meets, winning the regional vault crown. She went on to compete at the American Classics, again winning the vault title, and qualified to US Nationals.
Danielle Dessaints, L10 at Gymcats in Nevada, has committed to OSU. Danielle qualified to JOs in 2010, finishing 9th AA. She recently placed 1st on vault and 1st AA at the 2013 National Judges Cup.
Lauren Rice, L10 from Gymcats in Nevada, has committed to Sac. State. Last season she qualified to the NIT where she finished 10th AA. She recently finished 3rd AA at the 2013 National Judges Cup.
For the past several seasons, we've made an attempt to rank the incoming classes for teams across the nation. The task is never easy, and this year is no exception. For the schools, investing in athletes today is a bit like investing in the stock (or precious metals) market. With recruiting taking place earlier and earlier, coaches have to become experts at detecting the traits, abilities and characteristics that will produce a championship athlete two, three, and four years down the road (or six, seven and eight by the time they are college seniors!). So who's class is rated to be the best? Read on to find the answer...
Cal scored a big opening meet win, posting a 195.425 to defeat Top 25 ranked AU, Arizona and UK. Cal was led by Madisyn O'Brien, who tied for the UB title with UK's Audrey Harrison. For Arizona, Aubrey Cristello won the AA with a 39.45, including a 9.95 vault win and a tie on beam with AU frosh Caitlin Atkinson. UK's Kayla Hartley won the floor with a 9.9.
Link: Cal Release
Vanessa Zamarripa won the AA (39.475), FX and tied for first on the balance beam to lead the Bruins to a win over SUU. Teammate Olivia Courtney won the vault while Bruins Lichelle Wong and frosh Sophina DeJesus won the bars. For SUU, Alyssa Click tied for the BB title.
Link: UCLA Release
Sophomore Caitlin Brown debuted in the AA and won with a 38.875. She also tied for the title on VT and FX with frosh Sara Townsend. Cyclone Henrietta Green won the bars and teammate Milan Ivory won the beam.
Link: ISU Release
Austyn Fobes scored a personal best AA 39.425 to lead the Wildcats to a win. It was the 4th best AA score in school history. She won VT and Bars and tied for the FX title with teammate Hannah Barile. Teammate Kayla Gray won beam.
Link: UNH Release
Tori Kinamon, L10 from Newnan Gymnastics in Georgia, has committed to Brown. Last season she finished 6th AA at her state meet and qualified through regionals to the NIT.
DU powered to a big opening win, paced by Nina McGee's wins on UB and FX. The sophomore missed last season with an injury. She tied on FX with PSU's Sharaya Musser, who won the AA with a 39.3. Teammate Jorie Hall won the BB. PSU's Madison Merriam won the vault.
Link: DU Release
OU scored its first ever win in Athens over UGA, taking advantage of UGA's numerous problems in the final round by staying steady on all events. Taylor Spears led OU, winning the AA with a 39.375 and taking a share of the bars title with teammates Brie Olson, Haley Scaman and UGA's Chelsea Davis. Frosh Scaman added a win on FX. FOr UGA, Cat Hires won Vault while Shayla Worley won beam.
Link: OU Release
Link: Hamline Release