Incoming OU frosh Keeley Kmieciak won the Senior C title at the Women's Junior Olympic Level 10 Nationals, Senior C division. She also won vault with a 9.9 and floor with a 9.775 en route to a 38.55 AA tally. Many of the athletes in this division are incoming frosh for 2012-2013, with the rest entering college in 2013-2014
In 2nd was Michigan signee Morgan Smith, a former senior international elite. She won UB as well. In third was 2013 grad and former senior international elite Nicolette McNair (Gym Max). Minnesota incoming frosh Hanna Nordquist won beam and tied for fourth with SUU signee Stacie Webb.
Here's the top 10 finishers, and their schools. 2013 grads are in italics
| Place | Name/Clug | Vault | UB | BB | FX | AA | Future School |
| 1 | Keeley Kmieciak Phenom Gymnastics |
9.900 1 |
9.400 14 |
9.475 7 |
9.775 1 |
38.550 1 |
OU |
| 2 | Morgan Smith Brandy Johnsons |
9.800 2 |
9.650 1 |
9.300 16 |
9.500 10 |
38.250 2 |
Michigan |
| 3 | Nicolette NcNair Gym Max |
9.750 3 |
9.625 2 |
9.175 23 |
9.650 2 |
38.200 3 |
|
| 4 | Hanna Nordquist Twin City Twisters |
9.400 24 |
9.350 23 |
9.675 1 |
9.600 4 |
38.025 4 |
Minnesota |
| 4 | Stacie Webb Gym Max |
9.600 7 |
9.400 14 |
9.600 2 |
9.425 17 |
38.025 4 |
SUU |
| 6 | Amanda Kowalski Perfection |
9.700 5 |
9.225 32 |
9.500 6 |
9.550 7 |
37.975 6 |
|
| 7 | Kathryn Kluz Oakland Gymnastics |
9.600 7 |
9.375 22 |
9.350 13 |
9.525 9 |
37.850 7 |
AU |
| 8 | Ashlyn Broussard WOGA |
9.425 22 |
9.500 7 |
9.525 3 |
9.375 27 |
37.825 8 |
UGA |
| 9 | Sarah Lyons Aerial - TX |
9.525 12 |
9.550 3 |
9.125 27 |
9.425 17 |
37.625 9 |
Illinois |
| 10 | Brittany Stover Southern IN |
9.625 6 |
9.350 23 |
9.350 13 |
9.275 38 |
37.600 10 |
W&M |
| 10 | Charly Santagado Orlando Metro |
9.450 16 |
9.550 3 |
9.100 28 |
9.500 10 |
37.600 10 |
Rutgers |
Region 5 won the team title.
Link: Results
Standout Alex McMurtry of Richmond Olympiad won the floor title en route to a big 38.825 AA win at the L10 Junior Olympic Nationals, Junior C division. Samantha Partyka of Champions won the vault and placed 2nd AA at 38.4. Elizabeth Gangale of Brown's Las Vegas was third, and Desi Borgese of Airborne won the bars and placed 4th AA.
Alyssa Shermataro of Olympia 5th AA and tied for the beam title with Erin Macadaeg of San Mateo.
Region 1 edged Region 3 for the team title.
Link: Results
Oklahoma commit Charity Jones of Dynamo won the Senior B title at the L10 Nationals, posting a 38.525 to outdistance the competition. The 2013 grad tied for the floor title with Bowling Green signee Alyssa Nocella (Silvia's) and for the vault title with 2013 grad and former elite Briley Casanova (WOGA), a Michigan commit. In 2nd AA was Auburn signee Caitlin Atkinson of Cypress, who was also the beam champion. Tying for 3rd were former elite and 2013 grad Sophia Lee (WOGA) and 2013 Bama commit Rachel Daum (Stars). Illinois commit (2013) Mary Jane Horth won the bars.
Region 3 won the team title.
Here's the top 10 and their future schools (2013 commits in italics, signings for 2012 grads in regular font):
| Place | Name/Club | VT | UB | BB | FX | AA | Future School |
| 1 | Charity Jones Dynamo |
9.825 1 |
9.525 7 |
9.475 2 |
9.700 1 |
38.525 1 |
OU |
| 2 | Caitlin Atkinson Cypress |
9.750 3 |
9.575 3 |
9.500 1 |
9.525 13 |
38.350 2 |
AU |
| 3 | Sophia Lee WOGA |
9.750 3 |
9.550 5 |
9.400 5 |
9.550 8 |
38.250 3 |
|
| 3 | Rachel Daum Stars Houston |
9.725 6 |
9.475 9 |
9.425 3 |
9.625 5 |
38.250 3 |
Bama |
| 5 | Ashleigh Gnat Ace Gymnastics |
9.750 3 |
9.450 14 |
9.300 22 |
9.675 3 |
38.175 5 |
LSU |
| 6 | Briley Casanova WOGA |
9.825 1 |
9.500 8 |
9.300 22 |
9.500 17 |
38.125 6 |
Michigan |
| 7 | Mary Jane Horth Gym World - OH |
9.600 10 |
9.625 1 |
9.325 17 |
9.550 8 |
38.100 7 |
Illinois |
| 8 | Alyssa Nocella Silvias |
9.525 17 |
9.450 14 |
9.325 17 |
9.700 1 |
38.000 8 |
Bowling Green |
| 9 | Rachel Haines Gedderts Twistars |
9.575 13 |
9.450 14 |
9.400 5 |
9.550 8 |
37.975 9 |
Minnesota |
| 10 | Tenille Funches United Gymnastics |
9.650 8 |
9.425 19 |
9.350 14 |
9.525 13 |
37.950 10 |
Ohio State |
Link: Senior B Results
Alicia Boren of the NorthStars posted a 38.325 to win the Junior B title at the Women's Level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals. She also took the floor exercise. Chow's Rachel Gowey took 2nd with a 37.975, including a win on beam. Jullianna Cannamela of Southeastern was third, and Sydney Snead of Sonshine was 4th to complete the JO National Team. Kirah Koshinski of Northeast won the vault while Tiara Wright of the Parkettes won the bars.
Region 7 won the team title.
Link: Junior B Results
Junior A Competition
In the youngest division of the 2012 Women's JO Nationals (Junior A), Felicia Hano of West Coast Elite won the AA title. She also won the vault with a 9.8. In 2nd was Lexi Graber of Southern Starz, while three athletes tied for third: Norah Flatley and Alexis Vasquez of Chow's, and Grace Glenn of Southeastern. Flatley won the beam while Wynter Childers (Spearfish) won the floor. Grace Glenn's twin Anna won the bars.
This is the youngest age group at L10 Nationals, and the top finishers in this group often move up to the elite level.
Region 8 won the team title.
Note: Headline corrected
Link: Results
Senior A Competition
Florida commit and former elite Claire Boyce won the AA title at the 2012 Women's Junior Olympic Nationals, Senior A division this past Friday. Utah commit Baely Rowe was 2nd AA, just .05 behind, and won the UB. Just 0.075 behind her was future teammate Taylor Alexx, who posted the top score on vault. Capturing fourth and the last spot on the JO National Team was another former elite, Kamerin Moore (NU commit), just .025 behind Alexx.
PSU commit Nicole Medvitz won the beam title while 2013 recruitable Angi Cipra won the floor.
This age group is comprised of both 2013 and 2014 high school graduates.
Here's the top 10 finishers and their future schools (where available, in italics until official signing):
| Place | Name/Club | Vault | UB | BB | FX | AA | Future School |
| 1 | Claire Boyce Texas Dreams |
9.475 11 |
9.600 2 |
9.400 4 |
9.625 2 |
38.100 1 |
UF |
| 2 | Baely Rowe Auburn |
9.550 8 |
9.675 1 |
9.375 7 |
9.450 6 |
38.050 2 |
Utah |
| 3 | Taylor Allex Classic Gym |
9.750 1 |
9.450 8 |
9.175 23 |
9.600 3 |
37.975 3 |
Utah |
| 4 | Kamerin Moore Gedderts Twistars |
9.600 4 |
9.600 2 |
9.300 12 |
9.450 6 |
37.950 4 |
NU |
| 5 | Pua Hall KGDC |
9.725 2 |
9.450 8 |
9.250 16 |
9.450 6 |
37.875 5 |
|
| 6 | Emily Brauckmuller Orlando Metro |
9.450 12 |
9.375 16 |
9.325 10 |
9.450 6 |
37.600 6 |
Maryland |
| 7 | Myia Hambrick WGGC |
9.300 27 |
9.350 18 |
9.475 2 |
9.400 16 |
37.525 7 |
|
| 8 | Jennie Laeng Olympic Dreams |
9.450 12 |
9.500 5 |
9.375 7 |
9.100 38 |
37.425 8 |
|
| 8 | Marissa Beucler Cincinnati |
9.400 21 |
9.325 20 |
9.250 16 |
9.450 6 |
37.425 8 |
Kentucky |
| 10 | Katie Bailey High Point Gymnastic |
9.575 7 |
8.825 43 |
9.450 3 |
9.550 4 |
37.400 10 |
Bama |
| 10 | Dana Ho WOGA |
9.425 19 |
9.425 12 |
9.225 18 |
9.325 22 |
37.400 10 |
Cal |
We'll be linking to video and have more updates as information becomes available.
Region 3 won the team title.
Link: Results
The Men's Junior Olympic Nationals are being held this week and weekend in Ohio. The athletes competed Thursday for a shot at competing in the event finals and AA final (Top 36).
Here are the top 10 AA qualifiers in the Men's 16-18 Division (future school noted in parenthesis):
1. Trevor Howard, Hocking Valley 88.9 (PSU)
2. Don Whittenburg, Ultimate, 88.8
3. Timothy Wang, South Coast 88.55
4. Dmitri Belanovski, Swiss Turners, 88.35
5. Akash Modi, Monmouth, 87.85
6. Joey Peters, Parkettes, 87.75 (Illinois)
7. Max Mayr, Universal, 87.35 (Illinois)
8. Konner Ackerman, Metropolitan, 87
9. Jack Boyle, Premier West, 86.45
10. Allan Bower, Xtreme, 86.3
Full Results: 16 to 18
Full Results: 14 to 15
Link: Full Results
Danielle Turner, L10 at Phenom in Illinois, will joint the UW-WW team this fall. Turner qualified for level 10 regionals in 2012 and 2011. Turner finished 9th on floor for 2012 State. Turner placed 1st AA for level 9 state, and 2nd AA at level 9 regionals in 2010.
Ohio State has announced the addition of three athletes to the 2012-2013 incoming class: Samantha Kent, Maddie Herr and Micaela Cologie. Herr's commit was covered in a prior news item.
Kent is a L10 who trains at Ocean State School of Gymnastics. She'll be competing at the L10 Junior Olympic Nationals this weekend after qualifying at the Regional meet. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Cologie is an in-state prospect from Hocking Valley Gymnastics. The L10 placed 15th AA at the 2012 Region V L10 Regionals. She also finished 19th AA in 2011. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Link: Ohio State Release
Centenary has confirmed the addition of Stephanie Strickler for 2012-2013. The L10's commit was covered in a prior news item.
Link: Centenary Release
As expected, Canadian Elite Jessica Savona has signed with LSU. She will join the team this fall.
Up and coming club gymnasts competed at the Level 9 Eastern Nationals and Level 9 Western Nationals this past weekend.
Here are the winners in the Senior Division:
Eastern Nationals
Senior 1: Amanda Ruble, Oakland 37.8
Senior 2: Noell Resil, Elite Sports Academy, 37.725
Senior 3: Nikki Youd, Gym Plus, 37.75
Senior 4: Madison Brent, Southeastern 37.375
Senior 5: Hannah Chong, Prestige, 37.425
Senior 6: Amanda Scanlon, Gym Express, 36.6
Senior 7: Delina Phillips, All American Flames, 37.4
Senior 8: Telisa Brown, Elite Sports Academy, 37.725
Western Nationals
Senior 1: Morgan Wilson, Diamond, 37.65
Senior 2: Sara Boswell, National Elite, 37.75
Senior 3: Alexandra Kennedy, Auburn, 38.075
Senior 4: Danielle Landry, Auburn, 37.85
Link: USA Gymnastics
Fourteen men, nearly all with current, past or future NCAA affiliations, qualified to the VISA Championships at the Men's qualifier. They are:
Jake Martin, U.S. Olympic Training Center (future Ohio St)
Alex Buscaglia, Stanford
Josh Dixon, U.S. Olympic Training Center (ex Stanford)
Mackenzie Dow, PSU
Ryan Lieberman, Stanford
Edward Mesa, Universal Gymnastics
Andrew Elkind, U.S. Olympic Training Center (ex Michigan)
Trevor Howard, Hocking Valley Gymnastics Center (Future PSU)
Miguel Pineda, PSU
Zach Chase, Minnesota
Craig Hernandez, PSU
Wyatt Baier, Nebraska
Jesse Glenn, SCATS Gymnastics (Future Army)
Matt Felleman, PSU
Link: USA Gymnastics Release
The average cost of a 4 year college experience has increased dramatically during the past 10 years and financial aid is becoming a hot topic in the college search for athletes. Competition for athletic scholarships is fierce and for some student-athletes and families (particularly nearly all male gymnasts and all walkons/Division III/Ivy League athletes), they also need to look at need-based financial assistance or alternative forms of grants and scholarships to help pay the freight. This article takes a simple approach in identifying key components of financial aid.
Hayley Sanders, L10 from WOGA, has committed to Georgia according to a post on WOGA's Facebook page. She won her session of the HNI meet this season (1st AA; 1st UB/BB) and she won her state meet (1st AA; 1st UB).