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.
Madison Shorts, a Level 10 at Buckeye Gymnastics in Westerville, Ohio, has committed to Ball State for the 2011-2012 season. After spending most of the 2010 season with an ankle injury, she came back to compete at regionals where she placed 18th.
Jaclyn "Jackie" McCartin, a senior international elite from Charter Oak, has committed to Washington, according to a site submission. She start in 2011-2012. At the 2010 VISA (US) Championships, she placed 12th AA. In 2009, she was the L10 National AA, UB and BB champion. She also placed 2nd on FX at that meet.
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.
Lily Hardin, a sr. elite competing for WOGA, has committed to Arkansas for the 2012-13 season. She competed two to three events in her meets last season. In 2009, she was 4th on beam at the American Classic, 3rd on vault at the 2009 WOGA Classic, and 3rd AA at the 2009 Metroplex Challenge elite qualifier.
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.
Bridgette Caquatto tells Gymnastike that she has verbally committed to UF. She will graduate from high school in 2012 and join her sister Mackenzie at Florida in the fall. As an elite gymnast, Bridgey has competed at Nationals the past three seasons and she represented the US at the 2009 Jr. Pam Am games (4th AA; 2nd V). She has been working through an injury this season, but recently competed bars at the US Nationals.
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
Former OU star Jonathan Horton defended his AA title Friday night, successfully winning the VISA Championships. In 2nd was Danell Leyva, who also captured the PB title while holding off Ohio State's Brandon Wynn, who also won Rings. OU grad Chris Brooks was 4th and 1st on HB while Cal's Glen Ishino was fifth. NCAAers excelled in the event finals, with Josh Dixson of Stanford taking the FX title and Daniel Ribiero of Illinois taking the PH title. OU's Steven Legendre won the VT title, breaking 17 with a 17.05 for the 2nd time in a row.
Link: AA Results and Event Results
As recently reported, ASU withdrew its scholarship offer to Preslee Harrald in order to reserve a scholarship for one of their redshirt athletes. Preslee has now committed to CMU for the 2011-12 season, where she'll join her long time friend and former teammate, Rachel York. Preslee's family tells CGFs.com that they appreciate the amazing outpouring of support from fans and coaches who were aware of Preslee's situation and that she is excited for this opportunity.
Preslee won her state meet last season and finished 1st AA at the NIT.
Charley Nelson, the assistant men's coach at UIC, has been named Head Coach. He replaces CJ Johnson, who retires at the end of the month after 36 years.
Link: UIC Release
WOGA's Rebecca Bross took the lead after Day 1 of the VISA (US) Championships Senior Women's division. UCLA signee Mattie Larsen was 2nd, while Alexandra Raisman was 3rd. UGA commit Chelsea Davis is fourth, while UF signee Kytra Hunter was tied for fifth with future teammate Mackenzie Caquatto. UCLA's Vanessa Zamarripa was 7th, while posting the 2nd highest senior score of the day (15.6) with a stick on her "Cheng" vault (roundoff 1/2 on to front layout with 1 1/2 twists off). The highest senior score of the day (15.65) was posted by ex-Brown athlete Alicia Sacramone.
Link: Full Results