World Vault Champ Kayla Williams has reportedly selected Bama, per her club's Twitter tweets. The senior international elite and 2009 VISA Vault Champ and 2009 L10 AA/VT/FX champ recently switched gyms to the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. Although she is currently a junior in high school, it seems likely she will defer entry until 2012-2013.
Link: CGA Tweets
Alexandra "Allie" Lekson has committed to EMU, according to her club. Lekson is a L10 who trains at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. At the 2010 L10 Regionals, she placed 14th AA and 4th on BB in the Senior A division. She is also the L10 State VT champ (see video below). She reportedly missed much of the 2009 season with an injury.
Link: CGA Web Site and YouTube.com of Regionals
Carleigh Wrobel has committed to William and Mary for 2011-2012, according to a site submission. She's a L10 who trains at Capital in Virginia. At the 2010, L10 Regionals, she placed 20th AA in the Senior A division.
Link: Official Web Site
That being said, the majority of the prospects looking for a home on a college campus and as part of a varsity team are NOT the blue chip kids. Firstly, this needs to be understood and realized. Secondly, these prospects need to develop and execute a separate plan of attack and begin to tackle what I call the “grey areas” of recruiting. When I speak of grey areas, I am alluding to alternative tactics that could strongly assist families and their children reach a little higher and with a better chance of success in the college search.
Stanford-bound Kristina Vaculik won the Canadian Championship last night in Kamloops, BC. Vaculik defeated preliminary leader Madeline Gardiner. UIC signee Catherine Dion was 9th and Utah signee Nansy Damianova was tied for 11th. UCLA incoming frosh Sydney Sawa was 14th while San Jose State Spartan signee Cassandra Harrison was 16th.
In the Men's competition, Nathan Gafuik claimed the title.
Women: Results
Men: Results
The Canadian Championships continue with the National Open preliminaries earlier today. Several future collegians were in action, including Iowa signee Nicole Pineau and SUU commit Rochelle Bernier.
Link: Results
Across the nation, we're in the process of saying "goodbye" to our senior leaders. On the women's side, there are some iconic names that will be missing from next year's roster. Gymnasts like LSU's Susan Jackson have been fixtures on their teams and in the NCAA national scene for several years. Although rosters are not finalized, here's a quick summary of the status of Top 25 teams from this past season, with their key losses summarized and highlighted.
The Canadian Championships are happening this week, and a slew of future and current NCAAers are in action.
At the women's High Performance (HP / elite) preliminaries, Madeline Gardiner was the lead qualifier. Stanford incoming frosh Kristina Vaculik was 2nd AA. Incoming Utah Ute Nansy Damianova was tied for 6th, just ahead of UCLA signee Sydney Sawa in 8th. In 12th was future San Jose State Spartan Cassandra Harrison. UIC signee Catherine Dion was 14th while EMU signee Ashley Quinton was 18th. Arizona spring signee Laurie-Eve Pepin-Gagne competed only UB. Link: Full Results
There is a busy day of competition today, with Women's HP Finals, Men's HP Preliminaries, and Women's National Open team competition.
John Scallon has signed with Minnesota for 2010-2011, according to a school release. Scallon is a pommel horse specialist who won the state high school title, after just three years of training.
Link: Release
SEMO has named Kristi Ewasko as Head Coach. She had been acting as the interim Head Coach this past season.
Link: SEMO Release
Kaila Kilwein, L10 from Roach Gymnastics in Washington, will join three other incoming freshmen at Sacramento State next season. She placed 2nd AA (1st BB) in her session at the Sand Dollar meet earlier this season. She finished 6th AA at her state meet, 4th AA at regionals and 21st AA at JOs.
Press ReleaseRia Domier of the Davis Diamonds has committed to Bama, where she will get a full academic scholarship. Domier, a L10, recently finished tied for 3rd AA at the National Invitational Tournament, in the Senior B division. She placed 12th AA and 4th on VT at the 2010 Region I L10 Regionals, Sr. B.
Link: YouTube.com
Hayley Bodenheimer, L10 at Salem Gymnastics in N.C., has committed to Pitt for the 2011-12 season. Bodenheimer, who placed 7th AA at the 2009 JOs, had numerous top 5 finishes at her meets this year, including a 1st place finish (1st BB/FX) at the Daytona Beach Invite. She placed 3rd AA at regionals (1st V) and 10th AA at th 2010 JOs.