Faced with a Title IX lawsuit, W&M has restored Women's Gymnastics, along with Women's volleyball and swimming. The programs were set to be cut due to the financial difficulties caused by COVID-19. Sadly, the Men's program remains cut and the path forward is even more challenging due to the heightened Title IX concerns.
Link: W&M Announcement
The NCAA Division I Council officially adopted a resolution to allow all Division I Winter sports athletes an additional year of eligibility, regardless if they compete this season or not. If implemented in the same fashion as the waivers granted to 2020 spring and fall athletes, those seniors that return next year won't count against their school's scholarship limits in 2021-2022. The additional year and scholarship are not guaranteed. They are up to the school's choice, and likely dictated by budget. If implemented the same as the rule in Division II, it appears that the relaxation of the scholarship limits does not apply to a senior that transfers schools for supplemental year of eligibility in 2021-2022.
Links: ESPN and NCAA Release
Sadly, despite a strong case, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota voted to cut Men's gymnastics, indoor track and field and tennis. The motion passed by a 7 to 5 vote. The Men's program had developed a counter proposal that showed a path to self-funding and the addition of a new women's sports paid for through a public club program. Originally, the University had been expecting up to a $70M shortfall in their budget. After the resumption of football, this deficit has been cut down to $30M. Despite this positive changes, these thee sports were not spared. Men's outdoor track and field has survived and roster cuts to other sports have been planned, but not finalized. These cuts on the women's side may be lessened with the decision to save men's outdoor track and field.
Link: MN Daily
UAA needs to raise $888K by February 15th, 2021 in order to save their program. Please see the link below for ways you can donate or pledge.
Link: GoFundMe
PSU has hired former AU standout Rachel Innis as an assistant. She's been an assistant at Temple for the last two seasons. Prior to that, she was a volunteer assistant at AU. She also danced professionally for four years at Walt Disney World.
Link: PSU Release
Oregon State has hired Bryan Raschilla as an assistant. The former Bama associate Head Coach has been a volunteer assistant at AU the past two seasons. He replaces Brian Amato, who left to join Nebraska.
Link: Release
Alaska-Anchorage interim head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch has hired former standout Kendra Daniels as an assistant. Former assistant Alina Cartwright has agreed to return and help the team as a voluntary assistant, as they battle for reinstatement for future seasons.
Link: UAA Release
The NCAA Div I Council has announced that the recruiting dead period has been extended to January 1st. The dead period precludes all in-person recruiting. Also, no game tickets can be given to prospective student athletes or their coaches during the dead period. In other action, Fall championships in a variety of sports were postponed until the spring.
Link: NCAA
The Men's College Gymnastics Association has launched a new campaign, "Better Together", to raise funds to save Men's Gymnastics at the collegiate level. Find out more here: LINK
The Board of Regents of the University of Alaska-Anchorage have approved an option to save the four sports programs slated to be cut after this season. This proposal covers gymnastics, hockey and ski. They must raise two years of operating expenses, by next February. For gymnastics, that is nearly $900K. Half of the total needs to be available in cash, and the rest in pledges.
Link: Release
On September 11th, 2001, Mari-Rae Sopper was on her way to California, ready to start her job as Head Coach of the women's team at UC Santa Barbara. Sopper, a former standout at Iowa State, was known as "ISUFan" on the College Gymnastics Board. She had given up her job as a Navy JAG Corp lawyer to pursue her dream, and to help save the program at UCSB. She lost her life during the events of that fateful day as the plane she was on was deliberately crashed into the Pentagon. We pause to remember her spirit and dedication to the sport, and her inspiring effort to pursue her dreams, as well as the others who lost their lives that fateful day.
Citing a $75M shortfall, Minnesota will terminate four Men's sports after this season, including Men's Gymnastics. Stay tuned for more updates.
Link: Letter
SCSU has hired Byron Knox as their new Head Coach. Know was the Head Coach at Bridgeport for the last 16 seasons, and led the squad to six straight USA Gymnastics National titles. He was a gymnast on SCSU's Men's team, a member of the US National team and coached at SCSU and Yale. Bridgeport faces some uncertainty as the university has been acquired. A number of gymnasts have transferred during the off-season.
Link: Release
Sydney Wrighte announced on Instagram that she will be taking a medical retirement from gymnastics.