The CoverGirl Classic is this weekend, with competition on Saturday for the Juniors and Seniors. The meet serves as the final qualifier for the VISA (US) Championships. Several well known gymnasts will be competing this weekend for the practice, while others still will be trying to get qualifying scores for the Championships. Former NCAA competitors competing include Anna Li (UCLA), Casey Jo Magee (Arkansas) and Alicia Sacramone (Brown). Current NCAAers expected to compete include rising sophomore Mackenzie Caquatto of Florida and new frosh Jessie DeZiel of Nebraska and Jacyln McCartin of Washington. A number of future commits and unsigned athletes will also be competing.
The senior competition will be webcast live for free at 7 pm Central on Saturday.
Links:
Webcast (Universal Sports)
Gymnastike.org Podium Training (with Video)
Gymnastics Examiner Podium Training (with Video) and Senior Quick Hits
Air Force welcomed five cadets to the start of basic training: Elaina Cammarata, Lindsay Ebel, Kim McRobbie, Alexandra Stych and Jessica Wallander. The commits of Cammarata, McRobbie and Stych were covered in prior news items.
Ebel is a L10 from the Colorado Aerials. At the 2010 Region III L10 Regionals, she placed 10th AA. She also tied for 44th AA at the 2009 L10 JO Nationals. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Wallander is a L10 from Metroplex. In 2009, while at Texas Dreams, she tied for 10th on UB and 23rd AA at the L10 JO Nationals. After missing 2010, she competed on two events at Regionals in 2011. Link: VT in 2011
Link: Air Force Release
Lindonwood University has announced the addition of Women's Gymnastics, starting with the 2012-2013 season. In 2013-2014, they will be competing as a Division II program. Head Coach Gretchen Goerlitz comes to LU after two years at Centenary. The former USU and DU competitor got her master's at TWU. In a release, Goerlitz said, “I’m honored to be the first head women’s gymnastics coach at Lindenwood University, to be joining the ranks of such an ambitious athletics department, and to be a part of the history of building a new and strong gymnastics program,” said Goerlitz. “I cannot think of a better university to be adding the sport of gymnastics. It is truly a great time to be a part of Lindenwood and specifically the athletic department as it paves new paths down the road of excellence.”
Link: Release
Nicole Nickels, a L10 at Xtreme in Missouri, has committed to SEMO, according to a site submission. Nickels placed 33rd AA at the 2011 L10 JO Nationals, Sr. C. She was 38th AA in 2010.
Auburn has added Dawn Schueller as Director of Gymnastics Operations. She is a former volunteer assistant.
Link: AU Release
UCLA has announced several changes to their coaching staff:
Randy Lane returns to UCLA after stints at MSU and UF.
Amy Smith joins the staff as a volunteer assistant. She was an assistant last at Missouri
Chris Waller has been promoted to Associate Head Coach from Assistant Head Coach.
Link: UCLA Release
Tamara Moten, a L10 at United Gymnastics in Illinois, signed with UIC, per her club's web page. At the 2011 Region V L10 Regionals, she placed 11th AA and 4th on FX in the Senior D division. She was 22nd at Regionals in 2010.
NU incoming Jessie DeZiel posted a three-event qualifying score to advance to the Cover Girl Classic in a few weeks. She did not compete UB. Former Kentucky great Jenny Hansen fell just short of her attempt to qualify on VT and BB. She posted a solid 14.35 on a 5.3 SV vault but her two event total was 0.55 shy of what was needed to move on..
Link: July Qualifier Results
Two former Sooners (Jonathan Horton and Steven Legendre) and one current Sooner (Alex Naddour) helped the US to a silver medal in the team competition at the Japan Cup. Japan won the gold.
Link: Results
Former UCLA star Anna Li won the UB while former Arkansas standout Casey Jo Magee won the BB as the two NCAAers participated in the qualifying meet to the VISA (US) Championships. Li qualified to the VISAs in two events, and is on a short list of possible UB specialists for the US squad. Magee won the BB and qualified in three events. UGA commit Brandi Jay won the VT and placed third AA, and advanced in the AA. WOGA's Grace McLaughlin won the AA. The qualifying system allows specialists to qualify in two and three events, respectively. Bama commit Lauren Beers just missed a qualifying mark in four events, tying with Mageeo. Washington incoming frosh Jaclyn McCartin also competed.
Link: Results