OU won the Perfect 10 Challenge, hosted by Bart Connor and Nadia Comaneci in Oklahoma City. OU posted a 197.2 to best Iowa State's 195.175 and SEMO's 189.6. Megan Ferguson led OU, posting a 9.95 to win FX and taking beam with a 9.9. Teammate Sara Stone won VT, while Sooner Taylor Spears won the AA. OU's Hayden Ward and Brie Olson tied for the UB title.
Link: OU Release
Coach Sarah Patterson exclaimed "This was one of those blue collar nights", after the Tide just hit 196 in their win at Kentucky. Ashley Sledge led Bama, winning the AA with a 39.175. Teammate Marissa Gutierrez won vault, while Geralen Stack-Eaton added a win on UB. Teammate Kim Jacob won BB. For UK, Kayla Hartley won FX.
Link: Bama Release
Maddy Stover, L10 from Wildfire Gymnastics in California, has committed to Utah according to GymDivas.com. Maddy won her state and regional meets in 2011 and placed 6th AA (1st BB) at JOs. So far this season she has placed 4th AA at the San Diego Classic and 1st AA (1st V/UB/BB) at the Crystal Cup.
Brianna Brown, Elite gymnast from CGA in Ohio, has committed to join UGA's team for the 2014-15 season. Last season she finished 12th AA at US Nationals. So far this season, she competed 3 events at the CGA Coaches Spectacular.
Due to the Winter Cup, the rankings this week are unchanged.
| Rank | Team |
Season Average |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 348.183 |
| 2 | Illinois | 348.000 |
| 3 | Penn State | 346.750 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 346.125 |
| 5 | Stanford | 342.800 |
Link: Troester.com GymInfo
Utah holds onto the top spot in the Troester.com GymInfo ranking with a 197.031 season average. Bama moves up to #2 in this week's rankings, and Arkansas is third. Bama is the top squad on vault, while Arkansas leads on bars. Utah leads on the beam and floor.
Individually, Bama's Ashley Priess takes over the top spot in the rankings. UCLA's Vanessa Zamarripa is the top vaulter, while Arkansas' Mariah Howdeshell is the top UB worker. Teammate Jaime Pisani leads the floor. PSU's Sharaya Musser takes over the top spot on BB.
| Rank | Team |
Season Average |
| 1 | Utah | 197.031 |
| 2 | Alabama | 196.675 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 196.667 |
| 4 | Florida | 196.630 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 196.613 |
| 6 | Georgia | 196.605 |
| 7 | UCLA | 196.435 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 196.113 |
| 9 | Oregon State | 196.031 |
| 10 | Penn State | 195.855 |
| 11 | Ohio State | 195.530 |
| 12 | Stanford | 195.450 |
| 13 | Auburn | 195.245 |
| 14 | L.S.U. | 195.145 |
| 15 | Boise State | 194.963 |
| 16 | Arizona | 194.938 |
| 17 | Denver | 194.920 |
| 18 | Missouri | 194.915 |
| 19 | Illinois-Champaign | 194.800 |
| 20 | Washington | 194.480 |
| 21 | North Carolina State | 194.445 |
| 22 | Michigan | 194.381 |
| 23 | Iowa | 194.375 |
| 24 | West Virginia | 194.365 |
| 25 | Arizona State | 194.144 |
Link: Troester.com GymInfo
Every serious gymnast who wants to compete in college can! It is just about finding the right Division and program that fits her as an athlete. So the question still remains, are you Division 1, Division 2 or Division 3?
In this article I will be focusing on the athletic side of making a college decision. I have outlined several different things you can do to help you define which Division will best fit your skills and abilities.1. Talk with your coach: Have an honest conversation and get feedback from the people that know your skills and work ethic best. Are you hitting your peak or are you still improving? Is your body healthy to do All Around for four years or do you want to specialize?
2. Go watch a local collegiate gymnastics meet: Hopefully you live near a college with the sport of gymnastics. It is important to get on campuses and view a meet “in person” and it's fun too!
3. Honestly compare your skills: If you can’t get to a collegiate gymnastics meet, there is plenty of footage on the Internet that you can view.
4. Attend a college gymnastics camp: This is a great way to meet coaches and current student athletes. You can talk with them and ask questions in person.
5. Send out your profile and video: You will get letters back and responses directly from coaches as to their interest in you or not. Don’t take rejection letters as a negative. See them as an answer to helping you move on to another program that fits you better.
6. Compare your start values and scores: This is actually a tough one to use as a gauge, but it's not impossible. Club meets tend to be scored differently then college meets, but you can compare your start values. Most Division 1 coaches are looking to replace Level 10/10.0 start value routines on each event. Division 2 tends to have more level 9 athletes and so on.
7. Ask yourself: After reviewing the six areas above, it is important to know yourself and have a clear picture of what Division you are capable of competing. College coaches like to have recruits talk in realistic terms. This shows confidence in who you are as a person!
About Jill Hicks:
Jill Hicks is a former elite gymnast, Division I college athlete, club coach and Division I college gymnastics coach (Cal State Fullerton, Oregon State) and the owner of Jill Hicks Consulting, where she provides recruiting services and choreography for prospective student-athletes and their families. For further information visit: www.jhicksconsulting.com
Editor's Note: Publication of this article is not an endorsement of any recruiting service. Always check with the NCAA or your school's compliance officer for any questions regarding recruiting rules, the latest timelines, or other issues.
Thomasina Wallace broke the San Jose State school all-around record to lead her squad to victory. She posted a 39.425, winning the vault, UB, and BB. Teammate Julia Green won the floor to prevent a Wallace sweep.
Link: SJSU Release
UCLA defeated Stanford on Super Sunday, led by Samantha Peszek's fourth AA title in a row (39.55). Peszek also won a share of the floor title with teammate Lichelle Wong and Stanford's Nicole Pechanec. Bruin Vanessa Zamarripa won the vault and bars with matching 9.95s. Teammate Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs added a win on beam.
Link: UCLA Release
Senior Kay Gordon won the BB and the AA.
Link: Ithaca Release
Cortland defeated Springfield at home, led by wins on vault by Marissa Goodstein and Megan Phelan on bars. Brittany Baglow of SC won the beam, floor and AA.
Link: Springfield Release
Cal's Stina Olivere and Dallas Crawford tied for the UB title with meet high 9.875s as Cal rolled past UC Davis. Teammate Alex Leggitt won the BB while teammate Mariesah Pierce tied for the vault title with Davis' Anna Shumaker. The Aggies' Katie Yamamura won the floor and the AA.
Link: UC Davis Release
Oklahoma derailed fast-starting Arkansas, handing the Gym'Backs a convincing home setback. OU's Megan Ferguson stole the show, winning the beam and tying for the bars title (with Arkansas' Jaime Pisani) and floor titles (with Arkansas' Katherine Grable). Teammate Sara Stone won the vault. For Arkansas, Katherine Grable won the floor.
Link: OU Release
Maryland was led by wins on vault and floor by Ally Krikoria and Katy Dodds, respectively. Terrapin frosh Stephanie Giameo tied BGSU frosh Jamilah Ali for the beam title. UNC's Liz Durkac and Morgan Evans tied for the bars title, with Durkac winning the AA.
Link: Maryland Release
Host WMU used a strong final rotation to come from behind and defeat UIC. Taylor Zondervan led WMU, winning the floor and AA titles. Teammate Lauren Bledsoe won vault, tying her career high. Another teammate, Caroline O'Brien, tied UIC's Chantel Turk for the bars title. UIC's Catherin Dion won the beam.
Link: WMU Release