Happy New Year!
With the season just around the corner, we'd like to add a few wishes on what we are hoping to see this season:
Sara Skammer has signed with Rutgers, according to the Times Leader newspaper. The United Sports Academy trained L10 was 11th AA at the 2009 Region VII L10 Regionals.
Ariel Martin, L10 at IGI in Illinois, has committed to Ohio State according to her CGF user profile. During the 2010 season, she finished in the top six at nearly all of her meets, including a 3rd AA (2nd V; 4th FX) finish at JO Nationals.
Mahoney is listed in serious condition following surgery to stabilize the injury to the C-6 vertebrae, which occured in practice. Per the team's Facebook page, she is set to be released from the Neuro ICU tomorrow and is sitting up and eating on her own. You can read more and send your well-wishes via the team's Facebook page, and find an address to send her cards and words of encouragement.
Alyssa Gale has been unable to overcome an injury from her club competition days. She'll retire, but remain involved with the team as a manager.
Alexis Cappalli, L10 at IGI in Illinois, has committed to North Carolina. As a first year Level 10 in 2010, she placed in the top five AA at most of her meets and picked up several individual honors, winning floor at the Sports Fest and Tampa Bay Turners meets and vault at the King Arthur meet. She placed 8th AA at her state meet (5th V/UB; 6th FX), 5th AA (2nd V) at regionals and 29th AA (14th V) at JO Nationals. Academically, she maintains a 4.6 GPA, and is a member of the National Honors Society.
Lauren Rose reportedly will graduate early and enroll in Florida for January. The L10 trains at Orlando Metro. In 2010, she placed 5th AA, 3rd UB and 4th on VT at the Region VIII L10 Regionals. She also placed 39th AA at the 2009 JO Nationals.
Link: YouTube.com Channel
Randii Wyrick, L10 at Brown's in Nevada, has committed to LSU according to her club's Facebook page. Wyrick's 2010 season highlights include wins at the Lady Luck Invite (1st AA; 1st UB) and Wine Country Classic (1st AA; 1st V) and several top 3 finishes throughout the season. She placed 3rd AA at her state meet, 4th AA (1st FX) at regionals, and 4th AA at JO Nationals.
Several newcomers have joined teams in time for the start of the season in January. At Bama, as expected, Diandra Milliner has joined the squad.
At OU, Hayden Ward and Madison Mooring are both set to compete this season. Although Ward's early start was originally announced, Mooring was also able to join the squad early.
And at TWU, Bethany Larimer has joined the squad, after starting at Kentucky in the Fall of 2009 and then transferring to Collin County Junior College. Additional January starts will be posted as they are confirmed.
Regina Romero, L10 from Metroplex in Texas, has committed to New Hampshire. Her 2010 season was punctuated by a win on floor at the WOGA Classic and a number of top 3 event finishes throughout the season. She finished 10th AA at her state meet, 7th AA at regionals and 29th AA at JO Nationals.
Amy Roemmele, L10 at Oakland Gymnastics in Michigan, has committed to Kentucky. She started this season off with a 5th place finish at the Gymnastics on the Grand. In 2010 she placed in the top five AA in all of her regular season meets and picked up wins on bars at the Michigan Acadamy Christmas Classic and the Circle of Stars meet. She placed 3rd AA (1st UB) at her regional meet and 18th AA (1st UB) at JO Nationals.
Brittany Ekstedt, a Canadian National Open gymnast who trained at Champion, will join EMU for the January semester. At the 2010 Canadian Championships, she finished 7th AA and 1st on UB in the National Open, 16+ division.
Link: EMU Release and YouTube.com Channel
Kathryn Kluz, L10 from Oakland Gymnastics in Michigan, has committed to Auburn. Kluz started this season with a win at Gymnastics on the Grand (1st AA; 1st V/UB). She had a very strong 2010 season, winning the Michigan Academy Christmas Classic (1st V/FX); the CGA Coaches Spectacular (1st V); the San Diego Classic (1st V); and her state meet (1st V). She placed 6th AA at regionals and 7th AA at JO Nationals.
USA Gymnastics has issued a letter urging members and fans of the sport to make pledges to Cal Gymnastics Forever. In September, Cal announced the elimination of the Men's and Women's Gymnastics Program. In order to save the programs, a long term financial plan must be put in place to support gymnastics, rugby, women's lacrosse and baseball. A coordinated plan to raise $12.5M has been put in place, with over $10M already raised by the other sports. The Cal gymnastics program is targeting $1M towards that total, an amount they will have until January 31st to raise. Make your pledge or help spread the word today.
Link: USAG Letter and Cal Gymnastics Forever Website
Brittni Watkins, L10 from World Class Gymnastics in New York, has committed to NCSU. She finished 1st AA at her regional meet last year and qualified to JO Nationals, where she finished 35th AA.
For the past several seasons, we've made an attempt to rank the incoming recruiting classes for teams from across the nation. Some teams, in particular the perennial superpowers, seem to appear in the rankings each season. But as for the others, you've probably noticed new teams appear as the tides of recruiting ebb and flow. With recruiting occuring earlier and earlier, predicting the progress of future recruits is becoming more and more difficult. Unexpected injuries, changes in training pattern and other personal events sometimes impact an athlete's ability to come in and contribute right away. So which school has scored the top incoming class? It was close, but read ahead to find our ranking.