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.
It is time to update the recruitable databases and we appreciate any helpful input to ensure that the gymnast profiles are correct. The most common error is an error in the graduation year. Unless we find a personal bio sheet, a recruiting video, or a news article that specifies the year of graduation, we are left to our "best guess" as to graduation year based on the age group in which the athlete competes.
If you are a recruitable athlete, coach or parent, please check the recruitables database for your name (or your athlete's name) by using the SEARCH box at the top of the front page of this web site or the search feature under the RECRUITS > RECRUITABLES DATABASES tab at the top of the front page. If you find an error in the graduation year or any other information, please let us know.
We are working to complete the databases for the high school classes of 2012 and 2013, but we are beginning to populate the 2014 list, too. If your profile belongs on one of these lists and you don't see it, you may create a profile using the SUBMIT RECUITABLE link on the left side of the front page OR you may email us the information. Be aware that when you are enter a profile, it goes to a queue for approval before it posts. We check the website several times each day so we can approve the profiles as quickly as possible, but it may not show up immediately upon entry.
Note to L9 recruitables: We don't activley research and post L9 profiles, but you are welcome to post your profile on this site. Let us know if you have questions about this.
Thanks.
Samantha Pearsall, L10 from the Illinois Gymnastics Institute in Illinois, has committed to ISU for the 2012-13 season. Highlights of her 2010 season include winning bars and the Tampa Bay Turners and the Arena Classic meets and a 4th AA finish at the Chicago Style. Her 7th place finish at regionals qualified her to JO Nationals, where she placed 37th AA and 7th on bars.
Elaina Cammarata has received an appointment with the Air Force Academy and will compete for them next season (Note: all appointments receive scholarships, so an NLI is not signed). She is a L10 at Trinity. As a L9 last season at Crystal Lake, she finished 12th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals.
Link: Article
Be sure to checkout the article featuring links to preseason videos from some of your favorite teams. Links that have been updated since the initial publication are noted! Some of the latest updates include UCLA, Illinois and Penn.
Illinois has named Justin Spring Head Coach of it's men's program. He had been serving as Associate Head Coach.
Link: Illinois Release
Centenary has announced the addition of Lauren Cullen to the 2011-2012 squad. The L10 from Bart Conner has accepted an offer of adminission. As a L9 in 2010, she placed 16th AA, 3rd on FX and 4th(t) on BB at the L9 Western Nationals.
Link: Centenary Release and YouTube.com Channel
Caitlin Atkinson has reportedly committed to Auburn, according to a site submission. The Cypress athlete qualified to the senior international elite division at the 2010 US Classic, where she placed 20th. As a jr. international, she placed 26th AA at the 2008 VISA Championships.
Link: Additional Video at YouTube.com and Gymnastike.org
Rutgers Head Coach Chrystal Nollet-Norton will retire at the end of the season, according to a school release. This season will mark her 25th. A national search will be conducted for her successor.
Link: Rutgers Release
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New UCLA signee Peng Peng Lee won the AA on the first day at Elite Canada. Iowa commit Emily Bigras was 19th.
Link: Results and Interview with Lee
Lisavette (Lisa) Soto has committed to Pitt for the 2012-13 season. Soto started her 2009-10 season with 2nd place AA finishes at the Twin City Invite (1st v and ub) and the Tampa Bay Turners Invite (1st fx). She picked up bars titles at both her state and regionals meets on her way to 2nd place AA finishes in each of those meets. She qualified to nationals where she placed 7th on bars. Soto is a level 10 and competes for Southeastern Gymnastics in North Carolina.
UIC signed two gymnasts to letters of intent: Chelsea Bailey and Alexandria "Lexi" Brown.
Bailey is a L10 who trains at IGI. She placed 10th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals and qualified to the JO NIT meet. In 2009, she placed 13th AA at the Regional meet. Link: YouTube.com Video
Brown is a teammate of Bailey at IGI. The L10 placed 20th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals. As a L9 in 2009, she placed 1st on FX, 3rd on UB and 5th AA at the 2009 L9 Eastern Nationals. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Link: UIC Release