A fundraising and advocacy campaign has started, aimed at saving the program. They have a short term goal of raising 500K by December 31st via pledges (no payment necessary for now). Although the school has said no amount of donations can save the program, they aim to raise $2.5M, which is enough they believe to fund the program for five years. It was one of ten programs cut by Lindenwood last month, with this season intended to be their last.
Link: Save Lindenwood Website
Link: Instagram
Utah has named Carly Dockendorf as their new Head Coach, removing the "interim" from her title following the departure of former Head Coach Tom Farden. She has signed a new four year contract. Dockendorf began her stint at Utah as a volunteer assistant in 2018 and became an assistant in 2020. She was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2022. Dockendorf was previously an assistant at SPU for nine seasons in gymnastics and three in track and field. She's a former All American in both Gymnastics and Track and Field (Pole Vault) at Washington.
Link: Utah Release
Lindenwood has announced to intent to end its gymnastics program, after the 2024 season. The team most recently won the National team title at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals and the school as a whole has been making a move to the Division 1 level. Started in 2013, the squad went on to win National titles in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023 as well as six conference titles.
Link: Lindenwood Release
Tom Farden is leaving Utah, in the wake of reports of emotional and verbal ubuse, a wave of departures and the latest report in the Washington Post. In the report. Farden and his legal team threatened legal action against his accusers. Carly Dockendorf will continue as interim Head Coach for this season.
Link: Utah Release
Link: Deseret News
Late Sunday night, Utah announced that Utah Head Coach Tom Farden has been placed on paid administrative leave. Associate Head Coach Carly Dockendorf was named interim Head Coach. According to a statement, "This action comes after recent conduct and actions by Coach Farden not related to student-athlete welfare, which simply do not align with our values and expectations".
Link: ESPN
Kent State has promoted Craig Ballard to Associate Head Coach.
Link: Release
Maryland has signed Nichollette Crochet, Rayna Engelmayer, and Sarah Saville for 2024-2025, as expected.
Link: Release
Faye Rodio, a L10 from Bull City, has committed to continue her athletic and academic career at Alabama, starting in 2024-2025. Rodio competed mostly as VT/UB specialist in 2023, tying for 6th on VT at the Region 8 Regionals with her pike front 1/2 vault. She placed 11th AA at the 2022 Region 8 Regionals.
Link: Insta
Oregon State's Jade Carey and former Sooner star Yul Moldauer won the Swiss Cup, defeating the team from Japan in the unique mixed pair, round-by-round elimination format.
Videos (with searchable bookmarks for each routine): Link
Samantha Schnaider, a L10 from the Connecticut Gymnastics Academy, has committed a continue her athletic and academic career at Minnesota, starting in 2024-2025. A two-time L10 National qualifer, she was the Region 6 Regional champ in 2023 on BB and in the AA. She also won the Regional titles on UB, BB and the AA in 2022.
Link: Insta
LSU commit Zoe Miller won the Gold on the UB to lead the US women at Day 1 of the event finals at the 2023 Pan American Games. Veteran US gymnast Donnell Whittenburg won the Gold on Rings and placed 6th on FX while Stanford's Colt Walker was 4th on R. UCLA's Jordan Chiles was 2nd on VT to Brazil's Rebeca Andrade (who was also 2nd on UB). Chiles was 7th on UB after a fall. On PH, former Michigan star Cameron Bock was 4th while former World Champion and ex Nittany Lion Stephen Nedoroscik was 5th.
Iowa commit Aurelie Tran was 5th on UB while Minnesota commit Ava Stewart was 6t. Canada's Felix Dolci won FX while teammate Zachary Clay was 1st on PH.
Link: USA Gymnastics
Florida's Kayla DiCello won the Gold medal in the AA competition at the 2023 Pan American Games. UCLA's Jordan Chiles won the bronze. Minnesota commit Ava Stewart of Canada was fifth while countrymate and Iowa commit Aurelie Tran placed 7th. Bama's Luisa Blanco, competing for Columbia, placed 8th. Blanco by finishing the highest in the AA final of any eligible athlete, claimed the right to be named to a slot for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Former DU star Lynnzee Brown was 13th AA while Florida's Anya Pilgrim was 17th.
Donnell Whittenburg of the US won the Bronze in the AA while teammate and ex-Michigan star Cameron Bock was 4th. Canada's Felix Dolci won the Gold.
Link: Release/Results
The US won the Gold medal in the team competition at the 2023 Pan American Games. They defeated Brazil and Canada despite using an all-new lineup for the Pan Ams. The Gold medalist squad included UCLa's Jordan Chiles, Florida's Kayla DiCello, LSU commit Kaliya Lincoln and LSU commit Zoe Miller. Their team total would have placed a close 3rd at the recent World Championships. Chiles and DiCello placed 1-2 in the AA competition to qualify for the final. Chiles also qualified into the VT and UB finals while DiCello qualified to the FX and BB finals. Miller was the top qualifier on UB, while Lincoln qualified to the BB and FX finals. Auburn commit Katelyn Jong qualified to the UB final but will not advance due to the two per country rule.
Bronze medalist Canada were also well represented by future NCAAers: Iowa commits Aurelie Tran, Cassie Lee and Sydney Turney, Minnesota commit Ava Stewart and Iowa State commit Frederique Sgarbossa. Tran and Stewart qualified to the AA, UB and BB finals (with Stewart #1 on BB). Tran also qualified to the FX final, along with Turner. Bama's Luisa Blanco led fifth place Colombia, qualifying to the AA final with a 10th place AA finish. She also was the top AAer in qualifying that is eligible for the Olympic spot that will be awarded at this competition. Former DU star Lynnzee Brown also qualified to the AA final, placing 14th for Haiti. Florida's Anya Pilgrim was 27th AA.
Link: USA Gym
The US men showed their depth, taking the Gold medal at the Pan American Games on Saturday. With an all new lineup from the team that competed at the World Championships, they defeated top squads from Canada and Brazil. NCAAers on the team include Cameron Bock (ex Michigan), Stephen Nedoroscik (ex PSU), Curran Phillips (ex Stanford) and Colt Walker (Stanford). Bock and teammate Donnell Whittenburg went one-two in the AA to advance to the final. Whittenburg qualified to the Ring final in 1st and the FX final in 2nd. Bock qualified on the HB and PH. Phillips was the top qualifier on PB while Nedoroscik qualified to the PH final. Walker qualified to the R, PB and HB finals (and was 4th AA, but will not advance due to the two per country rule). Illini Vahe Petrosyan, who qualified as an individual, was 25th AA and 7th on PH (but is also subject to the two per country rule). None of the Americans competed two vaults to be eligible for the event final there. The US men's team total would have placed 4th at the recent World Championships.
Link: USA Gym