ASU has announced the hiring of Craig Ballard as an assistant coach. He's spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Kent State. Prior to that, he was an assisant at Bowling Green.
Link: ASU Release
Anna Gamelo won the National Open title in the Women's 16+ division at the Canadian Championships. She posted a score of 57.45 under the Canadian system. In second was Marisa Dick, with Rachel Pantano in third. UGA signee Vivi Babalis was fourth. Former CMU athlete Tenishia Tomlinson was 7th.
Link: Natonal Open Results
In the Senior Men's competition, Robert Watson won the title. Simon Porter was 2nd and Rene Cournoyer was third. Some of the top men only competed select individual events.
Link: Senior Results
ASU has hired Jeff Hunt as an assistant. He's been an assistant at SUU. He's been an assistant for eight years, the last three as a full time assistant coach, the first five as a volunteer.
Link: ASU Release
WVU has hired former WVU gymnast Kaylyn Millick as an assistant.
Link: WVU Release
The 2014 Canadian Championships continued with the Women's AA finals today in the Senior High Performance divison. Ellie Black won her 2nd consecutive AA title with an impressive 58.025, followed by Isabella Onyshko at 56.1. Black had the top mark on BB while Onyshko had the top mark on UB. Victoria Moors was third, with the top spot on UB. Ohio State signee Stefanie Merkle was fourth, with future teammate Victoria-Kayen Woo in fifth. UGA commit Natalie Vaculik was sixth but bolstered her chances at a Commonwealth Games and World Championships berth with a 2nd place on UB (one of Canada's weak events).
Maryland commit Kirsten Peterman was 7th AA while PSU commit Briannah Tsang had the top mark on vault, bolstering her chances with a Yurchenko Double Full. She was 8th AA. UF commit Maeghan Chant was 9th, while Washington commit Madison Copiak was 10th. UGA commit Jordyn Pedersen was just behind in 11th.
Link: Senior Results
Also held were the prelims of the National Open (approximately L10) division of the Canadian Championships. Anna Gamelo led the qualifiers in the 16+ age division, with UGA signee Vivi Babalis in 2nd. Marissa Dick, who also competes for Trinidad and Tobago, was 3rd. Former CMU athlete Tenishia Tomlinson was 4th, tied with Rachel Pantano.
Link: National Open 16+ Prelim Results
In the Junior High Performance division, Rose-Kaying Woo won with an even better AA tally: a 59.05. (A bonus system was in place) Shallon Olsen was 2nd, with Megan Roberts third.
Link: Junior Results
Lexi Graber, L10 at Coast Elite in Florida, committed to Alabama. She is a four-time JO qualifier. In the 2014 season, she won the vault, beam and floor titles at her state meet. She placed 1st AA and 1st on bars at regionals and 2nd AA at JOs.
Mary Elle Arduino, L10 at World Class in New York, has accepted a scholarship offer from Towson. She finished 3rd AA and 1st on beam this season at her state meet. Her 4th place finish at regionals qualified her to JOs.
The Women's qualification round for the Senior High Performance (elite) division at the 2014 Canadian Championships were held today in Ontario, Canada. Ellie Black led the qualifiers, followed by new seniors Aleeza Yu and Isabela Onyshko.
Ohio State incoming frosh Stefanie Merkle was fifth AA, with Maryland commit Kirsten Peterman 6th and UGA commit Jordyn Pederson in 7th. In 8th was Ohio State commit Victoria Kayen-Woo while Florida commit Maeghan Chant was back in 10th. They were followed by UGA commit Natalie Vaculik and PSU incoming frosh Briannah Tsang in 11th and 12th, respectively. Washington commit Madison Copiak was 14th. MSU signee Ella Douglas and Ohio State signee Casey Carvalho competed as specialists.
Link: Results
Ohio State has signed Canadian Kaitlyn Hofland for 2014-2015. The elite gymnast from East York originally committed to Utah and was intending to defer. A member of Canada's 2013 World Championship team, she place 5th AA and 1st on UB at the 2013 Canadian Championships. She also earned a silver on UB at a World Cup event.
Link: Ohio State Release
According to philly.com (via GymnasticsCoaching), Temple's men's gymnastics program has raised enough money to continue on as a club sport. They will continue to seek full reinstatement and are raising funds to their eventual goal ($2.5M). A Temple trustee and comic/actor Bill Cosby have stepped forward with large donations. Link: Article
Go to the link to find out how to donate to the cause: Link
Alyssa Hershman, L9 from SIGS in Indiana, will join the Wisconsin-Stout team next season. She is the 2014 Indiana L9 vault champ. She finished 5th AA at regionals and qualified to the Eastern Championships.
Jackie Yates, L10 at Stars and Stripes in Michigan, has committed to WMU. This season Jackie won the Circle of Stars (1st AA/UB/BB) and Motown Madness (1st AA/UB/BB). She also picked up the bars title at the Presidential Classic.
Kasey Janowicz, L10 from Bay Valley Gymnastics in Michigan, has committed to CMU. After stepping away from gymnastics for a while, Kasey came back in 2013 and won the L9 Eastern Championships (1st AA, BB, and FX). She moved up to L10 this season and made an early statement when she swept her session of the Chicago Style meet. She went on to earn a 4th place finish at JOs.
Alyssa Sgro has committed to Illinois for 2015-2016, according to a site submission. She's currently training as a L10 at Oasis Gymnastics. At the 2014 Level 10 Junior Olympics Nationals, she placed 15th AA, including a tie for 9th on UB. She also placed 13th AA at Regionals in 2013.
Link: Videos
Julia Sebben has committed to Air Force for 2014-2015, according to a site submission. The L10 trains at Next Dimension. At the 2014 L10 JO Nationals, she placed 40th AA. She also tied for 36th AA in 2013.
Link: Videos
Cornell will add eight gymnasts for 2014-2015. Previously, we covered the commits of Joy Gage, Anna Huang, and Julianna Meely. Cornell will welcome five more:
Allison Franz is a L10 who trains at Niagara in New York. She placed 16th AA at the 2014 Region VI L10 Regionals. She also qualified to Regionals in 2012. Link: Video
Jessica O'Brien is a L10 from Colorado's Extreme Altitude Gymnastics She placed 9th AA at the 2014 Colorado Level 10 State Championships. She also finished 18th AA at the 2012 Region III Regionals. Link: Video.
Courtney Spitzer is a L10 from SCEGA in Southern California. She tied for 8th AA at the 2013 L10 SoCal State Meet. She also qualified to Regionals in 2012. Link: Site
Samantha Sruba is a L10 from Technique in Northern California. She qualified to the Region I Regionals in 2014, after winning the UB title at the 2014 NorCal L10 State meet. She also placed 12th AA at Regionals in 2013. Link: Videos
Lauren Wong is a L10 from West Coast Elite in Southern California. At the 2014 Region I L10 Regionals, she tied for 19th AA. She also finished 16th AA in 2013. Link: Videos