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
Towson set its highest team score in history, winning the Ken Anderson Memorial Invitational. Senior Corrine Williams led the way, winning the bars and floor. Teammate Kaity Watson tied with West Chester's Stephanie Schuler for the vault title. Schuler won the AA while teammate Kaley LaFleur won the beam.
Link: Temple Release
Nicole Dragon, L10 at Galaxy in New York, has committed to Maryland. She finished off her 2011 at her state meet, finishing 3rd AA and 1st on beam. Earlier this season she competed at the Balloon Classic, finishing 3rd AA and 1st on vault.
John Orozco won the 2012 Winter Cup all-around, PB and HB titles on Saturday night. Former OU star Steven Legendre was 2nd (1st on FX, VT), and former Ohio State standout Brandon Wynn was 3rd (1st on Rings). Paul Ruggeri of Illinois, in 7th, was the top NCAAer. Cal's Glen Ishino won the PH.
In addition to the seven members of the World Championships team, the USAG named David Sender (ex Stanford), Paul Ruggeri of Illinois, Jesse Silverstein, Glen Ishino (Cal), Adrian de los Angeles (Michigan), and CJ Maestas (Illinois) to the National Team.
Link: USA Gymnastics
Illinois held off Ohio State to notch a victory at home. Needing to hit her routine to preserve the win, Amber See hit a 9.9 on floor to win the event. She also tied for the AA title and BB title. Teammate Kelsey Joannides captured a share of the AA title and won UB. Illini Elizabeth McNabb was one of four athletes to tie for first on beam. Another was Colleen Dean, who also tied for the AA title, and teammate Alyssa Marohn. Buckeye Sarah Miller won vault.
Link: Illinois Release
Denver won the Burnsley Invitational once again, posting a season high 195.65 at home. Moriah Martin led DU, winning the bars and tying for the vault title with ISU's Celine Paulus. Paulus won the AA with a 39.25. DU's Simona Castro won the beam while teammate Jorie Hall took the floor.
Link: DU Release
MSU rolled to a big win at home, pace by Taira Neal's fourth vault title of the season. Frosh Alina Cartwright tied teammate Selina Rodriguez for the bars titles. Alex Pace led the Spartans on beam with a win, while teammate Dani Levy took the floor. SEMO's Megan Fosnow won the AA.
Link: MSU Release
Pitt won the quad meet at home, posting their highest team score in two years. For Pitt, Alicia Talucci won vault while frosh Haley Bodenheimer won beam. Teammate Katie O'Rourke added a win on floor, while Alyssa Adrian tied GWU's Kiera Kenney for the bars title. GWU's Alexis Gunzelman won the AA with a 39.075.
Link: Pitt Release