Several NCAAers, past, present and future, competed at the World Championships. The injury-beset USA team competes on Saturday (Tokyo time). The Women's Preliminaries Day 1 competition are now complete (through Session 5), and here's an NCAA recap:
DU's Jessica Lopez (Venezuela) is in fifth AA and looks to advance to the AA final, with solid scores on UB (3rd) and FX (6th).
UCLA signee Peng Peng Lee (Canada) is in sixth after problems on BB. Her best finish was on UB (5th).
Stanford's Kristina Vaculik (Canada) was 12th, with her best event on BB.
Iowa grad Houry Gebeshian was 59th for Armenia; she competed watered down sets. WVU commit Jaida Lawrence (Jamaica) placed 77th.
Samantha Nelson, L10 at Ace Gymnastics in Massachusetts, has committed to Arkansas. Last season Nelson finished 3rd AA (1st FX) at her state meet, 1st AA (1st FX) at regionals and 29th AA at JOs.
Tenille Funches, L10 at Arena Gymnastics in Illinois, has committed to Ohio State. Funches was the 2011 Region 5 All-Around champion and placed 2nd on FX and 3rd on VT. At JO Nationals in 2011, Funches placed 4th AA, 5th on VT, and 10th on BB. In 2010, Funches placed 15th AA and 10th on FX at JO Nationals.
Lark Pokladnik, L10 from Metroplex Gymnastics in Texas, has committed to Missouri. Last season she finished 6th AA at her state meet, 11th AA at regionals and 10th AA at the NIT.
Briley Casanova, International Elite from WOGA, has committed to Michigan according to Gym-Style.com, which maintains her personal web page. In 2011, Casanova competed at the WOGA Classic, and the Houston National Invitational (1st FX). In 2010 she finished 14th AA at US Nationals.
Selynna Felix-Terrazas, L10 at Tumbleweeds Gymnastics in Arizona, has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Arizona. Last season Felix-Terrazas 2nd AA (1st BB) at her state meet, 5th AA at regionals and 22nd AA at JO Nationals. She was the 2010 L9 Western Champion (1st AA, 1st UB).
Brooklyn Doggette, L10 at Buckeye Gymnastics in Ohio, has committed to West Virginia. She will follow in the steps of her parents Rebeckah Doggette and Cecil Doggette who both where scholarship athletes in gymnastics and football respectfully at West Virginia University. Doggette qualified for JO Nationals in 2009 and for the NIT in 2010.
Amanda Fillard, L10 at New Image in New York, has committed to North Carolina State according to a post on her club's facebook page. During the 2011 season, Fillard finished 1st AA (1st BB) at the Big Apple Classic and 1st AA (1st V/BB) at the Heartland Classic. She placed 3rd AA at her state meet, 2nd AA at regionals and 13th AA at JOs.
Desiree Palomares has accepted a scholarship offer from Cal according to a post on her club's facebook page. Palomares, L10 at Charter Oaks in California, competed at JOs in 2010, finishing 8th AA and winning beam. Leading up to nationals that season, she placed 2nd AA (1st UB/FX) at the SoCal state meet and 1st AA (1st UB) at her regional meet.
Washington USAG has announced that Haley Lange will join the Utah team for the 2012-13 season. Lange is a level 10 at Auburn Gymnastics Center in Washington and a teammate of Utah's 2013-14 commit, Baely Rowe. Lange is a two time JO qualifer. Last season she finished 5th AA at her state meet, 3rd AA at regionals and 42nd AA at JOs.
Gabby Bowling, L10 at Krafft Academy in Oklahoma, has committed to Arizona according to her club. Last season she placed 6th AA at regionals and 36th AA at JOs.
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Josselyn Mackey has committed to North Carolina, according to a site submission. The L10 trains at Xtreme Gymnastics. In 2011, she placed 6th(t) on BB and 26th AA at the L10 JO Nationals. In 2010, she placed 12th AA.
Link: YouTube.com Channel
Washington has announced the hiring of Olympian and former NCAA champion Elise Ray as an assistant coach. After performing with Cirque du Soleil, Ray has been coaching at Carroll in Maryland.
Link: UW Release
Tiara Phipps, L10 at Aerial Athletics in San Antonio, Texas has committed to the University of Kentucky for the 2012-13 Season. Last season, Phipps finished 1st AA (1st BB/FX) at the Alamo Classic and picked up a number of individual event titles throughout the season. She placed 2nd AA at Texas State Championships, 3rd AA at Region 3 Championships and 24th AA at JO Nationals.
Named to the Women's World Championships:
Gabrielle Douglas
Anna Li
McKayla Maroney
Alexandra Raisman
Alicia Sacramone
Sabrina Vega
Jordyn Wieber
Alternate: Shawn Johnson
Named to the Women's Pan American Games: