Amanda Stepp, L10 from All American Flames Gymnastix in Michigan, has committed to NIU for the 2011-12 season. Amanda was the 2010 state and regional vault champ. She also placed 3rd on floor at regionals. At the NIT she tied for 2nd on vault and finished 7th in the AA.
TWU has two more commits for the 2011-12 season: Kayla Jones, L10 from International Gymnastics in North Carolina and Stephanie Repp, L10 from Gold Cup in New Mexico. Jones finished 47th AA at JO Nationals in 2009. Repp finished 2nd AA and 1st BB at her 2010 state meet; 10th AA at regionals; and 11th AA at the 2010 NIT meet.
The US is in third after the Qualification round, just behind Russia and China. Several future/former collegians contribute to the US effort: Florida's MacKenzie Caquatto and UCLA signee Mattie Larsen both competed all around, while former Brown athlete Alicia Sacramone made two event finals. DU grad Jessica Lopez also did well, placing 15th in the AA. Stanford's Kristina Vaculik led Canada to a 13th place finish, and is the 2nd reserve for the AA final while teammate Nicole Pechanec led the Czech squad with team-high scores on two events.
Link: Results from Team
Frank Kudlac has announced that 2011 will be his final season.
Miya Dotson, L10 from Oalkand Gymnastics in Michigan, has verballed to WMU. She turned in a string of top 10 finishes during the 2010 season and placed 11th AA at states and 17th AA at regionals.
Rachel Abrams, a Level 10 from Rowland/Ballard Gymnastics in Texas has committed to Ohio State for 2012-13. Abrams is the Texas 2010 uneven bars state champion. During the regular 2010 season, Abrams turned in (2) top all-around honors at the Heart of Texas Invitational (1st UB/FX; 2nd V/BB) and Svetlana Invitational (1st V/UB; 2nd FX) and (3) second place AA finishes including the Houston National Invitational where she took the top spot in vault, bars and beam.
Jim Hayes brings coaching experience from URI and MIT.
Stanford tops the 2010-2011 Men's Preseason Coaches' Poll, as published by Troester Gym Info. Stanford received 7 first place votes, the same as Michigan, which is listed as #2. OU picked up two first place votes to rank third. The defending National Champion Wolverines nipped the Cardinal for the title last season.
Emily Bigras, High Performance Sr. from Ontario, Canada has committed to Iowa. At the 2010 Canadian Nationals, she competed in the National Open session, finishing 11th AA (7th UB) on Day 1 preliminary session and 10th AA (6th BB) in the All Around/Event Finals. At the Wild Rose International Invitational, she finished 10thAA (2nd UB) in the Sr. Challenge session.
UIC Frosh Cynthia LeMieux-Guillemette, representing Canada, captured her third Bronze of the Games, placing 3rd on BB. She won a Bronze on UB and in the team competition, while placing 8th AA. UIC frosh teammate placed 5th on BB while sharing a team bronze. Earlier in the week, Yale frosh twins Nicole and Tabitha Tay competed for Singapore, placing 18th and 20th in the AA final, respectively.
Link: Results
Maile'ana Kanewa, L10 from The Gym Academy in Minnesota, has verballed to OU. She had a strong 2010 season, highlighted by 1st place AA wins at the Winterfest (swept all events), Sand Dollar (1st V/UB/FX), Chicago Style (1st V/FX), and the Twin City Classic (1st BB/FX). She finished 4th AA at her state meet, 3rd AA (1st V/FX) at regionals and 13th AA at JO Nationals. She finished 8th AA at the 2009 JO Nationals.
At Day 1 of the Event Finals of the Commonwealth Games, UIC frosh Cynthia LeMieux-Guillemette won a Bronze on the UB.
Link: Results
Brandy Stover has committed to William and Mary for 2011-2012, according to a site submission. She trains as a L10 at SIGS. At the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals, she placed 5th on BB and 18th AA.
Link: YouTube.com Channel