Katie Sassa, L10 at Silvia's in Pennsylvania, has committed to Towson. Sassa was a 3 time Region 7 qualifier, two-time JO NIT qualifier and Pennsylvania State beam champion. At the 2011 NIT, Katie finished her season with 2nd AA, vault and 3rd on beam.
Chanen Raygoza, L10 at Wildfire Gymnastics in California, has posted her committed to Georgia on her website. Last season Raygoza won the San Diego Classic (1st AA, 1st V/BB); the SCEGA Classic (1st AA, 1st V/UB); and the Malibu Coast Challenge, where she swept the events. She finished 2nd AA at the SoCal meet, 2nd (1st V/FX) at her regional meet and 3rd AA in the Sr. B Session at JOs.
Charity Jones, L10 at Dynamo in Oklahoma, has committed to OU according to an announcement on her club's website. Jones had a strong 2011 season, winning the Trojan Classic and Metroplex Challenge and picking up various individual titles throughout the regular season. In the post season, she finished 1st AA (1st UB/BB/FX) at her state meet, 4th AA at regionals and 1st AA (1st V) at JOs.
It's been ten years since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Today we honor the heroes of September 11th, 2001, including those who lost their lives. One of those people, Mari-Rae Sopper, closely touched the collegiate gymnastics community. As you may know, Mari-Rae Sopper was Head Coach of the University of California, Santa Barbara's women's gymnastics team. She was also a former standout collegiate gymnast and team captain for Iowa State. Many of you knew her in the capacity of coach, teammate, competitor, colleague and friend.
Sarah Fisher, L10 at Park Avenue Gymnastics in Florida, has accepted a scholarship offer to Illinois State according to her club's website. Fisher finished 7th AA at her regional meet and 31st AA at JOs in 2011.
Ohio State has announced it has fired Men's assistant coach Paul Hamm. Hamm was arrested over the weekend, after an alleged assault.
Link: Ohio State Release
Kullen Hlawek, L10 at Champion in Texas, has committed to Auburn. Last season Hlawek scored a perfect 10 on FX at the Alamo Classic. She ended her season with a 5th place finish at her state meet and a 3rd place AA finish (1st V) at her regional meet. She placed 49th AA at JO Nationals.
Megan Mercedes Jimenez has committed to Michigan for 2013-2014, according to her website. The L10 and former junior international elite trains at Precision in Southern California. At the 2011 Level 10 JO Nationals, she placed 4th(t) on BB, 10th(t) on VT and 14th AA. In 2010, she placed 4th AA, 4th(t) on BB, and 6th(t) on VT at the JO National meet. She then went on to finish 33rd in the junior international division at the VISA Championships.
Link: Jimenez' Web Site and YouTube.com Channel
Brittany Stover has committed to William and Mary for 2012-2013. The L10 at SIGS placed 8th AA at the 2011 Region V L10 Regionals. She placed 11th AA in 2009 at the L10 Regionals.
Link: YouTube.com Channel
Shelby Edwards, a L10 from Carter's Gymnastics in Mesa, is sticking close to home and accepting a scholarship at Arizona. This past season, she won the AA at the L10 States but did not compete at Regionals. In 2010, she also won States and placed 5th AA and 1st on UB at the Region I L10 Regionals, but did not compete at Nationals. The prior year, in 2009, she placed 2nd AA, 3rd(t) UB, 4th(t) on VT and BB, and 7th(t) on FX at the L10 Nationals.
Link: Carter's Gymnastics
Every fall, a new set of Women's code modifications are published by the NCAA. These code modifications outline variances in the NCAA code from the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Level 10 code. This is the means by which all routines are evaluated during the upcoming season. The latest update contains some changes for the new season, with balance beam the most impacted. Here's a summary of the changes:
Emily Richardson, L10 at WOGA in Texas, has committed to Arkansas according to Gym-style.com, which maintains her personal website. In 2011, Richardson finished 5th AA at the Chicago Style and 8th AA at the Houston Nationals Invitational. She also competed at the WOGA elite qualifier.
Craig Ballard has joined the staff at Kent State, according to a school release. He had been an assistant at Bowling Green.
Link: Kent State Release
Amanda Mohler has committed to Illinois State, according to her club. She's a L10 at United Gymnastics. At the 2011 Region V L10 Regionals, she placed 16th AA, 4th on FX and 5th on BB. She placed 10th at Regionals in 2010.
Link: Club Website and YouTube.com Channel