I recently had 3 athletes I am advising receive verbal athletic scholarship offers from 3 different college coaches. Obviously the families were thrilled with the opportunity for their children to be recognized and awarded well before the senior year in high school.
As an advisor, I am asked many questions about the college quest and lately the area of verbal commitments seems to top the list. I would like to share my personal thoughts on what has become a popular recruiting strategy that is used by prospects and college coaches alike.
As you would expect, Florida remains at the top of this week's Troester.com GymInfo National Rankings. They lead all events but BB, where Stanford retains the top spot.
Individually, frosh Mackenzie Caquatto of Florida takes over the top AA spot after her debut. UGA frosh Lindsey Cheek remains atop the UB standings (she has competed just once). Utah's Kyndal Robarts leads the VT, although she has not competed since her injury. Oregon State Leslie Mak leads the BB once again, after hitting again this weekend. On FX, Stanford's Shona Morgan debut performance joins teammate Ashley Morgan and Florida's Ashanee Dickerson at the top of the standings.
The Hornets travelled over to the Bay Area and edged the Bears at home. Sac State used a consistent effort throughout, taking advantage of Cal's problems on BB. Lissa Zamalo of the Hornets tied with Cal's Nicolette Lew for the BB title. Frosh Alicia Asturias led Cal, posting a 38.8 to win the AA and tying teammate Alexandra Leggitt for the VT title. Frosh teammate Dallas Crawford won the UB while Cal's Mariesah Pierce won the FX.
Link: Cal Release
Rutgers Frosh Luisa Leal-Restrepo led her team to a tri-meet win. She captured the AA (38.775), VT, UB and FX. Yale's Stephanie Goldstein won the BB.
Link: Yale Release
Sophomore Sarah Nadrowski was dominant again for SUNY-Cortland, winning the AA, UB, BB and FX while finishing 2nd on the VT.
Link: Cortland Release
Penn used a strong FX rotation to overtake Ivy League foe Cornell. Dana Bonincontri led Penn, winning the VT, UB, and BB. Kirsten Straubaugh added a win on the FX. Cornell's McKenna Archer won the VT.
Link: Penn Release
Oklahoma defeated traditional rivals Nebraska in a matchup on Super Sunday. For Oklahoma, Megan Ferguson won the BB outright while three others tied Huskers for event titles. NU's Erin Davis and OU's Sara Stone tied for the VT title. NU's Janelle Giblen tied with OU's Natasha Kelley for the UB title. And NU's Lora Evenstad tied with OU's Kayla Nowak for the FX title.
Link: NU Release
PSU was led by Madison Merriam's win in the AA with a 38.875. Teammate Natalie Ettl took the UB with a 9.95 while Sharaya Musser won the BB with a 9.925. WVU's Chelsea Goldschrafe won the FX title while WVU frosh Hope Sloanhoffer took the VT title with a 9.95.
Link: PSU Release
Kent State defeated host Bowling Green in handy fashion, 194.925 to 188.975, despite counting a fall on VT. Frosh Marie Case took the AA (39.125) and FX while senior teammate Christina Lenny added wins on VT, UB and BB.
Link: BGSU Release
NC State came from behind to defeat visiting Iowa 194.8 to 194.375. NC State's Jessica Panza posted a 9.85 to win the event and lead NC State to a 48.85 on the event. Teammates Brooke Barr and Diahanna Hamm tied with Iowa's Houry Gebeshian for the VT title. Iowa was led by Rebecca Simhudas, who won the BB and the AA (39.275). Teammate Jessa Hansen added a win on UB.
Link: NC State Release (includes highlight videos, full meet is in archive)
Oregon State just missed the 197 mark in downing ASU. Frosh Brittany Harris won the VT to lead Oregon State on the event. Teammate Leslie Mak woon the BB while teammate Olivia Vivian tied for the UB title with ASU's Mary Atkinson. For ASU, Madison Snowden won the FX.
Link: ASU Release
WMU soared to a big win over cross-state rival Michigan State. Caitlin Sullivan of WMU won the VT, BB and FX to lead the Broncos. Caroline O'Brien and Brynn Wienckowski completed the sweep for WMU.
Link: WMU Release
OU's Jake Daltonn won the USA Gymnastics Men's Winter Cup. Teammate Alexander Naddour was 4th. Stanford's Josh Dixon was 6th, with teammate Tim Gentry 8th. Illinois' Tyler Mizoguchi was 9th.
TWU exploded to a new season high of 194.15, mark achieved despite counting two falls on BB. Brittany Johnson of TWU posted a new career high of 39.25 to win the AA. She surpassed her record of 38.975 set in an earlier home meet. Johnson also won the UB and tied for the BB title with SEMO's Taylor Westrick. Teammate Kristin Edwards won the FX. SEMO's Brianna Gaddie won the VT.
Link: TWU Release and Gymnastike Videos
Maryland defeated host North Carolina, 193 to 192.6, overcoming UNC's early lead after the hosts struggled on BB. Elizabethe Manzi, a Terrapin frosh , won BB while classmate Katy Dodds won BB. For UNC, Morgan Evans won the AA with a 38.85 while Teri Diamond won UB. UNC frosh Kristin Aloi tied with teammate Krista Jasper for the FX title.
Link: UNC Release
Stanford just missed the 197 mark as it set a new season high versus cross valley rival San Jose State. Cardinal frosh Sona Morgan had a solid debut, tying for the BB title with teammate Alyssa Brown and for the FX title with teammate Ashley Morgan. Ashley Morgan won the AA with a 39.325. Senior Allyse Ishino won the VT while Nicole Pechanec won the UB.
Link: Stanford Release