UCLA's Vanessa Zamarripa qualified to the VISA (US) Championships with her performance at the second elite qualifier held at Bieger's this weekend. She won her optional session and the compulsary section. Several incoming recruits and NCAA athletes were in action this weekend.
2011 Michigan commit Annettte Miele won this session and posted a VISA Championships qualifying score. LSU incoming frosh Gabrielle Swart and 2011 Michigan committ Morgan Steigerwalt competed in this session.
Incoming Minnesota transfer Justine Cherwink competed in this session.
Session 3 included Zamarripa and former Arkansas athlete Casey Jo Magee.
Conference re-alignment is shaking up the NCAA, driven by revenue sports like football, TV contracts and of course, money. So far, schools with gymnastics programs have already been affected. Nebraska has proposed a move to the Big 10 and Boise State is heading to the WAC. Other schools may also be changing conferences, so stay tuned to the changes this summer.
See this local Omaha station and their quote from NU Head Coach Dan Kendig. Link.
Gymnastics has the highest school average APR (Academic Progress Rate) among all Men's NCAA sports, according to a report released by the NCAA. Men's teams averaged 979. 925 is the minimum before penalties begin to be considered at any given school. Gymnastics is tied for third at 985 among Women's sports with Crew, with Field Hockey and Lacrosse leading the way. Three men's squads achieved APRs of 1000 (perfect), while 14 women's programs hit that mark. Only one team has failed to hit the 925 hurdle, but no penalties have been assessed.
Link: NCAA
Justine Cherwink will reportedly transfer to Minnesota for the 2010-2011, according to the Gopher Booster club website. Cherwink has been training at Denton Gymnastics while attending North Texas State, after graduating early from high school. At the 2010 L10 Nationals, in the Senior B division, she placed 31st AA, 7th (t) on VT and 8th(t) on FX. She also recently competed at the Elite Qualifier in Arizona, posting a solid 14.15 on a 5.3 start value (Yurchenko 1 1/2) vault.
Link: Booster Club
An elite qualifier was held at ASU this past weekend, and several uncommitted recruitables were in action. Also competing was Casey Jo Magee, formerly of Arkansas and representing NAAG at this meet.
Link: Results
Kristin Vignola, L10 from Atlantic Coast Gymnastics in NJ, has signed with Ball State for next season. Vignola finished 6th AA at her state meet this season, 2nd AA at regionals, and 34th AA at JOs
Chelsea Tang has committed to Oregon State, according to a local news broadcast. Tang is a L10 who trains at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics (NAAG) just down I-5 from Corvallis. At the 2010 L10 Nationals she claimed the UB title title in the Senior B division, and placed 36th AA. As a Jr. D in 2009, she placed 37th AA.
Link: YouTube.com Channel
Iowa signed Javier Balboa González of Mexico, according to a school release. He will transfer for next season from the Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. He finished second AA at the 2010 Mexican National Championship. He was also the 2010 national champion on VT and PB. His sister Ana competes for Minnesota.
Link: Release
Michelle Adams, L10 at Oshkosh Gymnastics in WI, has committed to Western Michigan for the 2011-12 season. "Shelly" placed 2nd Bars & 3rd Floor in the Premier Lv 10/Open Session at the Orlando Sand Dollar Invite where she injured herself and was out the rest of the 2010 season. At Region 4 Championships Shelly was 3rd All-Around & 2nd on Floor the last 2 years as well as tying for 1st on Bars & placing 2nd on Vault in 2009. She competed at JO Nationals both in 2008 & 2009.
The results for the AA and Event Finals in the National Open Category, Age 16+ of the Canadian Championships are finally available. Competition concluded on Saturday. Sasha Vedenin of Gemini won the AA and FX. Sarah Fleet of Springers powered to wins on VT and FX. UB was captured by Champion's Brittany Ekstedt. Of the commits and signees, SUU commit Rochelle Bernier led the way in 3rd. Iowa State signee Camille Santerre was 12th, while Iowa signee Nicole Pineau was 24th.
Link: Results
Aburey Hine, L10 from Prestige Gymnastics, Pa., has given an early commitment to NCSU. Hine finished 7th AA at her state meet this season, 8th AA at regionals and 4th AA at the NIT>
Women's event final champions:
VT:
Kristina Vaculik
UB:
Vaculik
BB:
Vaculik
FX:
Dominique Pegg
Link: Results
World Vault Champ Kayla Williams has reportedly selected Bama, per her club's Twitter tweets. The senior international elite and 2009 VISA Vault Champ and 2009 L10 AA/VT/FX champ recently switched gyms to the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. Although she is currently a junior in high school, it seems likely she will defer entry until 2012-2013.
Link: CGA Tweets