Elizabeth Larusso from Gymcats has committed to Arizona. She qualified to JOs in 2019, finishing 14th AA.
Sidney Washington, a L10 at Gym America, has committed to Pitt for 2021-2022. In 2019, she placed 5th AA, 7th(t) on BB and 9th(t) on FX at the Level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals. This past season, she won the AA titles in her sessions at the Tim Rand Invitational, Tampa Bay Turners Invite, Wolverine Classic and Gymnastics on the Grand.
Link: Personal Website and Videos
The Board of Regents of the University of Alaska-Anchorage have approved an option to save the four sports programs slated to be cut after this season. This proposal covers gymnastics, hockey and ski. They must raise two years of operating expenses, by next February. For gymnastics, that is nearly $900K. Half of the total needs to be available in cash, and the rest in pledges.
Link: Release
On September 11th, 2001, Mari-Rae Sopper was on her way to California, ready to start her job as Head Coach of the women's team at UC Santa Barbara. Sopper, a former standout at Iowa State, was known as "ISUFan" on the College Gymnastics Board. She had given up her job as a Navy JAG Corp lawyer to pursue her dream, and to help save the program at UCSB. She lost her life during the events of that fateful day as the plane she was on was deliberately crashed into the Pentagon. We pause to remember her spirit and dedication to the sport, and her inspiring effort to pursue her dreams, as well as the others who lost their lives that fateful day.
Molly Freeman, Branch Gymnastics, has committed to WMU. She qualified to the 2019 L9 Championships and placed 8th AA. She moved up to L10 in 2020.
Cally Swaney, First in Flight Gymnastics, has committed to Arkansas. She qualified to 2019 JOs and finished 7th on bars and 29th AA. She swept the events and AA at the 2020 Everest Classic, her only meet of the season.
Jayci Jordan, a L10 from Let It Shine who was originally set to be a frosh at Bridgeport, will transfer to SCSU instead, according to a site submission.
Citing a $75M shortfall, Minnesota will terminate four Men's sports after this season, including Men's Gymnastics. Stay tuned for more updates.
Link: Letter
SCSU has hired Byron Knox as their new Head Coach. Know was the Head Coach at Bridgeport for the last 16 seasons, and led the squad to six straight USA Gymnastics National titles. He was a gymnast on SCSU's Men's team, a member of the US National team and coached at SCSU and Yale. Bridgeport faces some uncertainty as the university has been acquired. A number of gymnasts have transferred during the off-season.
Link: Release
The financial aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis have put athletics departments across the country under financial distress. Already, schools have announced cuts to their Gymnastics programs. Men are especially at risk with the loss of critical mass that could lead to the extinction of the sport in the NCAA. Here's the running list, one that we hope remains at five or less:
Alexa Kabat has committed to Air Force for 2021-2022. She's a L10 at Precizion 509. In 2019, as a Level 9, she was 11th AA at the Western Nationals.
Sydney Wrighte announced on Instagram that she will be taking a medical retirement from gymnastics.
Mina Popovic, San Mateo Gymnastics, has committed to Oregon State. Her 2019 season was cut short in March. She was making a comeback on 2020, placing especially well on bars and beam before the season ended.
Nastia Rudnitskaya, a L10 from Salto Gymnastics, has committed to Illinois State for 2022-2023. In 2019, she won the AA, VT, UB and tied for the FX title at the Region IV L10 Regionals. She then went on to placed 17th AA at the Level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals. She was also 8th on UB and 18th AA at the 2018 JO Nationals.
Link: Web Site
Link: Videos
Trinity Caffey, a L10 from World Class, has committed to Lindenwood for 2021-2022. She's a 2018 Level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals qualifier. This past season she won the AA title in her session at the Excalibur Cup.
Link: Instagram
Ariana Light, a L10 from Golden City, has committed to CMU for 2021-2022. In 2019, she placed 28th AA at the Level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals. She also won BB at Regionals in 2018.
Link: Videos