Head Coach Gail Goodspeed and the University of New Hampshire women’s gymnastics program announced the signing of three new Wildcat gymnastics student-athletes. Alexa Calandra of Suffern, N.Y., Riley Freehling of Southington, Conn., and Ava Watkins of Cherry Hill, N.J., will join the team in the fall of 2016.

Calandra trains at the Galaxy Gymnastics Club in Orangeburg, N.Y. She was the 2012 Level 10 State All-Around Champion and a 2015 Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor.  Alexa has a strong set of skills on floor, bars and vault and will contribute the most on those events.

Freehling is a member of the Connecticut Gymnastics Academy. Riley is a two-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor and the current Level 10 Connecticut State All-Around and Uneven Bar Champion. Riley has an outstanding background and a strong set of skills on all four events, but should be able to make an immediate impact on bars and beam.

Watkins is a member of the TNT Elite Gymnastics School and a multiple qualifier to the Level 10 Junior Olympic National Championship.  She most recently placed sixth on balance beam at the Junior Olympic Nationals.  Ava is the reigning Level 10 Region 7 All-Around and Beam Champion and placed second in All-Around at the 2015 New Jersey State Championship while claiming the State Championship on Beam. Ava is a very strong all-around competitor and will challenge for top spots on all four events. She is a standout on balance beam and has all the skills to perform at the highest collegiate level.

“The exciting aspect of these quality student-athletes is that all of them are already excellent gymnasts with great competition results and yet they still have room to continue to improve,” Goodspeed said. “We are thrilled to add them to our gymnastics family and expect all of them to help us achieve our goals.”