Starting this Wednesday, November 9th, and extending to November 16th, is the National Letter of Intent Week. During this week, hundreds of young men and women around the world will sign a "National Letter of Intent" (NLI), signifying their intention to accept an offer of athletic-based financial aid from the institution of their choice. Both Men's and Women's Gymnastics are included in this period. During the week, schools will begin to issue press releases highlighting their signing classes. Stay tuned to the site for recaps and links to announcements.
These signings, in addition to another set in the spring, will comprise the incoming class of 2012-2013. The list, copied below for your convenience, reflects the "bumper crop" of elite athletes that have deferred college until the 2012 Olympics. It also includes a number of top L10s and some walkons show have publically made their intent known. Athletes, families and coaches are endouraged to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.in their signing photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be profiled on the site at a later date.You'll see a number of well known elites heading to Florida, like World Team Gold Medalist Aly Raisman and Pan Am Games AA champ Bridgette Caquatto, as they add to their arsenal of National Team members. Georgia adds Pan Am Gold Medalist Brandie Jay while Bama will sign sr. international elite Lauren Beers. Michigan landed former National Team member Morgan Smith and Hungarian Champion Austin Shepphard. UCLA will add British World Team member Danusia Francis. A number of Canadians made decisions late in the fall, and we expect to see some more names during Signing Week at some of the top colleges.
A number of other top L10s will also make their mark in the future, include 2011 Level 10 Junior Olympic (JO) National Sr. B AA champ Heather Blanske at Nebraska and 2011 Senior A AA champ Asi Peko at UCLA. Senior A runnerup Keeley Kmiciek will sign at OU, along with Sr. B JO National Team member Maile'ana Kanewa and 2011 Sr C runnerup Haley Scaman (The Top 4 AA finishes at L10 Junior Olympic Nationals make the JO National Team). Sr. B runnerup Kathy Tang is committed to Maryland, while JO National Team member Breanna Hughes is headed to Utah. 2010 Jr. D champ Rachel Spicer (3rd AA, 2011 Sr. A) will be signing with Florida. Several other 2010 JO National Team members are headed to other programs; Ariel Martin is expected to sign with Ohio State, while Randii Wyrick committed to LSU and Shealyn Farley committed early on to PSU. History shows that a top finish in a recent L10 Nationals, and while offering no guarantees and barring future serious injury, is a great predictor of future success in the NCAA.
Over the past several years, prospective student-athletes have been giving their "verbal commitments" to sign with their selected programs this fall. In fact, some of these athletes gave their verbal commits two years ago. With another year to enrollment, and another year for the season, four years will elapse by the time these athletes finish their freshman year.
A lot of things can happen during the two years to signing time, and over time, some of the commits we have listed or featured will no longer sign with their original choice. This situation can unfortunately occur due to injury, changes in preparation (failure to maintain skill level), changes in motivation (a retirement from the sport), changes in college choice, or failure to maintain or achieve the required academic standards. Offers made usually come with certain conditions, and these conditions are made clear to the prospective student-athlete. Thus, it's almost guaranteed we will see signing announcements that do not include all the names on our "Commits" list, as we at CollegeGymFans.com often don't hear about a change in circumstances. This variability is one of the unfortunate downsides of early recruiting, and anecdotally (statistics are not available), we're seeing an increase in these changes due to the increasingly early nature of the recruiting process. In fact, we're seeing a new trend -- a second wave of recruiting beginning in the late summer that continues into spring, as coaches seek to complete their rosters for 2012-2013, due to vacancies created in the recruiting class or on the active roster.
Here's a list of where the women are expected to sign. Unconfirmed commits and walkons are italicized or labeled as such. The men are listed in the Men's section. Please remember that walkons will not sign a Letter of Intent and are not typically included in the signing week press releases.
| College or University |
# Available for incoming '12-'13 (total/remaining) |
|
| Air Force |
All appointments include
scholarships
|
|
|
Ali Ables, Gwinnett, L10 |
||
| Alabama; release |
|
|
|
Lauren Beers, Southern Tier, sr. international elite; per official web page |
||
| Alaska; release |
2 / 1 |
|
|
M'rcy Matsunami, Premier, L10 |
||
| Arizona; release | ||
|
Shelby Edwards, Carter's, L10; per club |
||
| Arizona State; release |
|
|
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Alexandra Cope, Parkettes, L10 |
||
| Arkansas; release |
3/0 |
|
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Sydnie Dillard, Eagles Wing, L10 |
||
| Auburn; release |
5/ 0 |
|
|
Caitlin Atkinson, Cypress, Sr. International Elite |
||
| Ball State |
2 |
|
|
Maria Cross, Excalibur, L10 |
||
| Boise State; release |
2 / 0 |
|
|
Krystine Jacobsen, Excalibur, L10/former elite |
||
| Bowling Green; release |
|
|
|
Katrina Carpenter, Frederick, L10 |
||
| Bridgeport (Div II) | ||
| Brown |
N/A |
|
|
Stephanie Choo, Tops (OH), L10 |
||
| BYU |
|
|
|
Makenzie Johnson, Elite Champion, L10 |
||
| California, Berkeley (Cal); release |
|
|
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Serena Leong, Edge, L10 |
||
| California, Davis (UC Davis); release |
2 full / 0 |
|
|
Ariel Horowitz, Waller's GymJam, L10; walkon per club |
||
| California, Los Angeles (UCLA); release | ||
|
Sophina DeJesus, SCEGA, sr. international elite |
||
| Centenary; release | ||
|
Casie Hood, Gymstars, L10 |
||
| Central Michigan |
3/0 |
|
|
Taylor Bolender, Gymnastics World, L10 |
||
| Cornell |
N/A |
|
|
Kaylie Cronin, YellowJackets, L10 |
||
| Denver | ||
|
Emily Barrett, Bart Connor, L10 |
||
| Eastern Michigan; release |
2-3 / 0 - 1 |
|
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Kimberly Ebeyer, Wright's, L10 |
||
| Florida; release |
|
|
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Bridgette "Bridgy" Caquatto, Legacy Elite, Sr. International Elite; per Gymnastike interview |
||
| George Washington |
4 / 2 |
|
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Alexsis Petrikis, X-Cel, L10 |
||
| Georgia; release |
3 / 0 |
|
|
Brandie Jay, GK's, Sr. International Eite |
||
| Illinois; release |
2/0 |
|
|
Heather Foley, M&M, L10 |
||
| Illinois-Chicago |
|
|
| Illinois State; release |
3 /0 |
|
|
Danci Cha, LaFleur's WI, L19 |
||
| Iowa | ||
|
Alie Glover, US Gold, L10 |
||
| Iowa State; release; release 2 |
5 / 0 |
|
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Kristen DeCosta, Metroplex, L10 |
||
| Kent State; release |
3 / 0 |
|
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Jaymi Baxter, Suncoast, L10 |
||
| Kentucky |
3 to 4 / 0 |
|
|
Jillian Chappel, ACE, L10 |
||
|
Lindenwood (Div II); release |
3 / 0 |
|
|
Tori Beckwith, Colorado Aerials, L10 |
||
| LSU; release | ||
|
Jessie Jordan, Cypress, Elite; not in release |
||
| Maryland; release | ||
|
Haley Jones, First State, L10 |
||
|
Michigan; release |
3 / 1 |
|
|
Austin Sheppard, Golden Grip, L10 |
||
|
Michigan State; release |
3 /0 |
|
|
Jodi Andrews, Geddert's, L10; walkon per club |
||
|
Minnesota; release |
4 /0 |
|
|
Madeline Hanley, Parkettes, sr. international elite |
||
|
Missouri; release |
2 / 0 |
|
|
Blair Elmore, Champions, L10 |
||
|
Nebraska; |
3-4 / 1-2 |
|
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Jordyn Beck, McCracken's, L10 |
||
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New Hampshire; release |
3 / 0 |
|
|
Kelsie Aucoin, Metroplex, L10 |
||
|
North Carolina; release |
1 in;1 out;1 out partial; 0 |
|
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Lexi Cappalli, IGI, L10 |
||
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North Carolina State; release |
4 /1 |
|
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Aubrey Hine, Prestige, L10 |
||
|
Northern Illinois |
3 / 0 |
|
|
Natalie Amadio, Libertyville, L10 |
||
|
Ohio State; release |
4 / 0 |
|
|
Rachel Abrams, Rowland Ballard, L10 |
||
|
Oklahoma; release |
3 / 0 |
|
|
Maile'ana Kanewa, The Gym Academy, L10 |
||
|
Oregon State; release |
5 / 1 |
|
|
Erika Aufiero, Deltchev, L10 |
||
|
Penn; |
||
|
Penn State; release |
3 / 0 |
|
|
Taylor Alotta, Parkettes, L10 |
||
|
Pittsburgh; release |
3 to 4 / 1 to 2 |
|
|
Jacqueline Lucci, Parkettes, L10; not in release |
||
|
Rutgers; release |
3 / 2 |
|
|
Jenna Williams, Will-Moor, L10 |
||
|
San Jose State; release |
4 / 1 | |
|
Allison Bellingham, South Coast, L10 |
||
|
Sacramento State; release |
2/0 | |
|
Cassie Benning, Byers, L10 |
||
|
Seattle Pacific (Div II); |
Partials |
|
|
Southern Connecticut State (Div II) |
||
|
Southern Utah; |
|
|
|
Arlyn Amor, Geddert's Twistars, L10; per club |
||
|
Southeast Missouri; release |
2/ potential for partial |
|
|
Hayli Huiner, IGI, L10 |
||
|
Stanford; release |
2/0 |
|
|
Melissa Chuang, Airborne, L10; per club |
||
|
Temple; |
||
|
Texas Woman's (Div II) |
Half |
|
|
Towson; |
4-5 partial / 0 - 1 |
|
|
Abby Griswold, Daggett's, L10 |
||
|
Utah; release |
|
|
|
Breanna Hughes, Twin City Twisters, L10; per club web page |
||
|
Utah State; |
3 / 0 |
|
|
McKenzey Martinez, Magic Valley, L10 |
||
|
Washington; release |
3 - 4 / 0 - 1 |
|
|
Eliza Barach, World Class, L10; per personal web page |
||
|
Western Michigan; release |
3 / 0 |
|
|
Jessica Buis, Champions USA (MI), L10 |
||
|
West Virginia; release |
2 / 0 |
|
|
Gina Costa, Airborne CA, L10 |
||
|
William and Mary |
|
|
|
Alyssa Glass, Frederick, L10 |
||
|
Yale; |
N/A |
|
For more information about the National Letter of Intent program, please visit their web page.
Jamie Yamashita, a L10 at SCEGA, has committed to UC Davis, according to her club's booster club. She finished 14th AA at the 2011 Region I L10 Regionals. She also placed 13th AA in 2010.
Link: Booster Club and Personal Web Site and YouTube.com Channel
Emmanuel Monroy of WOGA has committed to Iowa for 2012-2013, according to his club.
Link: YouTube.com Channel
Lexi Mills of WOGA has committed to Arizona for 2012-2013, according to her club. The L10 placed 3rd AA and tied for 13th AA at the 2011 L10 JO National Championships, Sr. B. She was the BB National Champ in 2010 in Jr D, placing 10th AA.
Link: WOGA Web Site
Illinois' Paul Ruggeri won the gold medal on HB at the Pan Games as competition concluded in the event finals.
Other results for NCAA related athletes:
Men's VT: Ruggeri, 6th
BB: Kristina Vaculik, Stanford, 2nd
PB: Ruggeri and Luis Vargas, ex PSU, tied for Silver. Sho Nakamori, ex Stanford, 8th
Women's FX: Vaculik, Stanford, 4th; Jessie DeZiel, NU, 6th
HB: CJ Maestas, Illinois, 7th
Link: Live Results
The Pan Am Games Event Finals, Day 1, brought a series of medals for NCAA related athletes. UGA commit Brandie Jay won the VT gold, while UF commit Bridgette Caquatto won the UB title. UCLA signee Christine "Peng Peng" Lee was fifth on UB.
On the men's side, former Ohio State star Brandon Wynn won the Ring title, defeating the newly crowned World Silver Medalist. Illinois' CJ Maestas was third. Illini teammates Tyler Mizoguchi and Paul Ruggeri placed 7th and 8th, respectively, on FX. PSU alum Tommy Ramos was fourth on Rings.
Link: Women's Results and Men's Results
Illini CJ Maestas placed fourth AA in the Men's AA Final at the Pan Am Games. Former Ohio State star Brandon Wynn was 8th. Columbia's Josimar Orlando Calvo won the gold.
Link: Results
Florida commit Bridgette Caquatto won the gold medal at the Pan Am Games on Wednesday. Stanford's Kristina Vaculik, representing Canada, won the Bronze. UCLA signee Christine "Peng Peng" Lee of Canada was fourth while UGA commit Brandie Jay was sixth.
Link: Results
The US Men's squad won the Bronze medal at the Pan Am Games. Brazil took first and Puerto Rico 2nd. The squad featured a number of current and former NCAAers, including captain Brandon Wynn (formerly of Ohio State). The others include Cal's Donathan Bailey, Illinois' CJ Maestas, Stanford grad Sho Nakamori, Illinois' Tyler Mizoguchi, and former Illini Paul Ruggeri. Maestas qualified to the AA final with a 9th place finish, while Wynn qualified in 20th. For the individual event finals, Bailey qualified on FX while Maestas and Wynn qualified on Rings. Maestas will also compete on HB while Nakamori made the PB final. Ruggeri qualified in the top spot on HB, and made the final in PB and VT as well.
Former PSU star and NCAA champ Luis Vargas qualified in third to the AA final, and made finals on the PH. Another former PSU gymnast, Tommy Ramos, qualified to the Ring final.
Link: Results