Russia's Angelina Melnikova placed 1st in the preliminaries at the 2021 World Gymnastics Championships in Japan. Florida's Leann Wong and Florida commit Kayla DiCello qualified for the AA final and two events each. Wong was 2nd and DiCello 3rd in the AA, and both advanced to the finals on BB and FX. Nebraska commit Csenge Bacskay of Hungary qualified to the VT final in 5th place. She also just missed the AA final and is the first reserve.
Cal commit EmJae Franzier missed the FX final due to the 2 per country rule, while LSU commit Konnor McClain also just missed the BB final after finishing 8th.
Link: USA Gymnastics
Emma Masse, a L10 from Aim High Academy, has committed to Kent State for 2022-2023. She did not compete in 2021 due to injury.
Maddie Mariani has announced her retirement via instagram
The Women's NCAA Rule Modifications for 2021-2022 have been published. There are virtually no changes for the 2022 season. The sole requirements change is that two tumbling pass routines on the floor must now contain a D element in one pass and a minimum D or 0.2 bonus connection in the second pass, in any order. Two pass routines that do not comply will suffer the 0.1 "up to the level" deduction. Most two pass routines already complied. A routine with a Rudi and back layout 1 1/2 twist to front layout will meet the requirement. The same routine with a front pike instead of the front layout will not.
Rene Lyst, former coach at Arizona, Arkansas and others, has been named HC at Brockport
Jordan Ehde named Assistant Coach at UW-Eau Claire
Emily Barrett-Payne named Head Coach at Simpson College
Lacy Rubin named volunteer coach at PSU
Rubin is a former EMU gymnast and club coach.
Bill Hopkins will assume the role of Director and Head Coach of the newly proposed Greenville University Team. He coached SEMO from 1979 to 1997 and most recently was a club coach at Missouri Valley. Greenville also hired Zach Peters to coach the Men's squad. He's a former Nebraska standout.
Mike Brackmann has been named Assistant Coach at Cornell: Announcement
Former Illinois gymnast Rachael Donovan has been named Volunteer Coach at Illinois. Announcement
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 fromer 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.
Gymnastics East Conference includes Penn, Brown, Yale, Cornell, Bridgeport, Southern Connecticut State, West Chester and William and Mary.
The NCAA Committee for Women's Gymnastics has voted to expand the schedule for Regionals and Finals by one day. It will provide a "rest day" between the semifinal and finals at each stage. The extra time will allow for more equitable recovery time.
Link: Release
Jessie DeZiel competed for Nebraska and served there as a volunteer coach.
Simpson College has announced the addition of both Men's and Women's Gymnastics for 2022-2023. They will be competing in Division III.
Link: Release
Mayleigh Vanderbeek previously competed for CMU