By placing 11th AA at the European Championships, PSU's Felix Aronovich has surpassed the criteria set by his country's (Israel) Olympic Committee. He now qualifies to the 2012 Olympics, after having earned a spot at the Olympics at the Test Event in January.
Link: PSU Release
Graduating Oregon State star Olivia Vivian was the surprise winner of the uneven bars at the 2012 Australian Championships this past weekend. She posted a 14.5 with a 5.6 start value in the finals.
The 2012 Women's Junior Olympic Nationals were held in May 2012 in Virginia, showcasing some of the nation's top future gymnasts. The vast plurality of college gymnasts competed at the Level 10 ranks. In our experience, a Top 5 finish at the JO National meet usually translates into a high level of success at the NCAA level, barring injury or other unforeseen issues. However, a single fall can cause an athlete to fall well down the standings at the JO Nationals.
Here's a summary of the results and links to th available online video of the meet.
The Canadian Championships concluded with the event finals, made all the more important through the use of a point system to determine the Canadian Olympic squad. Stanford's Kristina Vaculik had an exceptional day, winning bars and beam, placing 2nd on floor and 4th on beam. UGA incoming frosh Brittany Rogers was 2nd on vault while former Oregon State star Laura Ann Chong was 3rd on bars.
Link: Results
At the finals of the National Open division of the Canadian Championships, Lory-Jing Robert won the AA title with ease, posting a 55.35, winning beam, while placing 2nd on floor, 4th on bars and 4th(t) on vault. MSU signee Nicola Deans was 2nd, including 1st on floor, 2nd on vault, and 2nd on beam.
Link: Results
Aly Raisman won the title at the US Classic on Saturday afternoon, posting a 60.35 to win the title. UGA signee Brandie Jay posted a 55.0 to claim 6th. Former UCLA star Anna Li posted a 53.5 for eigth, with a fall on uneven bars, her key event. Bama commit Amanda Jetter was 10th, with UF commit Grace McLaughlin in 11th. Former Arkansas star Casey Jo Magee posted a 40 in three events, and did not qualify to VISA's. OU commit McKenzie Wofford was just behind with a 39.8.
Link: Results
Stanford's Kristina Vaculik won her third Canadian AA title last night, solidifying her run for an Olympic team position. Close behind in a second place tie were rising star Victoria Moors and Dominique Pegg. Pegg struggled in preliminaries but came back strongly. LSU signee Jessica Savona was 4th, and UGA signee Brittany Rogers was 6th. Another UGA frosh-to-be, Anysia Unick, was 9th.
Link: Results
Lory-Jing Robert was the top AA finisher at the preliminaries of the National Open division at the Canadian Championships. MSU signee Nicola Deans was 6th AA.
Link: Results
UGA has officially confirmed earlier reports and has named Cal coach Danna Durante as the new Head Coach for the Gym Dog program. Prior to Cal, Durante was the associate Head Coach at Nebraska and an assistant at Washington, winning National Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and Regional honors in 1999 and 2002. A former elite National Team and Olympic Trials qualifier (as Danna Lister), she score five 10s as an athlete at ASU.
At Cal, Durante had laid the groundwork for strengthening the Cal program, raising their average score significantly and earning verbal commitments of several top L10 and elite-level athletes for the 2013-2014 school year.
Cal, in a release, noted they will start a national search for a replacement.
As she completes her staff and Cal makes their decisions, we'll likely see some more coaching changes throughout the summer.
Link: UGA Release and Cal Release
Stanford's Kristina Vaculik led the AA qualifications at the 2012 Canadian Championships. She posted a 56.35 to outdistance rising newcomers Victoria Moors and Ellie Black. LSU signee Jessica Savona was 4th, showing her successful comeback from injury. UCLA commit Mikaela Gerber was 5th. UGA signee Anysia Unick was 7th, just ahead of future teammate Brittany Rogers, who tied for 8th. Oregon State commit Taylor Ricci was 18th while Oregon State grad Laura Ann Chong was 19th.
UCLA signee Christine "Peng Peng" Lee injured her knee in training.
Link: Results
Danna Durante has reportedly accepted the Head Coach position at UGA. The official announcement is expected next week.
Durante, a long time Assistant Coach for Nebraska, moved into the Head Coach position at Cal this season. In that short time, she improved Cal's standing somewhat and lined up an excellent collection of recruits for future Cal teams.
| 1 | 563 | Skyelee Lamano USA |
9.550 4 |
9.300 3 |
9.325 6 |
9.425 3 |
37.600 1 |
| 2 | 584 | Ashley Thomas SEGA-TN |
9.575 3 |
9.300 3 |
9.250 8 |
9.175 14 |
37.300 2 |
| 3 | 564 | Reagan Hemry Bart Conner Oklahoma |
9.000 19 |
9.350 2 |
9.425 3 |
9.250 10 |
37.025 3 |
| 4 | 581 | Eboni Jackson Imagine |
9.350 6 |
8.775 17 |
9.475 1 |
9.400 5 |
37.000 4 |
| 5 | 569 | Whitney Stoops Great Lakes |
9.300 7 |
9.200 8 |
9.100 12 |
9.375 7 |
36.975 5 |
| 6 | 579 | Tracey Pearson United Gymnastix |
9.600 1 |
9.425 1 |
8.950 14 |
8.825 19 |
36.800 6 |
| 6 | 580 | Katy Clements GGA Law |
9.125 15 |
9.175 9 |
9.275 7 |
9.225 11 |
36.800 6 |
| 8 | 562 | Sydney Townsend Olympus SUU |
9.425 5 |
8.800 14 |
9.375 5 |
9.150 15 |
36.750 8 |
| 9 | 576 | Kyra Levi Nittany |
9.050 18 |
9.250 6 |
9.150 11 |
9.225 11 |
36.675 9 |
| 10 | 582 | Kelly Huseman LaFleurs - Tampa |
8.800 21 |
8.850 12 |
9.425 3 |
9.150 15 |
36.225 10 |
Also, Alexandra Yacalis, Washington, placed 1st on vault and floor.
| 1 | 667 | Leah Lomonte Champions-TX Denver |
9.525 7 |
9.500 2 |
9.450 3 |
9.650 1 |
38.125 1 |
| 2 | 685 | Memory Shettles GGA Law |
9.500 9 |
9.350 6 |
9.325 6 |
9.500 3 |
37.675 2 |
| 3 | 666 | Mackenzie Valentin Bart Conner |
9.650 2 |
9.300 8 |
9.375 5 |
9.275 8 |
37.600 3 |
| 4 | 682 | Kiera Brown UGA World Class Gym - VA |
9.625 3 |
9.625 1 |
8.850 15 |
9.425 4 |
37.525 4 |
| 5 | 683 | Sydney Ewing Acadiana GTC |
9.750 1 |
8.850 21 |
9.125 9 |
9.625 2 |
37.350 5 |
| 6 | 661 | Jessy Mac Arthur Gym Jam UCLA |
9.550 5 |
9.350 6 |
9.100 10 |
9.225 10 |
37.225 6 |
| 7 | 672 | Jorden Mitchell DeVeaus School |
9.550 5 |
9.425 4 |
9.475 1 |
8.650 19 |
37.100 7 |
| 8 | 675 | Megan Greenfield Trinity GEMS |
9.250 13 |
9.025 15 |
9.475 1 |
9.225 10 |
36.975 8 |
| 9 | 662 | Alex Waller Gym Jam UCLA |
9.250 13 |
8.800 22 |
9.425 4 |
9.275 8 |
36.750 9 |
| 10 | 673 | Sally Cooper Gymnastics Acad |
9.175 19 |
9.175 10 |
9.150 7 |
9.000 16 |
36.500 10 |
| 1 | 773 | Tessa Bouman AGA Gymnastics GWU |
9.250 12 |
9.425 1 |
9.400 3 |
9.425 4 |
37.500 1 |
| 2 | 766 | Anna Blair Elmore Champions-TX Missouri |
9.300 7 |
9.200 10 |
9.425 2 |
9.400 5 |
37.325 2 |
| 2 | 768 | Lauren Cartmell CGI Lindenwood |
9.300 7 |
9.350 5 |
9.375 4 |
9.300 8 |
37.325 2 |
| 4 | 761 | Kristina Heymann Airborne Gymnastics |
9.525 4 |
9.050 14 |
9.225 8 |
9.500 1 |
37.300 4 |
| 5 | 763 | Mackenzie Bennion Browns Las Vegas |
9.350 5 |
9.400 4 |
9.075 13 |
9.450 3 |
37.275 5 |
| 6 | 775 | Kylie Clark Illinois Gymnastics NIU |
9.325 6 |
9.425 1 |
9.300 7 |
9.100 16 |
37.150 6 |
| 7 | 778 | Maddie Herr Vasis Ohio St. |
8.850 22 |
9.225 9 |
9.500 1 |
9.325 7 |
36.900 7 |
| 8 | 776 | Kirsten Petzold Olympia Gym MI CMU |
9.675 1 |
9.100 12 |
8.550 19 |
9.475 2 |
36.800 8 |
| 9 | 782 | Alexsis Petrikis X-CEL GWU |
9.300 7 |
9.175 11 |
9.150 10 |
9.150 14 |
36.775 9 |
| 10 | 767 | Madison Kilchrist Champions-TX Denver |
9.050 20 |
9.100 12 |
9.350 5 |
9.250 9 |
36.750 10 |
Also, Amanda McGee (uncommitted) placed 1st on Bars