For the past several seasons, we've made an attempt to rank the incoming recruiting classes for teams from across the nation. Some teams, in particular the perennial superpowers, seem to appear in the rankings each season. But as for the others, you've probably noticed new teams appear as the tides of recruiting ebb and flow. With recruiting occuring earlier and earlier, predicting the progress of future recruits is becoming more and more difficult. Unexpected injuries, changes in training pattern and other personal events sometimes impact an athlete's ability to come in and contribute right away. So which school has scored the top incoming class? It was close, but read ahead to find our ranking.
Elaina Cammarata has received an appointment with the Air Force Academy and will compete for them next season (Note: all appointments receive scholarships, so an NLI is not signed). She is a L10 at Trinity. As a L9 last season at Crystal Lake, she finished 12th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals.
Link: Article
Centenary has announced the addition of Lauren Cullen to the 2011-2012 squad. The L10 from Bart Conner has accepted an offer of adminission. As a L9 in 2010, she placed 16th AA, 3rd on FX and 4th(t) on BB at the L9 Western Nationals.
Link: Centenary Release and YouTube.com Channel
Caitlin Atkinson has reportedly committed to Auburn, according to a site submission. The Cypress athlete qualified to the senior international elite division at the 2010 US Classic, where she placed 20th. As a jr. international, she placed 26th AA at the 2008 VISA Championships.
Link: Additional Video at YouTube.com and Gymnastike.org
UIC signed two gymnasts to letters of intent: Chelsea Bailey and Alexandria "Lexi" Brown.
Bailey is a L10 who trains at IGI. She placed 10th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals and qualified to the JO NIT meet. In 2009, she placed 13th AA at the Regional meet. Link: YouTube.com Video
Brown is a teammate of Bailey at IGI. The L10 placed 20th AA at the 2010 Region V L10 Regionals. As a L9 in 2009, she placed 1st on FX, 3rd on UB and 5th AA at the 2009 L9 Eastern Nationals. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Link: UIC Release
The University of Alaska-Anchorage announced the signing of three athletes to letters of intent: Chelsey Baker, Morgan Cook, and Paige Pirie. The commits of Baker and Cook were covered in prior news items.
Pirie is a L10 who trains at Newnan in Georgia. She qualified to Regionals in 2010, competing in two events. In 2009, she placed 13th AA at the Region VIII L10 Regionals. Link: YouTube.com Channel
Link: UAA Release
Ohio State has announced the signing of three men to letters of intent for 2011-2012: Robert DiRugeris, Drew Moling and Alex Nork. The commits of DiRugeris and Moling were covered in prior news items. Nork trains with DiRugeris at Will-Moor in New Jersey. He finished 58th AA at the 2010 JO Nationals. Link: Nork's Personal Website
Link: Ohio State Release
If there is one area of the college recruiting process that stands above the rest, I believe it is the way prospects effectively communicate with college coaches. Let’s face it, the majority of boys and girls in any given active recruiting pool will not be blue chip prospects and a reluctance to proactively communicate with college coaches will oftentimes result in an undertow that will likely drag a prospect and family backward in the college search. Below are some simple tips to consider when making an introductory contact with college coaches.
Boise State, as expected, announced the signing of Kelsey Morris, Erica Oswalt and Ciera Perkins. The commits of all three were covered in prior news items. "We are excited to be adding three extremely talented gymnasts," said Co-Head Coach TinaBird. SHe added, "With two national team members and two national title winners, this class is poised to make Boise State's quest to become a nationally competitive powerhouse a reality."
Link: Boise State Release