Last season saw a lot of new highs, broken records and first-time appearances at regionals and nationals for the EAGL conference. George Washington continued its dominance and rise in the national rankings, winning the conference championship and sending gymnasts to NNCAAs. Meanwhile, individuals continued to shine at schools like Towson and N.C. State—but what does 2018 hold for these teams? Some have lost more seniors than others, but all are gaining crucial newcomers. We break down top returners for each team and new freshmen who are looking for a coveted spot in the lineups.
George Washington
Entering 2018 with a lot to live up to are the Colonials. The 2017 season saw the team ranked in the top 25, qualifying for their third-consecutive regional appearance and clinching their second EAGL championship.
2017 Team Stats
- National Ranking: 23rd
- EAGL Conference: 1st
Returners to Watch out for
- Cami Drouin-Allaire, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.95 | UB 9.875 | BB 9.875 | FX 9.925 | AA 39.475
- Competed all around in every meet last season
- 2017 nationals qualifier, 2017 EAGL all around and vault champion
- Sara Mermelstein, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.825 | BB 9.875 | FX 9.9
- Competed vault, balance beam and floor in every meet last season
- Liz Pfeiler, senior
- Career Highs: UB 9.85 | BB 9.925
- Competed bars and beam every meet last season, never scoring below 9.725 on the latter
- Jillian Winstanley, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.925 | UB 9.9 | BB 9.9 | FX 9.9 | AA 39.55
- Competed all around in every meet last season
- Top ranked all around performer in RQS in the EAGL conference
Newcomers
- Hannah Cohen, New Image Gymnastics
- Four-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed third in the all around and balance beam, and second on floor at 2017 regionals
- Gemma Guttenberg, Chelsea Piers NYC Gymnastics
- 2017 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed sixth in the all around at 2017 regionals
- Catherine Karpova, Massachusetts Elite Gymnastics Academy
- Five-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed fourth on balance beam and ninth on uneven bars in 2016
- Olivia Norman, Chantilly Academy
- 2017 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Level 9 vault champion
- Chloe Vitoff, Arizona Sunrays
- Two-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed seventh on uneven bars at 2017 regionals
- Anna Warhol, Youngstown Gymnastics Center
- Two-time J.O. national qualifier
- Placed second in the all around at 2017 regionals
New Hampshire
New Hampshire remains a mainstay in regionals appearances—last year marked the Wildcats’ 34th appearance in their 36-year history. Finishing off the season ranked No. 35, New Hampshire also finished 2017 as the EAGL runner-up. The Wildcats, who historically have made their mark on beam, will continue the tradition with some of the top beam workers in the country.
2017 Team Stats
- National Ranking: 35th
- EAGL Conference: 2nd
Returners to Watch out for
- Lia Breeden, senior
- Career Highs: UB 9.775 | BB 9.9 | FX 9.9
- Competed balance beam and floor in every meet last season
- Danielle Doolin, junior
- Career Highs: VT 9.8 | UB 9.8 | BB 9.85 | FX 9.9 | AA 39.2
- Competed all around in 13 meets last season and floor in every meet
- Named to the All-EAGL First Team for floor and all around in 2017
- Casey Lauter, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.825 | UB 9.825 | BB 9.95 | FX 9.875 | AA 39.225
- Competed balance beam in every meet last season and vault, bars and floor in two meets
- Named to All-EAGL First Team for beam in 2017
- Danielle Mulligan, junior
- Career Highs: UB 9.925 | BB 9.85
- Competed uneven bars 13 times last season and balance beam nine times
- Uneven bars champion at the 2017 EAGL championships
- Nicole O’Leary, junior
- Career Highs: VT 9.875 | FX 9.875
- Competed vault and floor in every meet last season
Newcomers
- Lauren Diggan, Stallone Gymnastics
- Two-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed fourth on uneven bars and eighth on vault at 2017 J.O. nationals
- Clare Hampford, Connecticut Gymnastics Academy
- Two-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed first on beam, third on floor and second in the all around at regionals
- Kylie Kratchwell, Will-Moor Gymnastics
- Two-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed fifth on beam at 2015 J.O. nationals
- Nicole Lanouette, Phantom Gymnastics
- 2017 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed fourth on beam, fifth on floor and seventh in the all around at 2017 regionals
- Danielle Liska, North Stars Gymnastics
- 2017 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed fifth on beam, sixth on floor and sixth in the all around at 2017 regionals
North Carolina
North Carolina barely qualified for regionals, finishing the seasonat No. 36, but should never be counted out. Senior Morgan Lane was named EAGL Gymnast of the Year and Khazia Hislop and Emma Marchese made their mark, earning EAGL Rookie of the Year honors (Hislop) and a third place finish on floor in the conference (Marchese). Losing only one senior from 2017, UNC has all the makings to continue to make a splash in the gym world.
2017 Team Stats
- National Ranking: 36th
- EAGL Conference: 4th
Returners to Watch out for
- Katelynn Hedelund, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.9 | UB 9.9 | BB 9.875 | FX 9.85 | AA 39.15
- Competed vault, uneven bars, and balance beam in every meet last season
- Named All-EAGL First Team for vault
- Khazia Hislop, sophomore
- Career Highs: BB 9.9 | FX 9.925
- Competed beam and floor in every meet last season
- Named 2017 EAGL Rookie of the Year
- Morgan Lane, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.875 | UB 9.85 | BB 9.95 | FX 9.925 | AA 39.4
- Competed in the all around in every meet last season
- Named EAGL Gymnast of the Year in 2017
- Emma Marchese, sophomore
- Career Highs: VT 9.725 | UB 9.825 | BB 9.85 | FX 9.85 | AA 39.125
- Competed beam in every meet last season and vault three times, bars 13 times and floor five times
- Placed third on floor during the 2017 EAGL championships
- Madison Nettles, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.875 | UB 9.875 | BB 9.8 | FX 9.875 | AA 39.175
- Competed on vault and uneven bars in every meet last season and floor exercise in 13 and beam four times
Newcomers
- Lily Dean, Brestyan’s
- Two-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Regional champion on floor in 2016
- Rylie Dewhurst, Brown’s Gymnastics
- 2017 J.O. nationals qualifier
- State champion on uneven bars and balance beam in 2015
- Lauren Graham, Bull City Gymnastics
- 2017 J.O. nationals qualifier
- State champion on floor in 2016, state champion on vault in 2014
N.C. State
After 37 years, N.C. State’s only coach, Mark Stevenson, retired after the 2017 season, and former Illinois coach Kim Landrus stepped into the role. Though the team missed out on a regionals bid, four individual gymnasts qualified to regionals, three of whom are returning: senior Chelsea Knight (all around), junior Paris Phillips (vault) and sophomore Melissa Brooker (bars).
2017 Team Stats
- National Ranking: 44th
- EAGL Ranking: 3rd
Returners to Watch out for
- Melissa Brooker, sophomore
- Career Highs: VT 9.775 | UB 9.875 | BB 9.75 | FX 9.85 | AA 39.15
- Competed uneven bars in every meet last season, vault three times, balance beam four times and floor six times
- Qualified for 2017 regionals on uneven bars
- Drew Grantham, sophomore
- Career Highs: VT 9.8 | UB 9.675 | BB 9.85 | FX 9.9 | AA 39.025
- Competed floor in every meet last season, balance beam 13 times, vault nine times and uneven bars eight times
- Finished third on floor at the 2017 EAGL championship
- Chelsea Knight, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.9 | UB 9.925 | BB 9.9 | FX 9.875 | AA 39.525
- Competed uneven bars in every meet last season, vault 12 times, balance beam 10 times and floor eleven times
- Qualified for 2017 regionals in the all around and placed second in the all around at the 2017 EAGL championship
- Paris Phillips, junior
- Career Highs: VT 9.85 | UB 9.775 | BB 9.8 | FX 9.9 | AA 39.15
- Competed vault 11 times last season, uneven bars eight times, balance beam seven times and floor 10 times
- Qualified for 2017 regionals on vault
Newcomers
- Olivia Hunter, Gymnastics Unlimited
- Placed fourth on vault at 2017 regionals
- State champion on vault in 2014, 2016 and 2017
- Lauren Kent, Sonshine Gymnastics
- Three-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed second in the all around at 2016 regionals
- Kasey Nelson, Georgia Elite
- 2017 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed second in the all around and on balance beam at 2017 regionals
- State champion on floor and beam in 2015
- Victoria Prati, Brandy Johnson’s Global Gymnastics
- 2016 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed second in the all around at 2016 regionals
- Placed second on beam at 2017 regionals
- Sara Watson, Gymnastics and More
- Placed 10th on vault at 2017 regionals
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is another EAGL team with a big coaching change. After 31 years, head coach Debbie Yohman retired; in her place comes Samantha Snider, former assistant coach for Arkansas. Snider helped lead Arkansas to multiple regional appearances with multiple individual gymnasts going on to represent the Razorbacks at nationals. She brings alone with her transfer Catie Conrad, a senior from Eastern Michigan, that helped the Eagles to their first regional apperannce in 2016. She anchored beam at EMU, earning top scores and could potentially see action as an all arounder during 2018.
2017 Team Stats
- National Ranking: 53rd
- EAGL Ranking: 5th
Returners to Watch out for
- Lucy Brett, junior
- Career Highs: UB 9.875 | BB 9.9
- Competed on uneven bars in every meet last season and balance beam 11 times
- Taylor Laymon, senior
- Career Highs: UB 9.9 | BB 9.85 | FX 9.875
- Competed on uneven bars in every meet last season, balance beam six times and floor 11 times
- Qualified for 2017 regionals on bars
- Alecia Petrikis, sophomore
- Career Highs: FX 9.875
- Competed on floor in every meet last season
- Brittany West, junior
- Career Highs: VT 9.775 | BB 9.9 | FX 9.775
- Competed on vault and beam in every meet last season and floor once
- Co-champion on beam at 2017 EAGL championship
Newcomers
- Sophia Bochenek, Splitz Gymnastics
- 2014 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed second on vault at 2014 regionals
- Haley Brechwald, Capital Gymnastics
- Two-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed fifth in the all around at 2017 J.O. nationals and second on bars
- Jordan Ceccarini, New Image Gymnastics Academy
- Two-time J.O. nationals qualifier
- New York state champion in the all around in 2016
- Placed second in the all around at 2016 regionals
- Catie Conrad, transfer from Eastern Michigan
- Placed first on uneven bars at 2017 MAC championship
- Placed second in the all around at 2016 MAC championships
Towson
Individual gymnasts continue to shine bright at Towson under Vicki May, who last season was awarded NACGC/W Southeast Regional Head Coach of the Year. Junior Mary Elle Arduino and seniors Tyra McKellar and Gabriella Yarussi qualified for regionals last season, with McKellar’s appearance being her third consecutive. McKellar and Yarussi finished 12th and 13th in the all around while Arduino finished in fifth on beam.
2017 Team Stats
- National Ranking: 45th
- EAGL Conference: 6th
Returners to Watch out for
- Mary Elle Arduino, junior
- Career Highs: VT 9.725 | UB 9.75 | BB 9.925 | FX 9.65
- Competed on balance beam 13 times last season, vault nine times, uneven bars six times and floor twice.
- Qualified for 2017 regionals
- Noelle Harada, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.75 | UB 9.85 | BB 9.8 | FX 9.825
- Competed on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise 11 times last season and vault twice.
- Tyra McKellar, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.8 | UB 9.9 | BB 9.85 | FX 9.925
- Competed on uneven bars and balance beam 13 times last season, floor exercise 12 and vault 11 times
- Qualified for regionals three years in a row
- Erin Tucker, junior
- Career Highs: VT 9.85 | UB 9.45 | BB 9.725 | FX 9.85
- Competed on vault 12 times last season, floor 11 times, balance beam five times and uneven bars once
- Gabriella Yarussi, senior
- Career Highs: VT 9.8 | UB 9.825 | BB 9.9 | FX 9.9
- Competed on vault and balance beam 13 times last season, uneven bars 11 times and 10 times on floor
- Qualified to 2017 regionals in the all around
Newcomers
- Kyla Gamble, American Twisters
- 2016 J.O. nationals qualifier
- Placed 13th in the all around at 2016 J.O. nationals
- Placed second on bars at 2016 regionals
- Tessie Zientek, Will-Moor Gymnastics
- Placed eighth in the all around at 2016 regionals
- Placed third on bars at her 2016 state championships
Article by Alicia Bettano
