Your Final Fantasy Gym Injury Update Before Drafts Close

There’s nothing worse than putting someone high on your draft, feeling the excitement of actually getting them then realizing too late that they’re actually hurt and unlikely to compete. Save yourself the headache by double checking your draft doesn’t have any of these individuals.

For a complete look at injuries throughout the season, head to our injury updates page.

Don’t Put These Gymnasts on Your Draft at All

Gymnasts That Had 2020 Season Ending Injuries

  • Jane Poniewaz (Oregon State): lower body injury
  • Katrina Coca (Pittsburgh): torn Achilles
  • Talia Brovedani (Washington): torn Achilles
  • Bailey Ferrer (LSU): will not compete in 2020 due to personal reasons
  • Caitlin Smith (LSU): lower body injury
  • Charlotte Sullivan (Iowa): still appears on Iowa’s roster but announced her retirement on Instagram

It’s Risky to Draft These Gymnasts

Gymnasts Whose Status Is Unknown or Will Be out for an Extended Period

  • Cassidy Keelen (California): spotted in street clothes on multiple occasions on Cal’s Instagram Story throughout the fall
  • Linda Zivat (Michigan State): spotted in a boot during preseason and has only been featured on bars in updates
  • Jaedyn Rucker (Utah): coming back from an ACL tear; “out indefinitely” according to Utah’s press release
  • Raegan Walker (Yale): arguably the best recruit in the country, Walker is coming back from an Achilles tear from her final J.O. season and has only been spotted in training updates on bars
  • Rae Balthazor (Illinois): missed the second half of 2019 with foot surgery, didn’t appear to compete in the intersquad versus Illinois State
  • Ashley Albrecht (SEMO): the UIC transfer hasn’t appeared in any intrasquad lineups
  • Mia Townes (Illinois): was seen in a boot, hasn’t appeared in intrasquad lineups
  • Sarah Hargrove (Nebraska): had “minor” ankle surgery over the summer, has been seen in a sling in recent weeks, doesn’t seem likely to compete in January
  • Mallory Mizuki (Illinois): missed the 2019 after tearing her ACL, was seen in a knee brace in a non-competition setting.

Draft ‘Em but Don’t Expect to Use ‘Em Right Away

Gymnasts That Are Working Back From Minor Preseason Injuries

  • Alyona Shchennikova (LSU): coming back from an Achilles tear; did not compete at LSU’s Gymnastics 101 but has been training bars dismounts onto a soft surface
  • Maddie Karr (Denver): According to our Big 12 editor Tara, who’s a student at DU and went to the team’s preseason mock meet, Karr has had a minor knee surgery recently, and while there’s no timetable on her return, she is expected back at some point.

Don’t You, Forget About These Gymnasts

Gymnasts That Didn’t Compete at All in 2019 or Are Taking Fifth Years

  • Dymiana Cox (Penn State): tore her ACL before the 2019 season but has been training this preseason
  • Cammy Hall (Utah): has been training all preseason since tearing her Achilles prior to the 2019 season
  • Skyler Sheppard (Auburn): returning for a fifth year
  • Kristyn Hoffa (Washington): returning for a fifth year
  • Haylie Hendrickson (Arizona): returning for a fifth year
  • Kynsee Roby (Nebraska): missed 2019 season with a foot injury
  • Jazmyn Foberg (Florida): missed 2019 season with a shoulder injury; competed at Florida’s Thanksgiving intrasquad
  • Katie Chamberlain (Pittsburgh): missed most of 2019 with an injury; back training on all four events
  • Maggie O’Hara (Michigan): missed the second half of 2019 with a torn Achilles
  • Claire Gagliardi (Ohio State): missed chunks of 2019 on and off with injuries; appears healthy and has been featured on floor
  • Maddie Quarles (Minnesota): missed her freshman season at Denver, has been featured in Minnesota intrasquads

Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Emily Minehart, Mary Emma Burton

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