Name: Cael Bixler
Club: Prestige Gymnastics
High School Graduation Year: 2020
NCAA Team: LIU
Commitment Announcement: Instagram
Social Handles: Twitter | Instagram
Personal Bests | Elite
| Vault | Uneven Bars | Balance Beam | Floor Exercise |
| 13.800 | 11.850 | 12.500 | 13.200 |
Personal Bests | Level 10
| Vault | Uneven Bars | Balance Beam | Floor Exercise |
| 9.750 | 9.550 | 9.675 | 9.600 |
Videos | Elite
| Vault | Uneven Bars | Balance Beam | Floor Exercise |
| 2016 U.S. Classic | 2017 Elite Qualifier | 2016 U.S. Classic | 2016 U.S. Classic |
Videos | Level 10
| Vault | Uneven Bars | Balance Beam | Floor Exercise |
| 2014 Region 7 Regionals | 2014 J.O. Nationals | 2020 Metroplex Challenge | 2020 Metroplex Challenge |
About Cael
Bixler is a former junior elite gymnast (2016-17) and a two-time J.O. nationals qualifier (2014 and 2018). She tied for third place on vault at the 2019 Pennsylvania state meet and was second on beam at the 2019 Region 7 regionals. She was previously committed to Oklahoma.
What She Brings to LIU
Vault
- Skill: Yurchenko full
- Results: tied third place at the 2019 Pennsylvania state meet
- Margin of Improvement: Bixler’s most recent vault videos are from 2017. Back then, she used to perform a solid Yurchenko full, just slightly piked down, as well as a bit shaky Yurchenko 1.5.
- Impact on the Team: Bixler will likely bring her Yurchenko full to LIU. If her execution is close to its 2017 level, she should make the lineup comfortably.
Uneven Bars
- Skills: piked Jaeger, Pak salto, double layout dismount
- Results: second place at the 2019 Pink Invitational
- Margin of Improvement: As with vault, the most recent video of Bixler’s bars is from 2017. Back then, she was competing some big skills, but they all incurred in some deductions—and she never seemed entirely comfortable flying between the bars.
- Impact on the Team: Bixler has all around potential, but head coach Randy Lane may decide to have her start slowly on bars.
Balance Beam
- Skills: BHS + LOSO, switch leap + straddle jump quarter, side aerial, 1.5 twist dismount
- Results: second place at the 2019 Region 7 regionals
- Margin of Improvement: This is Bixler’s best apparatus. She lacks some confidence, but her technique is excellent. In her elite days she used to perform difficult skills: a triple series (BHSO + LOSO + LOSO) and a double tuck dismount.
- Impact on the Team: Bixler is expected to make the lineup from the start. With some collegiate experience, she could challenge for the anchor spot, too.
Floor Exercise
- Skills: Rudi, 1.5 twist to front pike, front layout to front full twist
- Results: fourth place at the 2019 Made in the USA Gymnastics Invitational
- Margin of Improvement: Bixler has a lot of potential on floor. Her twisting form is good, she is an expressive dancer and as an elite she used to throw double tucks, double pikes and even a double Arabian. She has been struggling recently, though.
- Impact on the Team: Lane will hope to use Bixler on floor, but her debut will depend on her consistency.
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