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Last Week in College Gym: June 14

There’s a lot that happens on the gymternet each week. So much so that it can be hard to keep track of it all. From training updates and COVID year announcements to recruiting rumors and coaching news, we don’t blame you for missing some important points here and there.

That’s where we come in. Last Week in College Gym is your one-stop shop for all the important headlines from the previous week in college gymnastics. No matter if you’re taking a social media break, went on vacation or just don’t have the capacity to follow every single gymnast, team and fan, we have you covered.

Top Storylines

Vince Smurro Joins Stanford Staff

Smurro will fill the spot vacated by Neal Gallant. The Illinois gymnastics alumnus spent five years as an assistant at Iowa and has previous experience at Central Michigan and in the club system. 

Ashleigh Clare-Kearney Thigpen Leaves LSU Volunteer Role

Thigpen was the Tigers’ volunteer choreographer and master leotard designer for 11 seasons. She now has a paid role in the LSU athletic department; per NCAA rules, she cannot continue to volunteer for the team while being paid by the department.

Garrett Griffeth and Courtney McCool Griffeth Join LSU Staff

Thigpen’s resignation as volunteer assistant and longtime vault coach Bob Moore’s retirement made way for Utah assistant and volunteer assistant Garrett Griffeth and Courtney McCool Griffeth to fill those same roles at LSU. Courtney, a former Georgia gymnast during LSU head coach Jay Clark’s time in Athens, will likely also take on the role of choreographer while Garrett will likely continue coaching vault.

Chad Wiest Named Kentucky Assistant

Kentucky has hired former Washington vault and floor assistant Wiest to fill its vacancy. Wiest had previous stops at Illinois and Bowling Green and is an Illini gymnastics alumnus.  

Other Newsworthy Items

  • Both Peter Jansson (Arizona, assistant coach) and Marie-Sophie Boggasch (Alaska, head coach) had their interim tags removed for the 2022 season.  
  • Michigan alumna Olivia Karas has published a memoir with her father Jim that will be released on Tuesday, June 15. Look out for our review of the book on Tuesday as well.
  • Aleah Finnegan officially announced her retirement from elite on June 11. Finnegan will be a freshman at LSU in 2021-22. 
  • Trinity Thomas indicated a retirement from elite prior to the 2021 national championships. However, in a recent interview with York Dispatch, Thomas has not counted out a run at the 2024 Olympic team. 
  • Joanna Chambers has signed with the University of Bridgeport for the 2021-22 season. Chambers is a transfer from Alaska.

Training Updates

  • Nebraska rising sophomore Kinsey Davis was seen training a bail on her Instagram story.
  • Kerrie Legault, rising junior for UW-La Crosse, was seen training a Ricna to overshoot timer on her Instagram Story. 
  • Temple rising junior Hannah Barry is training a double front on floor.
  • Sierra Brooks, a rising junior at Michigan, was seen playing around with some old skills, such as a double double and a fun beam combo. She also showcased a switch leap + switch leap + back tuck connection on her Instagram Story.
  • Danielle Press from Nebraska showed off some fun skills at her home gym on Instagram.
  • Megan Skaggs has teased bringing back her bhs+  loso + loso series on beam. Skaggs stated on her Instagram Story that she wants to have no regrets in her COVID year for the Gators. 
  • Centenary rising senior Xian Baumgartner was spotted training a whip to double tuck on Centenary’s Instagram. 

READ THIS NEXT: Last Week in College Gym: June 7 


Article by the editors of College Gym News

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