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
Iowa’s Clair Kaji Returning for 6th Year
Iowa announced Kaji would be taking her extra year of eligibility on June 14 after all signs pointed to her retirement. Instead, Kaji will bring her five years of experience and three All-Big 10 honors to the Hawkeyes for the 2022 season.
Clemson Adds Gymnastics for 2023-24 School Year
Clemson will add women’s gymnastics to its athletic department, and the Atlantic Coast Conference announced that it would begin sponsoring gymnastics, both for the 2024 season. The existing programs at North Carolina, N.C. State and Pittsburgh will fall under the ACC’s governance beginning in the fall of 2023.
Other Newsworthy Items
- Arizona State associate head coach Jess Santos was promoted to co-head coach of the program alongside husband Jay Santos.
- Jimmy Pratt, former assistant coach at Denver, was named assistant coach at Utah.
- Temple coach Rachel Page has had her interim tag removed and will be an assistant coach for the upcoming season.
- Jacob Lee, Stephanie Geislinger and Jessie DeZiel were named as the three finalists for the Winona State head coaching job.
- Amanda Wellick, a former gymnast at Arkansas and former Utah State assistant, was named assistant coach at Pitt.
- SUU gymnastics has a new Instagram, which you can follow here.
Training Updates
- Rising sophomore Kinsey Davis from Nebraska was seen training a BHS BHS LOSO combination on her Instagram Story, as well as a Maloney to clear hip to Hindorff combination.
- Incoming Iowa freshman Alexa Ebeling posted herself training a switch leap to ring jump on her Instagram Story.
- Canadian National Team member and incoming Nebraska freshman Emma Spence was featured on Canfund’s Instagram Story by training an NCAA-ready bars set, including a piked Jaeger and a blind full to double tuck dismount.
- Hamline rising senior Nikki Johnsen was seen training a Higgens to piked Jaeger combination on her Instagram Story.
- Ragan Smith, rising junior for Oklahoma, showed off a punch front tuck to straddle jump combination, as well as a front aerial to front toss to back handspring swing down combination on her Instagram Story.
- Arkansas incoming freshman Leah Smith posted a video of a full-twisting double layout dismount off bars, complete with a perfect, college-ready cast handstand.
- Ohio State posted four training videos to its Instagram Story: Alexis Hankins training a BHS LOSO, Lexie Edwards also training a BHS LOSO, JoJo Warga training a FHS double twist on floor and Emma Pritchard trying a new side aerial to full twist dismount on beam.
- It’s bars upgrade season in Ann Arbor. Sierra Brooks is training a DTDL dismount, an upgrade from her FTDL, Abby Brenner is working a FTDL, Gabby Wilson is training a Ray and Abby Heiskell is working a double front half out bar dismount. Additionally, Natalie Wojcik is training a FTDL on bars.
- Illinois rising sophomore Amelia Knight was seen training a full-in on floor on her Instagram Story.
READ THIS NEXT: Last Week in College Gym: June 14
Article by the editors of College Gym News
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