Unless you’re Simone Biles, any gymnast is underrated in one way or another. With the signing period for the class of 2022 rapidly approaching, we want to shine a light on some of the recruits who might not be on your radar just yet. This may be because they are very accomplished gymnasts who are underdogs on a team of stars, they are athletes who are less spoken about as they are committed to lesser known teams, or they excel on only one event.
Ondine Achampong
College: California
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Achampong is the 2019 English, Welsh and British junior all around champion. She won a gold medal on beam and a silver medal in the all around at the 2019 Youth Olympic Festival. In 2021, she won the sixth British Olympic Trial.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: At this point, you really shouldn’t still be sleeping on Achampong, but if you are, it’s time to get obsessed with her immaculate form on beam and floor. It doesn’t get much better than that. She should be an immediate lock for the Golden Bears on both events.
Gwen Fink
College: North Carolina
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A three-time level 10 nationals qualifier, Fink tied for the bars title in 2019 and was fourth on vault in 2021. She is the 2021 North Carolina state all around champion and the Region 8 vault co-champion.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Fink will be the second 5-star recruit to arrive in Chapel Hill after Lali Dekanoidze this year. With her Yurchenko 1.5 on vault and her beautiful lines on bars, she’s expected to challenge Dekanoidze for the anchor spot on both events as a freshman.
Gabby Gladieux
College: Alabama
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gladieux is the 2019 Nastia Liukin Cup junior champion, the 2019 North Carolina state all around champion and the 2018 national all around silver medalist. She boasts career highs of 9.875 on both vault and floor.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Gladieux is a star in the making, but she may not be on your radar yet as she was sidelined for much of the 2021 season due to injury. Back in 2019, she was a raw diamond with exquisite technique and great talent. If her recovery goes well and she lives up to her potential, the Crimson Tide will have a new star on their hands.
Ava Piedrahita
College: Penn State
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Piedrahita is the 2021 Maryland state and Region 7 all around champion, as well as a national silver medalist in the all around and on beam. She won bronze at the 2019 Nastia Liukin Cup.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Gymnastics fans have been sleeping on Piedrahita, but the third-highest rated gymnast in the class of 2022 is nothing less than spectacular on all events and will become a star at Penn State. Although one gymnast alone can’t solve the problems of an entire team, her 10.0 start-value vault, big tumbling on floor and gorgeous beam set will help the Nittany Lions break into the 49s on every event weekly. Piedrahita’s beam work is one of the finest in the country—you don’t want to miss it.
Makenna Smith
College: Utah
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A two-time national silver medalist on floor, Smith is the 2021 Minnesota state all around champion and the Region 3 champion on vault, bars and floor. She boasts a career high perfect 10.0 on vault, as well as a 9.925 on floor and a 9.900 on bars.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: With all the Olympians landing in Salt Lake City these days, it’s easy to forget the great level 10s who are less famous but equally suited for college gymnastics. Smith is one of them. She didn’t have the easiest year in 2021, but her potential on all apparatuses is off the chart. Her Yurchenko half-on front pike will be an important addition to Utah’s vault lineup.
Nikki Smith
College: Michigan State
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smith is a 2021 Michigan state and Region 5 all around and floor champion, and a national champion on floor. She’s a two-time Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier and boasts a career high 9.900 on vault.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: After Skyla Schulte in the class of 2021, Smith is the second 5-star recruit to commit to Michigan State. As with Schulte, she could be a game changer for the Spartans. Her Yurchenko 1.5 will be of immense help to the team, as well as her big tumbling on floor and excellent form all around. Although she’s not about to sign with a top-10 school, don’t sleep on her. She will not allow you to forget her name easily.
Paige Thaxton
College: Michigan
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thaxton is the 2021 Region 5 and national champion on the uneven bars. She also won two bronze medals on bars and beam at 2019 nationals.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: The last 5-star recruit in the class of 2022 to commit, Thaxton’s gymnastics will be a perfect fit within the Wolverines’ team. Her Yurchenko 1.5 will be especially needed in a year in which Michigan will lose Natalie Wojcik, Abby Brenner and Abby Heiskell.
Nailah Adams
College: Rutgers
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adams is the 2021 Texas state and Region 3 floor champion and the national bronze medalist on vault and bars. She boasts career highs of 9.875 on floor, 9.850 on vault and 9.800 on bars.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: A 4-star recruit to Rutgers, what?! It’s time to get excited! Adams will be a game changer for the Scarlet Knights, as she brings a Yurchenko 1.5 on vault, a front double twist on floor and pretty lines on bars to New Brunswick.
Csenge Bácskay
College: Nebraska
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bácskay is the 2021 Osjiek and Mersin Challenge Cups vault champion, the Hungarian national vault champion and a world and European championship finalist on vault and in the all around.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: While Bácskay may not receive exceptionally high scores in elite, her form is impressive on all four apparatuses. She could become a standout all around performer for the Huskers, who will especially love her solid Yurchenko 1.5 on vault.
Nya Kraus
College: Lindenwood
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kraus is a Canadian elite. In 2021, she was 11th at Elite Canada and 34th at the Canadian championships.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: A 4-star recruit to a division II program is one of the most exciting news of this signing period. Kraus will help the Lions, especially on floor, where her musicality is exceptional, and on beam, where her lines are beautiful.
Savannah Miller
College: Oregon State
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A four-time level 10 nationals qualifier, Miller swept all four events and the all around at 2021 Region 5 regionals. She boasts a career high 9.900 on vault.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Miller is a powerhouse gymnast, performing a big full-in on floor and a Yurchenko full-on pike off on vault. However, she’s also an excellent bar worker, which is fantastic news for the Beavers who had a difficult year on this event in 2021.
Jacquie Moran
College: Georgia
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Moran is the 2019 NorCal state all around champion and the national champion on bars. She boasts career highs of 9.925 on bars and 39.025 in the all around.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: You may have forgotten about Moran as she hasn’t competed since 2019. However, don’t sleep on her! Her form is so stunning that it will may even make you cry. She could be a 10.0 machine on bars for the Gymdogs.
Madison Raesly-Patton
College: BYU
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Raesly-Patton is the 2019 Region 3 all around champion and the national silver medalist on bars.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Raesly-Patton’s recent switch from Nebraska to BYU was delightful news for the Cougars, who are set to welcome a new gymnast of the calibre of Shannon Evans and Abbey Miner Alder. Raesly-Patton will bring excellent form to Provo, as well as some difficult skills, including a double layout on floor and a rare Yurchenko full-on tuck off on vault.
Bryce Wilson
College: LSU
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wilson burst into the scene this year, qualifying to the Nastia Liukin Cup and winning the vault title at the Texas state meet, Region 3 regionals and nationals, thanks to a stunning Yurchenko full. She boasts career highs of 9.925 on vault and 9.900 on bars.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Wilson is still a rather inconsistent gymnast, probably due to her lack of experience. Her form and amplitude, however, position her among the great gymnasts in the class of 2022. If she can keep her nerves at bay, she will be second to none in Baton Rouge.
Skye Kerico
College: Penn
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kerico is the 2019 New Jersey state champion and the Region 7 beam champion. In the latest meet she competed in 2020, she posted a career high 9.725 on bars.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Kerico’s had a patchy career, so the extent to which she’ll be able to contribute to Penn’s lineups remains unclear. She has great potential, though, and her basics are exceptional. If healthy, she could be a major contributor to the Quakers’ lineups. Don’t forget that she was once committed to Georgia!
Addison Lawrence
College: Missouri
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lawrence is the 2021 Missouri state vault champion and the Region 4 bronze medalist on bars, beam, floor and in the all around.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Missouri has recently stepped up its recruiting game, and Lawrence is no exception. Her Yurchenko 1.5 on vault, big tumbling on floor and pretty lines all around will fit right in with the qualities of the sensational class of 2021.
Zoe Middleton
College: Ball State
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Middleton is the 2019 Delaware state, Region 7 and national all around silver medalist. She boasts a career high 9.800 on beam.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Middleton could be a game changer for the Cardinals. Her execution is not faultless, but her difficulty and amplitude on her skills place her among the gymnasts to watch in the class of 2022. We hope she will bring her huge double layout on floor to Muncie.
Natalia Pawlak
College: Pittsburgh
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pawlak is the 2019 Texas state all around champion and the 2021 Region 3 and national champion on bars. She’s a former Polish national team member and represented Poland at the 2018 European championships.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: Pawlak is an exceptional bar worker who will (literally!) raise the bar for the rest of the lineup. Her 9.900 career high on this event and her national title this year were very well deserved.
Deana Sheremeta
College: George Washington
Current CGN Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sheremeta is the 2021 New York state champion in the all around, bars, beam and floor, and the national champion on beam.
Why She’s Worth Noticing: George Washington is slowly building a tradition of recruiting gymnasts with gorgeous form, and Sheremeta is no exception. Her vault and bars need improvement, but her beam and floor work is exquisite. Her flexibility is unreal.
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Article by Talitha Ilacqua
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