During the offseason, it can be difficult to keep up with all the news and training updates happening across the teams. So each week, we will provide a curation of the most exciting upgrades, as well as other important news happening in the college gym world. Note the majority of the training updates highlighted will feature new skills and not someone training their same routine from the past season, for example.
Finally, note we are only able to share links to updates posted on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and not Instagram Stories or Snapchat. However, we will try to note any clips of note that we see on those disappearing platforms.
Choreography Sneak Peek With Olivia Aepli
Ohio State’s Olivia Aepli gave us a sneak peek at her 2019 floor choreography, and we can’t wait to see the rest!
Shannon St. Jean Working a Monster Beam Series
MSU junior transfer Shannon St. Jean has shown a lot of beam training this summer, including this big beam series (back handspring + layout stepout + split jump + back tuck + beat jump). Look for her to challenge for a beam lineup spot this fall.
Alexis Vasquez Won’t Let Injury Stop Her
Denver freshman Alexis Vasquez may have a cast on her hand, but she’s not letting it stop her training. She posted a front aerial + layout step-out beam series to her Instagram.
Cal Freshman on Campus
Rookie Talitha Jones is already on campus and in the gym working an onodi on beam that we can’t help but hope to see in her routine in 2019.
Upgrades in Auburn
Auburn sophomore Allie Riddle was spotted working two new E skills in combination: a front layout + front double twist that might help her crack the Tigers’ floor lineup, as well as an impressive Popa on beam. Meanwhile, classmate Sydney Bassett showed off two new skills of her own with a Maloney and a Yurchenko one and a half.
Instagram Story and Snapchat Roundup
Paige Williams Trains Bars
Minnesota vault and floor specialist Paige Williams posted a strong bail handstand to her Instagram story this week. Perhaps the junior is looking to add a third event in 2019.
Mikailla Northern Trains Full-in
UIC senior Mikaila Northern is training a full-in, an upgrade from a front through to double tuck opening pass. Northern has competed in the all around as an individual at regionals every year of her career.
Rachel Ley Back on Vault
Rutgers junior Rachel Lay posted a clean Yurchenko full to her instagram story, commenting that it was her first vault in a long time and that she’s serious about making an “all arounder comeback.” Ley only competed bars in 2018.
Clair Kaji Making Her Comeback
Iowa junior Clair Kaji, who suffered an Achilles injury mid-season, took over the Iowa Instagram Story this week. We saw her rehabbing and back on bars throwing Giengers.
Justine Callis Plays With Acro Series
Arizona State senior Justine Callis is known for training interesting skills during the offseason. Most recently she has been playing with a side aerial + back handspring + layout step-out + back handspring combination, as seen on her Instagram Story. Time will tell if the Sun Devils will risk a complex series like this in a competition routine, but it’s exciting nonetheless.
Evanni Roberson Trains Yurchenko Upgrade
The Washington junior, who has competed a full-twisting Yurchenko in the past, is training an upgraded one and a half on the team’s Instagram Story.
Nya Reed Trains Double Layout
Florida freshman Nya Reed, who had an extremely stickable double Arabian in club, is playing around with a double layout on the Tumbl Trak on Instagram Stories.
Leah Clapper Puts in Work on Bars
Florida freshman Leah Clapper is putting in the work this summer on bars to potentially crack the top six come January. She showed a nice, floaty piked jaeger on bars on Instagram Stories.
READ THIS NEXT: Last Week in College Gym: July 30
Article by the editors of College Gym News
