College Gym Graveyard: Eulogies for the Teams We’ve Lost

Happy Halloween from all of us at College Gym News! Before you head out trick or treating (or to enjoy some adult treats) take a stroll through the college gymnastics graveyard. We’ve lost so many teams over the years; raise a glass or piece of candy corn in memory. Note that a good number of these women’s programs were terminated before 1982 therefore were never part of the NCAA and may have been what we would now consider a club-level program.

This is far from a comprehensive list. We’re working to build a complete database of all men’s and women’s programs that have been disbanded. If you have any information about the teams below, or know of a program that we are missing, please email managing editor Emily M or let us know in the comments!

We’ve chosen select programs to eulogize, and the full list of teams follows.

Cal State-Fullerton, Calif. (men and women)

Women: 1976-2011. Fullerton made 13 nationals appearances all-time, seven of which were under the NCAA. It finished as high as fourth in 2003 and won the AIAW title in 1979. Notable gymnasts include Tami Elliot, a 10-time All American, and Barbie Myslak-Roetert, the 1979 AIAW vault and bars champion and a nine-time All American.

Men: Disbanded in 1992. Fullerton competed as both a Division I and a Division II team. Under Division I, the team finished eighth at NCAA nationals in 1976, 1977 and 1978. It took the Division II title in 1970, 1971 and 1974. Notable gymnasts include Leonard Caling, 1971 Division II pommel horse champion, Mike Kelly, 1972 Division II parallel bars champion, and Sam Shaw, who took the vault title in both 1974 (Division II) and 1976 (Division I).

Chicago, University of, Ill. (men)

1899-1948? Former Big Ten athletic powerhouse Chicago* won the 1917 national title and took the NCAA Division I title in 1938. Courtney Shanken was the 1941 national all around and rope climb champion. Erwin Beyer was a four-time national champion (1936-1938) and would go on to coach the 1948 women’s Olympic team. Earl Shanken won three consecutive vault titles (1940. 1941, 1942).

Clarion State College, Penn. (women) [Now Clarion University]

Active in the late 1960s to 1979, Clarion won the AIAW title in 1976, 1977 and 1978 and was undefeated under coach Ernistine Weaver, who led the team to a 58-0 record over 10 seasons and coached the championship teams. Weaver would go on to coach at the University of Florida. Connie Jo Israel was the 1976 AIAW all around champion and the Honda Award recipient for gymnastics in the same year.

Columbia University, N.Y. (men)

1899-?. Columbia University was part of pre-NCAA gymnastics competition, winning the national title in 1900. Many schools that supported gymnastics in this era dropped teams during World War II.

East Stroudsburg University, Pa. (men and women)

Women: Active in the 1930s to ‘70s. Suzette Gosling Owens was an individual qualifier to the AIAW championship in 1977, and Beth Fraley McMahon was a beam All American in 1978 and AIAW all around qualifier in 1979.

Men: Active in the 1930s to ‘80s. East Stroudsburg won the Division II title in 1983 and 1984 and finished second in 1982. Coach Bruno Klaus (founder of the International Gymnastics Camp and former Southern Illinois gymnast) was named Division II Coach of the Year in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1988. Franklin Winstead won the 1982 floor title, Alan Emerick took the high bar championship in 1983, Jeff Clements won floor in 1984 and Joao Luiz Ribeiro took the all around, parallel bars and high bar titles in 1984.

Haverford College, Pa. (men)

1899-?. Haverford is another pre-NCAA era men’s team. It finished second in the 1917 national championship.

Jacksonville State University, Ala. (women)

Active in the 1970s and ‘80s. Jacksonville State won the NCAA Division II title in 1984 and 1985. Under coach Robert Dillard (who would finish his career at Auburn), the team had a 201-67 record and posted nine winning seasons from 1975 to 1985. Dillard won the Kellogg’s National Coach of the Year award in 1977. Gymnast Jennifer McFarland was a Honda Award Nominee in both 1984 and 1985. Susan Puckett (1980, 1981) and Marilyn Hanssler (1982, 1983, 1984) were both multiple All-American honorees.

LSU, La. (men)

1968-1984. LSU finished second at the 1975 and 1976 NCAA national championships and made 10 championship appearances. When the program was shuttered in 1984, the Tigers had a 189-78 record. Coach Armando Vega was named the NCAA National Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1978. The program produced 22 All Americans.

Michigan State University, Mich. (men)

1930s?-2001. Michigan State tied for the national title in 1958 under coach George Szypula, who led the team to 252 victories over 41 seasons. Carlton Rintz was the 1954 pommel horse champion and took the parallel bars, high bar and pommel horse titles in 1955. Dave Thor was named the 1968 Nissan Award winner and went on to make the 1968 men’s Olympic team; he was the Big Ten all around champion in 1966, 1967 and 1968. The MSU men were ranked No. 3 when the school cut the program in 2001.

Northwestern State, La. (men)

Active in the 1950s to 1970s. Northwestern State took the Division II title in 1970. Under coach Jeff Hennessy, the team won three straight conference titles (1957-1959, Mid-South Intercollegiate). Richard Lloyd won both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and NCAA Division II national all around titles in 1967. Coach Armando Vega was named the NCAA coach of the year in 1970; he would go on to coach at LSU.

Oklahoma State University, Okla. (women)

1974-1986. Oklahoma State finished ninth at the 1982 Division I national championships. Kevin Mabrey (1981), Usa Hartman (1982) and Liz Parry (1984) were the school’s All Americans.

Oregon, University of, Ore. (men and women)

Women: 1959-1987. Unfortunately Oregon has not inducted any female gymnasts into its hall of fame and little external information exists. We do have a list of former athletes, however.

Men: 1960-1981. Oregon made five nationals appearances, finishing as high as third in 1980. Scott McEldowney was the 1978 rings champion, and James Yuhashi took the 1981 floor title.

Southern California, University of, Calif. (men and women)

Women: 1976?-1984? Southern California finished as high as fifth in the AIAW national championship in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Men: 1958?-1981. On the men’s side, USC won the national title in 1962 under coach Jack Beckner. Makoto Sakamoto was the 1967 all around and parallel bar champion and won the all around, parallel bar and high bar titles in 1968.

Southern Connecticut State University, Conn. (men)

Active in the 1960s and ‘70s. Southern Connecticut State won the Division II national title in 1973, 1975 and 1976. The Owls boast 27 Division II individual titles, led by John Crosby (1971, all around, floor, parallel bars; 1972, all around, floor, vault, parallel bars; 1973, all around, floor, vault, parallel bars, high bar); and Peter Kormann (1975, all around, floor; 1976, all around, floor, vault, high bar, rings). Other title winners include Jim Amerine, Jay Whelan, Jim Yearwood and Dave Mesagno. SCSU continues to field a women’s team.

Southern Illinois University, Ill. (men and women)

Women: 1962-1986. Southern Illinois won the AIAW title in 1970, 1974 and 1975 and was undefeated in the 1966 to 1969 seasons. SIU boasted a number of individual title winners: Gail Daily Bakker (1969, vault and beam); Irene Haworth Lacy (1966, all around); Donna Schaenzer Kramer (late-1960s, three-time all around champion); Terry Spencer (1973, floor) and Judy Wills Cline, who was undefeated in her trampoline and tumbling career, which fell under gymnastics in the 1960s.

Men: 1929-1989. The Southern Illinois men won the national title four times, in 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1972, and boasted a 68-meet winning streak from 1961 to 1968. The Salukis had a long list of individual champions on the men’s side as well—Hubie Dunn (1943, swept all six individual event titles); Bruno Klaus (1960 and 1961, high bar; 1962, vault); Rusty Mitchell (1964, floor; 1962 and 1964, tumbling); Gary Morava (1972, vault); Fred Orlofsky (1961, rings); Charles Ropiequet (1971, rings); Frank Schmitz (1965, floor and tumbling; 1966, floor and vault).

Southwest Missouri State University, Mo. (women) [Now Missouri State University]

1969-1980. Southwest Missouri State made four AIAW nationals appearances under coach Charles Johnson (1976-1979), including finishing second in 1976. Olympian Kolleen Casey won the 1978 vault title and took the all around title in 1979. Casey also won the Broderick Award for gymnastics in 1979. Cheryl Diamond Murray was the bars AIAW champion in 1976 and 1977.

Syracuse University, N.Y. (men)

1948-1997. Syracuse finished third in the NCAA national championships in 1953 and 1963. The school holds six individual championship titles: Gene Rabbitt (1950, pommel horse); Leo Minotti (1950, 1951, rope climb); James Sebbo (1953, tumbling); Sydney Ogelsby (1964, vault); Jason Hebert (1992, vault).

UCLA, Calif. (men)

1930s?-1994. The Bruins won the men’s national title in 1984 and 1987, both under coach Art Shurlock. Men’s gymnastics upheld the UCLA Olympian tradition, with team members including Tony Pineda, Mitch Gaylord, Tim Daggett, Peter Vidmar and Chris Waller. The men won countless individual titles.

Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of, Wis. (men)

Active in the 1970s and 80s. Oshkosh took the men’s Division II title in 1980, 1981 and 1982, as well as two WIAC conference titles (1973 and 1974). The team also won eight NAIA titles between 1973 and 1983. UW-Oshkosh maintains a women’s team.

Yale University, Conn. (men)

1899-? and circa 1930s-1980. Yale is another pre-NCAA era team shrouded in mystery. The Bulldogs won the national title in 1901 and 1902. The team seems to have faded out sometime early in the 20th century until being revived as an NCAA varsity sport by Olympian and coach Don Tonry sometime around 1930. Under Tonry, the team won three Ivy titles. The women’s team, coached by Don’s wife Barbara, still hosts the Don Tonry Invitational every year in his honor.

And so many more…

• Adams State University, Colo. (women)
• Alberta, University of, Canada (women)
• Appalachian State University, N.C. (women)
• Arizona, University of, Ariz. (men)
• Athens College, Ala. (women)
• Augustana University, S.D. (women)
• Ball State University, Ind. (men)
• Bemidji State University, Minn. (women)
• British Columbia, University of, Canada (women)
• BYU, Utah (men)
• Cal Poly-Pomona, Calif. (men)
• Cal Poly-San Louis Obispo, Calif. (women)
• Cal State-Chico, Calif. (men and women)
• Cal State-Fresno,Calif. (men and women)
• Cal State-Hayward, Calif. (women) [Now Cal State-East Bay]
• Cal State-Long Beach, Calif. (women)
• Cal State-Los Angeles, Calif. (men)
• Cal State-Northridge, Calif. (men and women)
• Calgary, University of Canada, (women)
• Canisius College, N.Y. (women)
• Central Arkansas University, Ark. (women)
• Central Missouri State University, Mo. (women)
• Central State University, Ohio (women)
• Central Washington University, Wash. (women)
• Chadron State College, Neb. (women)
• Clemson University, S.C. (women)
• Colorado State University, Colo. (men and women)
• Colorado, University of, Colo. (men and women)
• Connecticut, University of, Conn. (women)
• Cortland State University, N.Y. (men)
• Denver, Colo. (men)
• Drake University, Iowa (women)
• Duke University, N.C. (women)
• East Carolina University, N.C. (women)
• East Tennessee State University, Tenn. (women)
• East Texas Woman’s College, Texas (women)
• Eastern Kentucky University, Ky. (women)
• Eastern Montana College, Mont. (women)
• Eastern Washington University, Wash. (women)
• Edinboro University, Pa. (women)
• Fairmont State University, W.Va. (women)
• Florida State University, Fla. (men and women)
• Fort Hays State University, Kan. (women)
• Franklin & Marshall College, Pa. (women)
• Frostburg State University, Md. (women)
• Furman University, S.C. (women)
• Georgetown University, D.C. (women)
• Georgia College, Ga. (women)
• Georgia Southern University, Ga. (men and women)
• Georgia Tech, Ga. (men)
• Georgia, University of, Ga. (men)
• Grand View College, Iowa (women)
• Houston Baptist University, Texas (men and women)
• Houston, University of, Texas (women)
• Idaho, University of, Id. (women)
• Illinois State University, Ill. (men)
• Indiana State University, Ind. (men and women)
• Indiana University, Ind. (men and women)
• Iowa State University, Iowa (men)
• James Madison University, Va. (men and women)
• Jefferson State Community College, Ala. (women)
• Kansas State Teachers College/Emporia College, Kan. (women)
• Kansas State University, Kan. (women)
• Kansas, University of, Kan. (women)
• Kent State University, Ohio (men)
• Lock Haven University, Pa. (women)
• Longwood University, Va. (women)
• Louisville, University of, Ky. (men and women)
• Luther College, Iowa (women)
• Maryland, University of,  Md. (men)
• Maryland-Baltimore County, Md. (women)
• Massachusetts, University of, Mass. (men and women)
• Memphis State University, Tenn. (women)
• Miami Dade Community College North, Fla. (women)
• Miami, University of, Ohio (women)
• Middle Tennessee State University, Tenn. (women)
• Minnesota State University Mankato, Minn. (men and women)
• Minot State University, N.D. (women)
• Mississippi University for Women, Mis. (women)
• Missouri State University, Mo. (women)
• MIT, Mass. (women)
• Montana State University, Mont. (women)
• Montana, University of, Mont. (women)
• Montgomery College, Md. (women)
• Nevada, Reno, University of, Nev. (men and women)
• New Mexico, University of, N.M. (men and women)
• North Carolina, University of, N.C. (men)
• North Dakota, University of, N.D. (women)
• Northeastern University, Mass. (women)
• Northern Colorado, University of, Colo. (women)
• Northern Illinois University, Ill. (men)
• Northern Iowa, University of  Iowa (women)
• Northern Michigan University, Mich. (women)
• Notre Dame, University of, Ind. (women)
• Occidental College, Calif. (men)
• Odessa College, Texas (women)
• Oral Roberts University, Okla. (women)
• Oregon College of Education, Ore. (women)
• Pacific University, Ore. (women)
• Peabody College, Tenn. (women)
• Pittsburgh, University of  Pa. (men)
• Portland State University, Ore. (women)
• Princeton University, N.J. (women)
• Puget Sound, University of, Wash. (women)
• Queens College, N.Y. (women)
• Radford University, Va. (women)
• Rhode Island, University of, R.I. (women)
• Rutgers, N.J. (men)
• Sacramento State University, Calif. (men)
• Salem State University, Mass. (women)
• San Diego State University, Calif. (men and women)
• San Francisco State University, Calif. (women)
• San Jose State University, Calif. (men)
• Seattle University, Wash. (women)
• Slippery Rock University, Pa. (women)
• South Carolina, University of, S.C. (women)
• South Dakota State University, S.D. (women)
• South Dakota, University of, S.D. (women)
• Southern Arkansas University Tech, Ark. (women)
• Southern Colorado, University of, Colo. (women)
• Southwest Texas State University, Texas (women)
• Southwestern University, Texas (women)
• Spokane Community College, Wash. (women)
• St. Cloud State University, Minn. (women)
• Tarleton State University, Texas (women)
• Temple, Pa. (men)
• Tennessee, University of, Tenn. (women)
• Texas A&M University, Texas (women)
• Texas Austin, University of, Texas (women)
• Texas El Paso, University of, Texas (women)
• Toronto, University of, Canada  (women)
• U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. (women)
• U.S. Naval Academy, Md. (women)
• UC Santa Barbara, Calif. (men and women)
• Valparaiso University, Ind. (women)
• Vermont, University of, Vt. (women)
• Virginia Tech, Va. (women)
• Virginia, University of, Va. (women)
• Washburn University, Kan. (women)
• Washington State University, Wash. (men and women)
• Weber State University, Utah (women)
• West Virginia University. W.Va. (men)
• Western Carolina University, N.C. (women)
• Western Illinois University, Ill. (men and women)
• Western State University, Colo. (women)
• Wichita State University, Kan. (women)
• Wilson College, Pa. (women)
• Wisconsin, University of, Wis. (men and women)
• Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of, Wis. (men)
• Wisconsin-River Falls, University of, Wis. (women)
• Wisconsin-Superior, University of, Wis. (women)
• Youngstown State University, Ohio (women)

If you want to support the continued growth of the sport—and the protection of teams in danger of being terminated—consider making a donation to the Collegiate Gymnastics Growth Initiative.

READ THIS NEXT: THE COLLEGIATE GYMNASTICS GROWTH INITIATIVE, BEYOND HOUSTON AND UIC

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*The University of Chicago was a founding member of the Big Ten and remains an academic member of the conference while currently competing under the University Athletic Association. It is the home of first Heisman winner, Jay Berwanger, and was coached by the legendary Amos Alonzo Stagg, who led the football team to two national championships in 1905 and 1913. The team also initiated the Monsters of the Midway nickname now used by the Chicago Bears. Herman Stegeman (yes, that Stegeman) was a member of the 1913 championship team. The more you know. Emily M is an alumna and likes to dispel the myth that nerd schools don’t do sports. Go Maroons! Chicago maintains a co-ed non-competitive club gymnastics team.

Article by Emily Minehart

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