Seniors You Should Take Time to Appreciate Before They Graduate

We often highlight the senior gymnasts that meant a lot to their program after they’re done with their collegiate careers. But then we realized—why not bring attention to them before their final season to allow fans to truly appreciate them while they still can? From women to men to DIII gymnasts, take a look at the seniors we think you should take a little more time to enjoy in 2019 before you no longer can.

WAG

Anne Kuhm – Arizona State

Due to the nature of coming from France after already having been in college for a couple years, fans will only get two total seasons of Kuhm before her eligibility runs out. With this shortened timeline, appreciate this French Olympian while she’s still in Tempe.

Abby Milliet – Auburn

A fan favorite as a second-tier elite, Milliet is stunning to watch and only has one more year to show off her style at Auburn. Make sure to catch her on beam and floor especially, as her beautiful lines and unique movement really shines through there.

Shani Remme – Boise State

Remme is one of those gymnasts that’s been around forever but yet you still can’t believe she’s a senior. A true star for the Broncos, Remme brings in counting scores across all four and has been the team’s nationals qualifier as well.

Toni-Ann Williams – California

Fans were blessed with an extra year of Williams. However, with an injured elbow, it’s uncertain what she’ll be able to do in 2019, meaning we should enjoy any and all routines we get to see from the bubbly fan favorite this season.

Navia Jordan – Centenary

Coming from a DIII team that’s not in the NCGA, Centenary and its gymnasts often get overlooked. But Jordan shouldn’t be one of those gymnasts, as she’s absolutely stunning to watch across her three events but especially on floor. Watch her, and she’ll instantly make your top floor workers list.

Kaitlin Green – Cornell

If you haven’t seen Green on beam, stop what you’re doing and look it up now. We’ll wait. OK? Now you understand and only have one more year to enjoy this stunner on four inches.

Alicia Boren – Florida

It seems like every Florida class has a star that will be incredibly difficult to replace once she graduates, and Boren is that star in 2019. She excels on all four events and is consistent to boot. Plus, her trajectory up to this point indicates she’ll have a stellar 2019, making her even harder to replace after she graduates.

Sydney Snead – Georgia

As the only one left in her class and one of only three upperclassmen, Snead is an integral part of the team in terms of both skill and leadership. With high-scoring potential across all four, you’ll want to follow this senior’s 2019 season, especially on vault where she’s gunning for that perfect 10 that has eluded her thus far.

Mary Jane Otto – Illinois

Otto (nee Horth) missed her junior and redshirt senior seasons with injury, but she’s back for a rare sixth year and training the all around again. Otto is the 2017 Big Ten bars champion and finished No. 12 in the all around at the 2015 national championships, where she qualified as an individual.

Meaghan Sievers – Iowa State

A two-time NCAA qualifier on vault, Sievers is a standout on the event, performing an outstanding 10.0 vault that will surely be missed on the Cyclone squad once she graduates. With front handspring pike halfs a general rarity in college gymnastics, enjoy Sievers’ while you can because it’s one of the best.

Entire Kentucky Senior Class

It’s the big, game-changing class for Kentucky. It’s the class that was a crucial part to getting the Wildcats to nationals. It’s the class that changed the game and made Kentucky a team to watch rather than a team at the bottom of the SEC. Alex Hyland, Sidney Dukes and Katie Stuart in particular—the trio of all arounders—have meant so much to the program, and 2019 is the last year you’ll get to enjoy them.

Andy Alexander – Lindenwood

A staple on all but Lindenwood’s vault lineup, Alexander is, plain and simple, a spunky and exciting gymnast to watch perform, especially on beam and floor. An integral part of the program’s success, her form is really what makes her stand out.

Sarah Finnegan – LSU

Say it ain’t so! Alas, Finnegan is a senior, and we only get one more year of her gorgeous gymnastics. But we don’t need to tell you to enjoy it while you can.

Lexie Priessman – LSU

The oft-injured former elite Priessman really came into her own in 2018, cleaning up form tremendously and staying healthy throughout the duration of the season. We’re hoping for one last hoorah for this fan favorite before she can finally rest and heal up for good.

Olivia Karas – Michigan

An untimely Achilles tear took her out of the end of her junior year, meaning fans get a bit less Karas than they originally would have—especially since it occurred after the redshirt “deadline.” Plus, you know this Madona-loving Wolverine’s floor routine is going to be can’t-miss in 2019.

Britney Ward – Missouri

Part of the dynamic duo of Ward and Morgan Porter, the pair helped turn around the Missouri program after a big coaching change mixed things up when Shannon Welker came on board. A standout on vault and beam, Ward holds career highs over 9.925 and will be a hard competitor to replace in 2020.

Megan Schweihofer – Nebraska

Schweihofer really came into her own for Nebraska as a junior, competing all around in every meet with only two major mistakes all season. She was a huge part of Nebraska making the Super Six in 2018 and is poised to be one of the top all arounders in the country.

Danielle Mulligan – New Hampshire

Consistently in the top tier of bars workers not only in the conference but in the country as well, Mulligan is a star on the event for New Hampshire (hint hint fantasy gym players).

Anna Martucci – Northern Illinois

Martucci is a beam and floor specialist who broke out and made her regionals debut in 2018. She owns the Huskies’ third-highest beam score (9.925) and is the reigning MAC specialist of the year. Her floor is exquisitely executed and not to be missed.

Brenna Dowell – Oklahoma

She’s Brenna Dowell and she’s likely bringing back the Dowell on floor in 2019. That’s really all you need to know, and you don’t want to miss it.

Nicole Lehrmann – Oklahoma

Often overlooked by the bigger names on the roster, Lehrmann is a national champion on bars from 2017, a six-time first-team All-American and a budding all arounder for her senior year.

Mary Jacobsen – Oregon State

Jacobsen, a walk on, has often been overlooked by the flashier routines at Oregon State. But don’t make that mistake again for her final season. She’s looking better than ever in preseason training updates and upgrading even more from her already-difficult sets.

Caroline Moore – Penn

As Penn’s only event qualifier at the 2018 USAG national championships, Moore is a standout not only on beam—where she’s a first-team USAG All-American—but on vault and floor as well.

Stephanie Relova – San Jose State

Relova’s incredible toe point on bars and beam has gone under the radar in her three years at San Jose State, but she deserves to be a cult favorite. This year, training updates from the Spartans have indicated that she might be adding floor to her college repertoire, so don’t miss your chance to appreciate her.

Erin Alderman – Texas Woman’s

Alderman is one of those gymnasts that’s always in every lineup (she consistently competes everything but bars) and is always the one you can count on to hit. She’s not the most well-known name on the roster but is one of the most valuable.

Mary Elle Arduino – Towson

The reigning EAGL beam champion and regular regionals qualifier is back for one more go. A capable all arounder, beam is Arduino’s standout event; her rock solid triple series and calm execution are a treat.

Yasmine Yektaparast – UC Davis

Yektaparast has been a staple for the Aggies on three events her whole career, but what we’ll miss her most on is floor. On top of her fantastic tumbling—which usually includes an E and two D passes—she has one of the most contagious smiles in the sport, and it makes her incredibly fun to watch.

Entire UCLA Senior Class

The entire UCLA senior class is surely going to be missed, but all for different reasons. It seems like just yesterday Katelyn Ohashi was a wide-eyed freshman but has really come into her own with only one more season to go in her career. Stella Savvidou has been hurt off and on during her time in Westwood—and it’s uncertain whether she plans to utilize a fifth year—but if she doesn’t, appreciate every moment we get to see her beautiful lines on the competition floor. Finally, Brielle Nguyen only transferred to UCLA for her junior and senior seasons but has a personality that clicked immediately with the team that will be missed. All three will be gunning for a second-consecutive national title.

The Entire UIC Squad, featuring Mikailla Northern – UIC

Losing a team is heartbreaking, especially a team with such promising athletes. Get a look at Toni Alicke, Ashley Albrecht, Kayla Baddeley and Alisa Sheremeta this season. Definitely don’t miss senior Mikailla Northern, who has qualified as an individual to regionals in her first three seasons and is the reigning MIC floor champion.

Kari Lee – Utah

Another gymnast in her fifth year, Lee has been a vital contributor for the Utes during her entire tenure in Salt Lake City. She’s already looking better than ever before in preseason training, making fans excited to see what she can do in 2019.

Madison Ward-Sessions – Utah State

A standout on floor in particular despite being an all arounder, Ward-Sessions holds the top score on floor for the Aggies at an NCAA regional and has a good chance of bringing recognition to Utah State on the national stage in 2019 with the new individual qualifying rules.

Malory Rose – Washington

How many teams have a lead off beam routine that has gone 9.900 on multiple occasions? We’ll wait. Rose is a stunning and confident beam worker who you should take the chance to enjoy while you’ve got the chance. She sets the tone for the Huskies’ full lineup of beam queens.

Kirah Koshinski – West Virginia

A clutch performer on her three events for the Mountaineers, Koshinski will be sorely missed in Morgantown after she graduates in 2019. But that’s not happening yet. You still have time to enjoy her huge Yurchenko one and a half, solid beam and thrilling floor for one more season.

Rachael Underwood – Western Michigan

At the 2017 MAC championships, Underwood set a new program-record all around score with a 39.325, which she then broke in 2018 with a 39.350. She has qualified as an individual to regionals every year of her career, and tied for second on floor in 2018. Under the new qualifying rules, that finish would have sent her to nationals.

Jessica Wang – Yale

Yale as a whole is going to be a team to watch in 2019. This is in part thanks to some stellar standout athletes like Wang, who won the bars title at the USAG national championships in 2018.

NCGA

Candis Kowalik – Brockport

Brockport has been a team on the verge in the NCGA, and that has been Kowalik’s journey as well. She took second or third in countless NCGA finals and finally won the NCGA-East all around title in 2018. Is 2019 the year she takes a national title?

Jess Clemens – Springfield

After steadily improving throughout her career, Clemens received two NCGA All-America honors in 2018 on bars and beam; she was also a 2017 All-American on bars. Her high scores on each event have improved by about a tenth every season, so look to see if she makes our 9.800+ lists this year.

Dani Barmore – UW-La Crosse

Barmore is the reigning NCGA vault champion and has a 2016 bar co-championship under her belt as well. She performs an excellent Yurchenko full-on tuck off that could land her atop the podium once again.

Lisa O’Donnell – UW-Whitewater

UW-Whitewater has been a force in WIAC in recent memory, and Lisa O’Donnell is a big part of that success. She holds the all around, bars and floor program records, won the 2017 NCGA all around title and was a 2018 Minneapolis regional qualifier. Look for her to continue to push boundaries in her final season.

MAG

Cole Cassanova – Army

Cassanova has made his mark already at Army, representing his school at nationals, finishing 13th overall. He was also named a team captain for his senior season, showing he brings more than just skill on the competition floor.

Alex Diab – Illinois

The strongman is the reigning national champion on rings and will only get better in his final year in Champaign. He’s also a four-time All-American and a three-time conference champion on rings. Plus, fun fact: his brother Max is also a sophomore on the team and his sister Maddie will be a freshman at Iowa State for the 2020 season.

Anton Stephenson – Nebraska

Before Stephenson arrived in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers were often on the outside looking in when it came to the Super Six at nationals. However, the past few seasons have been strong for Nebraska, in large part thanks to him. He has three Big Ten titles under his belt as well as a second place finish on vault at the national championships.

Alec Yoder – Ohio State

You already know he’s a pommel horse star—he won the conference title in 2016—but Yoder also excels in the all around, finishing third at nationals in 2018. He’s also a six-time All-American and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016. As someone many people have followed since his time as a Youth Olympian, you don’t want to miss his collegiate swan song in 2019.

Yul Moldauer – Oklahoma

It’s pretty obvious why Moldauer is on this list, but let us spell it out for you a little in case you’re someone who’s not into the elite scene. He tied the NCAA record for most national championships in a season with four and has seven titles overall (one on every event and the all around except pommel horse and high bar!). He’s also a 15-time All-American and nine-time conference champ. The good news? We imagine you’ll be able to watch him representing Team USA on the world stage for years to come.

Jannik Haas – Springfield

Haas has been an important part of Springfield’s success over the past few years, earning second place on parallel bars at the 2018 conference champs and qualifying to nationals twice in his three years with the Pride.

Jacob Jarrett – Washington

Standing out as a club gymnast can be hard work, but that’s exactly what Jarrett has done in his time as a Husky. He’s a three-time All-American (twice in the all around and once on vault), and you don’t want to miss what he has in store for 2019.

Jacopo Gliozzi – William & Mary

You could say Gliozzi is pretty good at pommel horse. He’s a two-time conference champ on the event, NCAA qualifier on the event and NCAA All-American after finishing sixth in 2017. He also owns the Tribe’s fourth-best mark on pommels with a 14.700.

READ THIS NEXT: Returning EAGL Gymnasts to Watch in 2019

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Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Emily Minehart, Rachel Riesterer, Rebecca Scally and Emily Howell-Forbes

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