Uncommitted Gymnasts to Watch for on Signing Day

With only two days until the signing period opens for the 2021 college gymnastics season, exciting gymnastics recruits are committing to their future college team every day, but there are still plenty of top level 10s on the market. While we could only highlight 10 of the highest-performing uncommitted 2020 graduates, there are plenty more exciting NCAA gymnastics hopefuls. If you’re curious, check out our full list.

Teagan Torgerud – Orlando Metro

Torgerud is the best 2020 graduate still uncommitted based on scores, but what stands out most about the former Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier is her stunning, contemporary style on floor. She’s also a versatile bars gymnast and has great, fluid style on beam. 

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.585 8.950 9.395 9.451 37.422
Level 10 Highs 9.850 9.600 9.675 9.700 38.425

Grace Johnson – Emerald City

Johnson is heading into her sixth year as a level 10. She’s a well-rounded gymnast, but her bars routine is perhaps the most exciting—she competes a Church, as well as a Pak and a double layout. She’s also super reliable, scoring 37-plus in her last eight all around meets.

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.243 9.113 9.232 9.218 36.797
Level 10 Highs 9.600 9.800 9.700 9.675 38.225

Anna Bramblett – Arizona Dreams

The Arizona native really hit a groove at the end of 2019, scoring 38-plus in the all around in three consecutive meets in only her second season as a level 10. She has competitive difficulty and strong execution on all four events, but her technique really shines on beam. 

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.567 9.158 9.213 9.021 36.958
Level 10 Highs 9.750 9.550 9.600 9.650 38.200

Kelly Griffin – Connecticut Gymnastics Academy

Griffin does a lovely Yurchenko Arabian on vault and is a confident and aggressive beam worker. She owns her club’s all around score records in both level 9 and level 10. 

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.534 9.131 9.252 9.314 37.311
Level 10 Highs 9.725 9.625 9.575 9.575 38.050

Jena Swanson – Spearfish

Swanson is one of a pair of twins from South Dakota—another state that isn’t a traditional gymnastics power, but fans might recognize her club’s name as it also produced Alabama’s Wynter Childers. Swanson has qualified to J.O. nationals once, in 2018.

She and her sister Sami recently visited Minnesota.

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.317 8.596 8.670 9.120 36.150
Level 10 Highs 9.675 9.400 9.450 9.575 38.000

Giana Kalefe – Wildfire

Wildfire in Southern California is a quietly excellent J.O. club, reliably sending a handful of gymnasts to Division I gymnastics teams every year. Kalefe is a well-rounded and powerful gymnast who has scored best on vault but has potential on all four events.

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.323 9.208 9.140 9.059 36.923
Level 10 Highs 9.700 9.625 9.600 9.475 37.975

Sandra Jessen – Parkettes

Apart from her great level 10 scoring record, Jessen has a long list of fun personal facts that will make her a commentator’s delight in college. Her mother is Czech Olympian and world medalist Hana Ricna, originator of the stalder straddle Tkachev on bars. Her brother, David, is also a Czech Olympian and a standout senior at Stanford. Sandra herself joined her brother this year at worlds where she competed three events. (You might see her listed as “Jessenova,” not “Jessen,” on international scoresheets.)

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.425 8.976 8.953 9.175 36.519
Level 10 Highs 9.700 9.700 9.550 9.600 37.925

Renae Schmidt – LaFleur’s Tampa

Schmidt is entering her third level 10 season. She has great technique particularly on bars and beam where she works quickly and precisely.

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.303 8.775 9.113 9.283 36.754
Level 10 Highs 9.525 9.625 9.500 9.550 37.875

Jah’Liyah Bedminster – Georgia Gymnastics Academy

Bedminster’s vault scores stand out, and with good reason—her Yurchenko full is beautiful and looks upgradeable. She has good scores across all four events but is most consistent on vault and floor, which are where she’ll most likely contribute in college.

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.284 8.981 8.858 9.163 36.400
Level 10 Highs 9.875 9.550 9.500 9.625 37.850

Kalise Newson – TIGAR

Newson is a powerful gymnast but one who knows how to use her strength to produce clean, emphatic bars and beam work. She also has a great, consistent scoring record on vault.

VT UB BB FX AA
Level 10 Averages 9.360 9.045 9.020 8.911 36.587
Level 10 Highs 9.700 9.625 9.600 9.475 37.850

Bonus: Emilie Hong – Langley

We can’t make the same score table for this Canadian as for her American counterparts since Canadian level 10 scores are much more difficult to track, but a quick look at her videos should convince you of her star potential. Her biggest selling point is her monster Yurchenko one and a half, but she’s also strong on beam and has a new double layout on floor.

She has recently visited or attended camp at Iowa State, Oregon State, Southern Utah and Washington.

Let us know in the comments where you think these athletes might end up, and keep checking back for our coverage of the start of the signing period this Wednesday!


Article by Rebecca Scally

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3 comments

  1. I looked at your spreadsheet and have some updates for you: Kaitlyn Donovan is committed to Illinois State, Kareena McSweeny to SUU, Kimberly Kinkade to Air Force, Maggie Storz to West Chester, Naomi German to MSU, Samantha Gilbert to Maryland, Susannah Balderstone to Limestone A&T, Taylor Biss to WVU.

  2. Would it be possible for y’all to add a column to your full spreadsheet that lists where the gymnasts ended up choosing to compete? I think it would be really interesting to see where they all ended up.

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