Long Island University will add a gymnastics program for the 2021 season. LIU will compete as an associate member of the EAGL conference.
While we are still awaiting a press release confirming the addition of, and details regarding, the new program, the LIU Athletics site posted a recruiting survey for prospective athletes today, announcing that the University “will begin to sponsor women’s gymnastics as an NCAA varsity sport beginning in the 2020-21 season.” (UPDATE: LIU shared a press release on March 5.)
The LIU Sharks compete as a unified athletics team encompassing both of the University’s two locations. It is unknown whether the gymnastics team will be housed at the Brooklyn or Brookville campus.
Christina Chauvenet, commentator for EAGL programs, including the upcoming EAGL championships, is excited to welcome a new program into the fold. “The level of competition in the EAGL is stronger than ever, and the conference has a growing fan base. It is so exciting to see the conference grow with the addition of LIU to the EAGL!”
Fielding a team for the 2021 season is ambitious, but the program will have a strong recruiting pool from area clubs like Galaxy (Alisa Sheremeta, Amara Cunningham, Nicole Hoffman, Leah Gneco), Gold Medal (Alexis Richardson), NYC Elite (Grace Garcia) and Chelsea Piers (Maya Reimers, Gemma Guttenberg, Rachel de la Torre). Current collegiate gymnasts in the transfer portal will also be able to consider transferring to LIU.
We have reached out to the LIU athletic department for comment.
Long Island University fast facts:
- Campus locations: Brooklyn (LIU-Brooklyn) and Brookville (LIU-Post)
- Mascot: Sharks
- Colors: Blue and gold
- Enrollment: 15,197
- Primary conference: Northeast Conference
- Gymnastics conference: EAGL
- Athletic director: William Martinov Jr.
This article has been edited to include relevant sourcing and clarify that there has been no official announcement made by the university at this time. We will continue to update this story as more details become available.
Update (3/5/2020 at 12:08 ET): The article has been updated to include the university’s press release and gymnastics competition conference.
Update (3/5/2020 at 3:14 ET): The article has been updated to include a statement form Christina Chauvenet.
Article by Emily Minehart
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Heck Yeah!!!! Hopefully more to come!
Congratulations! Trying to get one up and going in the great state of Texas.
I think they are waiting for Simone biles… Actually not kidding, she has dropped multiple hints that she would help get a D1 program going in Texas
I totally agree- TEXAS is long overdue. In 2008 I reached out to the athletic director myself at The University of Texas to see if they were ever going to get a D1 program. She told me that probably not because of Title IX
Being a UT grad and a daughter who was graduating in 2010, I had prayed for years for a program there. I pray that someone gets one- much needed with a very large state of highly skilled gymnasts. Baylor or SMU should be an option.
What about Gotham Gymnastics in Brooklyn?
I heard they are the best!!!
Gymnastic or Acro Tumble?
Gymnastics.
Can’t open link or find info.
Been looking for the link for perspective gymnasts… Is it still up?
Looks like it’s down right now. I’m sure it will come back up once the team has been formally announced.
Exciting news!!
If it is for women’s gymnastics, why is it asking for rings, pommel horse, and high bar scores?
Good question. At this point, likely a mistake. The survey has been deleted and we can expect a corrected version alongside the school’s formal announcement.
wonder who is coaching… asking for high bars and still rings scores.. lol
I think Nicole Hoffman graduated from Stanford?
They should be looking for coaches with experience in USAG’s Region VI and VII (if you have to ask, you’re not that familiar with women’s gymnastics). NJ has a deeper talent pool to choose from than NY and northeast of Philly is surprisingly void of D-I women’s gymnastics programs.