Recruit Files: Rhea LeBlanc, Maryland

Name: Rhea LeBlanc
Club: Massachusetts Gymnastics Center
High School Graduation Year: 2021

Commitment Announcement: Instagram
Social Handles: Twitter | Instagram

Personal Bests

Vault Uneven Bars Balance Beam Floor Exercise
9.600 9.600 9.450 9.600

Videos

Vault Uneven Bars Balance Beam Floor Exercise
2019 J.O. Nationals 2019 J.O. Nationals 2019 J.O. Nationals 2019 J.O. Nationals

About Rhea

A two-time Junior Olympic qualifier and the 2019 Massachusetts all around champion, LeBlanc could become a solid all around competitor for the Terps. Her older sister Sophia is also a gymnast at Maryland.

What She Brings to Maryland

Vault

  • Skill: full-twisting Yurchenko
  • Results: second place at the 2019 Massachusetts state championships
  • Margin of Improvement: The FTY is a new vault for LeBlanc, which she unveiled at J.O. nationals last year. She previously competed a Yurchenko half. She still needs to work on her block and form, but it looks solid. 
  • Impact on the Team: Maryland’s vault rotation is growing, but still needs improvement. If LeBlanc can compete her FTY consistently, she would be an important addition to the lineup.

Uneven Bars

  • Key Skills: piked Jaeger, bail to handstand, double layout dismount
  • Results: second place at the 2019 Region 6 regionals and tied ninth place at 2019 J.O. nationals
  • Margin of Improvement: The routine composition is NCAA ready, but she could still polish her form and toe-point a little bit more.
  • Impact on the Team: Bars was Maryland’s best apparatus in 2020, with multiple 9.950-worth performances. Given that the Terps just graduated two of their bars standouts, Tiara Wright and Alecia Farina, and are graduating another, Audrey Barber, next year, they will be relieved to know that LeBlanc has the potential to score over 9.9 here. She should be included in the bars lineup from the start.

Balance Beam

  • Key Skills: BHS + LOSO, front toss, 1.5 twist dismount
  • Results: Tied second place at the 2019 Massachusetts state championships
  • Margin of Improvement: Except for a slight knee bend on some skills, LeBlanc’s form is very good on beam. She should now focus on consistency.
  • Impact on the Team: Maryland wouldn’t mind some help on beam, but it is likely that head coach Brett Nelligan will start slowly with LeBlanc on the event. She has plenty of potential, but consistency comes with experience. She may begin with some exhibition performances.

Floor Exercise

  • Key Skills: double pike, Rudi, double turn
  • Results: 2019 Massachusetts state champion
  • Margin of Improvement: She could still improve her landings a bit, but her routine is otherwise ready for college.
  • Impact on the Team: It has become difficult to crack into the Terps’ floor lineup, which on a good day is as polished as any top team’s. The graduation of Wright, Barber and Collea Burgess this and next year, however, leaves several spots open, and LeBlanc could be one of the gymnasts taking advantage of it. 

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Article by Talitha Ilacqua

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