There’s a lot that happens on the gymternet each week. So much so that it can be hard to keep track of it all. From training updates and COVID news to recruiting rumors and coaching announcements, we don’t blame you for missing some important points here and there.
But that’s where we come in. Last Week in College Gym is your one-stop shop for all the important headlines from the previous week in college gymnastics. No matter if you’re taking a social media break, went on vacation or just don’t have the capacity to follow every single gymnast, team and fan, we have you covered.
Top Storylines
William & Mary Reinstates Women’s Gymnastics
Due to Title IX violations, the Tribe reinstated women’s gymnastics; men’s gymnastics, however, remains eliminated after the 2021 season.
Brockport, Cortland Cancel 2021 Seasons
The SUNY colleges, which include Brockport and Cortland, have cancelled all winter sports due to COVID, including gymnastics.
Soza Retires
Utah announced that freshman Deanne Soza is leaving the program and has retired from gymnastics. Since 2021 was set to be her freshman season, Soza was never able to compete for the Utes.
Ray-Statz Retires
The University of Washington head coach Elise Ray-Statz retired after four years in the program. The former assistant coach Ralph Rosso was named the interim head coach for the upcoming 2021 season.
Other Newsworthy Items
- Brittany Webster, volunteer assistant at Michigan State, announced that she’s leaving East Lansing; Mike Rowe’s comment implies she’s heading to Auburn, though no official announcements have been made.
- Emma Malabuyo, originally slated to join UCLA for the 2021 season, has decided to defer her plans to compete for the Bruins until the 2022 season, per UCLA’s sports information director.
- Former Iowa State standout Haylee Young has been promoted to the Cyclones’ assistant coach. Young has been with the program as a volunteer coach for two seasons.
- Towson junior Tirzah Delph medically retired due to a back injury.
- Though no Michigan gymnasts have tested positive, several athletes are isolating after potential contact with COVID.
Training Updates
- Iowa’s JerQuavia Henderson, who missed her freshman campaign with an Achilles injury, is swinging bars—and doing a full-twisting double tuck dismount to a hard landing.
- UCLA’s Norah Flatley was spotted training a Yurchenko 1.5 on vault into the pit in an Instagram story. The junior Bruin has only ever competed a Yurchenko full in her collegiate and elite careers.
- California freshman Gabby Perea is currently training a standing back full on balance beam. Perea did compete the skill as an elite gymnast, but it is a skill very rarely done in collegiate gymnastics.
- Pittsburgh sixth year Katrina Coca and junior Katie Chamberlain are both back training bars after season ending injuries last season.
- Via Instagram Story, Western Michigan’s Payton Murphy was shown training bars and floor again after missing most of 2020 with a neck injury.
- Minnesota freshman Mya Hooten performed a Yurchenko one and a half at the Gophers’ Meet the Team event.
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
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