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 year announcements to recruiting rumors and coaching news, we don’t blame you for missing some important points here and there.
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
Kyana George Tears Achilles
California fifth-year Kyana George announced on her Instagram story that she tore her Achilles in the team’s first week back to practice. There is currently no estimated timeline for her return.
New Gymnastics Conference Announced
It was announced this week that the teams in the ECAC-I and ECAC-II would be combined to form the Gymnastics East Conference, a gymnastics-only conference.
BYU Joins Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 announced conference additions amid the exit of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC. The Cougars are set to join the conference starting with the 2023-24 school year. BYU currently competes in the MRGC since its main conference, the WCC, doesn’t sponsor gymnastics.
What Our Editors Are Saying…
“This move could have a huge impact on the future of Big 12 gymnastics. I think a lot of us assumed the conference would dissolve once there were only three teams left. Now the Big 12 will not only have a fourth team in 2025 but a fifth in 2024 if Oklahoma doesn’t transition to the SEC early. BYU is a strong program that will make an immediate impact, and competition will be fierce!” – Ryan W, Big 12 Editor
Other Newsworthy Items
- Oklahoma announced a $2 million donation to its athletics department, which includes training facility upgrades for men’s and women’s gymnastics. Head coach K.J. Kindler released a statement reading, “Our championship programs are committed to upholding our standard of excellence, and these facility enhancements are a necessary evolution for our program. [The donors’] decision to support our programs has a direct impact on enriching our student-athletes’ experiences and for that we are truly grateful.”
- SEMO fifth-year Lindsey Bates announced her retirement from gymnastics.
- LSU announced its 2022 schedule and will finish the regular season against Utah.
NIL Brand Deals
- Michigan State’s Lea Mitchell announced that she has partnered with SugarBear and SugarBearHair.
- LSU’s Christina Desiderio partnered with MAELYS Cosmetics.
- SEMO senior Anna Kaziska partnered with STACK’d Supplements.
- OU sophomore Audrey Davis revealed her signature leotard design for Salute Leos after announcing her partnership with the company over the summer.
- Auburn freshman and reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee has partnered with the Pearson+ app.
Training Updates
- Michigan posted this short reel to its Instagram to show off its new gear. It features senior Abby Brenner training full-twisting double layout bar dismount.
- Several New Hampshire gymnasts are training upgrades for the 2021 season. Larissa Biette is working on a side aerial to back handspring on beam, Sierra Bauman is training a back 1.5 to front full on floor, Kylie Kratchwell is working on a full-twisting double layout dismount on bars and Summer Simpkins is training a double layout on floor.
- TWU junior Kyla Podges is back to tumbling for the first time since knee surgeries her freshman and sophomore years.
- Boise State’s Alexis Stokes is back training bars, showing a double layout onto a soft landing on the team’s Instagram story. The redshirt junior did not compete in 2021.
- Denver recently shared videos from summer training, including a new full-twisting double back tumbling pass from senior Emily Glynn.
- Iowa State has been posting some big tumbling passes on its Instagram story, including junior Makayla Maxwell’s first unassisted double pike since a 2019 injury, and double layouts from senior Madelyn Langkamp and freshman Hannah Loyim. Junior Maya Ford also shared a clear hip + Shaposh + bail handstand on bars.
- TWU freshman Sierra Muns is training a Yurchenko 1.5, per the TWU gymnastics Instagram story.
- Nebraska freshman Genesis Gibson is training a double layout bar dismount, via her Instagram story.
- Georgia’s Alyssa Perez-Lugones, known for her contributions on floor and beam, is training vault.
- Emily Leese from Rutgers is training a full-in on floor, according to her Instagram story.
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
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