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.
Newsworthy Items
- The NCAA released its 2022 Rules Modifications, the annual document outlining rules specific to NCAA competition and the ways in which the NCAA code will differ from the level 10 code it draws from. New provisions include:
- An extra two minutes of “injury time” after a gymnast falls if deemed necessary by an athletic trainer/coach. If she’s assessed and it’s determined she’s able to continue, the gymnast will have 45 seconds to remount after the injury time.
- If any skills are raised in value in the level 10 code after Nov. 1, 2021, they will also be raised for NCAA gymnasts. If skills are lowered in value after that date, NCAA gymnasts will receive the higher value for the duration of the 2022 season.
- The Daily Collegian wrote about Alissa Bonsall’s journey as she enters her fifth year at Penn State.
- LSU’s 2020-21 gymnastics team has won a Musial Award for demonstrating good sportsmanship at the NCAA championships in April. LSU welcomed UCLA star Chae Campbell to the team during semifinals and took it upon itself to learn Campbell’s entire floor routine to cheer her on. The Musial awards are presented by Maryville University to celebrate the greatest moments of sportsmanship and award those with class and character in the sports industry. The ceremony will take place on Nov. 20 and air on Dec. 25 at 5 p.m. ET. Jay Clark, Haleigh Bryant and Kiya Johnson will be the team’s representatives at the ceremony.
- Florida senior Halley Taylor was featured on Gators TV for her walk-on journey with the gymnastics team. Taylor is a fourth-generation Gator and earned a scholarship for her junior year.
- Florida hosted a mummies vs. aliens intrasquad on Oct. 29. The Gators shared footage on Instagram stories from the competition. Sophomore Ellie Lazzari and freshman Sloane Blakley stuck their Yurchenko one and a halves onto a mat in the pit. Blakely also showcased a double front dismount on bars. Freshman Riley McCusker completed a floor dance through and a bar routine. Senior Savannah Schoenherr debuted a new side somi + tuck full beam dismount. Floor tumbling passes were done onto soft mats. Halley Taylor, Chloi Clark, McCusker, Megan Skaggs, Lazzari, Gabrielle Gallentine, Schoenherr, Alyssa Baumann, Payton Richards, Brie Edwards, Alex Magee, Leah Clapper, Blakely, Nya Reed and Trinity Thomas were all seen competing during the intrasquad.
- Auburn also hosted a Halloween themed intrasquad on Oct. 29. Freshman Sophia Groth continues to impress with her bhs loso bhs flight combination on beam.
- Nebraska sophomore Kinsey Davis wrote a feature about her parents, both former Nebraska gymnasts themselves, and how they have supported her throughout her club and college career.
- Denver senior Lynnzee Brown is back on campus after several weeks on Simone Biles’ Gold Over America Tour.
- Former Iowa State standout Janet (Anson) Nash was inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame. She was an eight-time All-American during her career from 2004 to 2007 and was the recipient of the 2007 AAI Award.
NIL Brand Deals
- GK Elite has announced a partnership with several gymnasts, including Auburn freshman Sunisa Lee and UCLA freshman Jordan Chiles.
- Lee is also a new brand ambassador for Free People Movement, an activewear line that promotes fitness, wellness and happiness.
- LSU sophomore Haleigh Bryant has signed an NIL deal with Discord.
- Alabama senior Lexi Graber has a Cameo account. Cameo allows fans to purchase videos or live chat with their favorite celebrities, athletes and entertainers.
- Arkansas senior Kennedy Hambrick is working with Fans Meet Idols, a Direct-to-fan marketplace.
- Illinois State sophomore Isabella Decroo announced a partnership with Alani Nutrition.
Training Updates
- Jenna Mulligan is the most recent Wolverine to be working a Yurchenko one and a half. The sophomore didn’t compete in her freshman campaign.
- Bowling Green sophomore is training a full-in, per her Instagram story.
- New Hampshire senior Mariella Miele is working on a front handspring double twist on vault—a 10.0 start.
- Penn sophomore Kiersten Belkhoff is training a Hindorff.
- Utah State freshman Amari Evans is training an upgraded vault—a Yurchenko full-on pike. She previously competed a Yurchenko layout in level 10.
- Auburn freshman Sunisa Lee posted a clip on beam for the first time since Tokyo of a side aerial + layout stepout + layout stepout series.
- Temple freshman Anna Hill showed a Yurchenko 1.5 at the Owl’s most recent intrasquad.
- Denver hosted a Halloween intrasquad on Friday, sharing mostly choreography to its social media, along with double pikes from freshman Mia Hebinck and senior Emily Glynn. Sophomore Rosie Casali was spotted training a piked full-in on the Tumbl Trak.
- Iowa State showcased routines at a Halloween open house on Friday. It posted a Yurchenko one and a half from Kelsey Boychuk on its Instagram story, as well as bar routines from Ariana Orrego, Makayla Maxwell, Madelyn Langkamp and Hannah Loyim. Loganne Basuel, Ana Palacios and Meixi Semple were shown on beam, and ISU included floor routines from Boychuk and freshman Rachel Wilke. Wilke’s routine opened with a piked full-in.
- West Virginia junior Abbie Pierson continues to add unique skills to her routine on bars. She was spotted dismounting with a back tuck from snapdown handstand on WVU’s Instagram story shortly after showing a Yezhova transition. Freshman Brynn Freehling was also featured training a side aerial to full twist beam dismount.
- Utah State sophomore Eve Jackson is training a tucked full-in on floor.
- Winona State sophomore Ava Gaudet was seen training a tkatchev on her Instagram story.
- The SEMO Halloween intrasquad featured some stellar gymnastics, including a new vault from junior Mallory Desch. She is training a Yurchenko half-on front tuck. Redshirt senior Ashley Albrecht was also seen back performing her Yurchenko half after an injury last season.
- TWU’s Kyla Podges revealed that she is back training her 10.0 start value Yurchenko full-on back tuck. This is the first time Podges has been featured in a vault lineup at an intrasquad since her freshman season.
- Washington’s Geneva Thompson was featured training a strong Yurchenko one and a half during the team’s latest intrasquad.
READ THIS NEXT: Last Week in College Gym: Oct. 25
Article by the editors of College Gym News
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