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
Brittany Harris Named Centenary Head Coach
Centenary named Brittany Harris its new head coach. Harris comes to Shreveport after serving three seasons as an assistant coach at Lindenwood. During Harris’ time in St. Charles, the Lions won three MIC championships and one USAG national championship.
What our editors are saying…
“This is a best case scenario for Centenary. Harris has proven both as a student-athlete at Oregon State and an assistant coach at Lindenwood that she knows what it takes to be successful in this sport. She brings a reputation of hard work, success and family team culture that will suit Centenary’s program well. Her passion for gymnastics and empowering student athletes will allow Harris to take this program to new heights. It’s unique that Harris’ first season at the helm will be Jackie Fain’s last, but I think it will make for a smoother changing of the guard.” – Tavia Smith, MIC & WIAC editor
Other Newsworthy Items
- Jordan Olszewski, a sophomore at Arkansas, announced her medical retirement from gymnastics. She will spend the 2022 season working as a student coach.
- ESPN announced its broadcast schedule for the 2022 gymnastics season. The coverage plan includes the first regular-season meet on ABC between Florida and Alabama on Jan. 16.
- Eastern Michigan sophomore Anna Grace McCullough was awarded a scholarship for the 2022 season.
- Auburn freshman Sunisa Lee was eliminated in the semifinal of Dancing With The Stars.
- Denver released two video features on standouts Lynnzee Brown and Rylie Mundell. Brown talks about finding her value while in college while Mundell discusses a physics research grant she was awarded over the summer.
NIL Brand Deals
- LSU senior Sarah Edwards has a partnership with Chic, a women’s clothing store. Edwards has her own line of clothes with the company.
- Denver announced a partnership with INFLCR, an app-based NIL media platform. INFLCR is a leading content and compliance platform that allows student athletes to leverage their social media following in accordance with NCAA guidelines, as well as view metrics on the performance of posts. Vice Chancellor for Athletics Karlton Creech stated that “this partnership with INFLCR Verified will give our student-athletes the tools to leverage their success as Pioneers and empower them to grow their brand in the NIL era.”
Training Updates
- Ball State’s Hannah Ruthberg is training a Yurchenko 1.5 on vault.
- TWU sophomore Madeline Gose is training a Rudi LOSO on floor. Teammate Kenzie Kunzman is back to training her BHS LOSO LOSO beam series after missing the 2021 season.
- Hamline senior Emily Anderson is working on an upgraded BHS layout two feet series.
- Florida freshman Leanne Wong has made it onto campus and is training a Van Leewuen on bars. Classmate Riley McKusker has been dismounting a double front half onto a hard mat.
- Oklahoma shared a short clip of beam training, featuring a back tuck from sophomore Sheridan Ramsey.
- Lindenwood showed highlights from its latest intrasquad on its Instagram story. Vault featured Trinity Caffey, Hannah Moon, Riley Daniels, Sydney Lopez, Nicole Wojcik and Jenna Eagles. The event was capped off by 10.0 start value vaults from Michelle Reed and Gayla Griswold. The Lions showed some depth on bars with nine athletes performing competitive routines, including Sydney Lopez, Nicole Wojcik, Carly Scott, Hannah Moon, Hannah Appleget, Riley Daniels, Gayla Griswold, Kaylee Cooper and Payton Gatzlaff. Gayla Griswold is showing she has potential to be an all around competitor this season. Beam included Nicole Wojcik, Hannah Moon, Riley Daniels, Sydney Lopez, Gayla Griswold, Hadley Roberts and Jenna Eagles. Floor featured routines from Sydney Lopez, Hannah Moon, Payton Gatzlaff, Michelle Reed, Hadley Roberts, Gayla Griswold, Jenna Eagles, Riley Daniels and Kaylee Cooper. From this intrasquad, it seems that Lindenwood has the potential to have more all around performers than normal this season. The Lions are definitely strategically training to improve their depth on each rotation to make sure everyone is ready for season.
- Iowa State held an intrasquad and posted several routines to its Instagram story. Emilie Hong, Kelsey Boychuk and Makayla Maxwell displayed a Yurchenko one and a half on vault while Ariana Orrego and Josie Bergstrom performed Yurchenko fulls. The bar rotation featured routines from Madelynn Langkamp, Maxwell, Ana Palacios, Hannah Loyim, Natalie Horowitz, Laura Cooke and Orrego. Full beam routines were posted for Boychuk, Horowitz, Loganne Basuel, Palacios, Meixi Semple, Loyim and Marina Gonzalez. On floor, Maddie Diab and Cooke displayed front double twists onto a single mat at floor height while Rachel Wilke opened with a double layout. The rotation also featured routines from Boychuk and Alondra Maldonado.
- West Virginia held an intrasquad and shared routines to its social media. On vault, Abbie Pierson displayed a Yurchenko one and a half while Rachel Hornung, Kianna Yancey, Kendra Combs, Ellen Collins and Heidi Hartje showed Yurchenko fulls. The bar rotation featured routines from Agatha Handono, Anna Leigh, Hartje, Esperanza Abarca, Combs, Brooke Alban, Pierson, Nicole Norris and Chloe Asper. On beam, it was Norris, Handono, Hornung and Yancey while Asper and Brynn Freehling performed routines on floor.
- Texas Woman’s held its pre-Thanksgiving intrasquad this week. On vault, Mara Johnson, Emily Six, Kyla Podges and Daisy Woodring were featured. Bars included Maddie Griffith, Mara Johnson, Alix Pierce and Lexi Leake. Kyla Podges, Alix Pierce, Delaney Bruns and Madeline Gose rocked the beam. The Pioneer’s “floor party” featured Domi Bonzagni, Mara Johnson, Alix Pierce, Daisy Woodring and Mackenzie Balderas.
- Illinois State’s Thanksgiving intrasquad featured a strong vault rotation that included three 10.0 start values from Jaye Mack, Alana Laster and Angelica Labat. Madison Kipp, Kaitlyn Donovan, Jazmine Neely, Mya Robinson and J’Chelle Heard showed off solid Yurchenko fulls. The bar squad was STACKED with 11 athletes showing full sets: Isabella Decroo, Charlise Doctor, Madison Kipp, Angelica Labat, Sofia Iribarren, Mya Robinson, Katie McGowan, Kaitlyn Donovan, Kaylee Sugimoto, Sara Wabi and Jaye Mack. Charlise Doctor, Alana Laster, Angelica Labat, Mya Robinson, Madison Kipp and Isabella Decroo made up the beam lineup. Floor featured Mia Quigg, Angelica Labat, Sofia Iribarren, Kaitlyn Donovan, Isabela Decroo, Madison Kipp and J’Chelle Heard.
- Centenary hosted its annual homecoming intrasquad. The Ladies’ vault lineup featured twisting vaults from Kendall Huff, Kendall Sanders, Chloe Armentor and Emma Lavelle. Kendall Huff showed off an upgraded Yurchenko layout full. Landings were looking extremely strong for November. Bars was highlighted by strong performances from freshman Emma Lavelle, junior Taylor Ann Wilson and senior Kendall Sanders. Chloe Armentor has a floaty straddle Jaeger that will be a nice addition to the lineup as well. Xian Baumgartner debuted her new one-handed BHS LOSO on beam. A wrist injury won’t stop Baumgartner from making the most of her senior season. Lacey Wedge anchored the floor lineup with an upgraded routine featuring two double backs.
READ THIS NEXT: Last Week in College Gym: Nov. 15
Article by the editors of College Gym News
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