Tracking 2023 COVID Years

In late 2020, the NCAA announced all winter sport athletes would be granted an extra year of eligibility no matter how much of the 2020-21 season they were able to complete. Now that another season is coming to a close and seniors are announcing their intention to return or retire, we decided to put all the announcements in one place. 

Returning for a fifth year in 2022 did not count against the institutions’ scholarship count. However, 2023 brings different rules and higher stakes. Any athlete on scholarship who decides to take a Covid year will potentially count against their school’s scholarship count. Will this affect the amount of gymnasts willing to take another year of eligibility? We’ll keep everyone updated as it unfolds. 

The following information has been curated from gymnasts, teams and other journalists and will continue to be updated as more announcements are made.

Alabama

Alaska 

  • Rachel Decious: definitely* (listed on 2022 roster as junior)

Arizona

Arizona State

Arkansas 

Auburn

Ball State

Boise State

Bowling Green

  • Paige Bachner: definitely not
  • Kayla Chan: definitely not
  • Katelyn Goldstrom: definitely
  • Tess Muir: definitely not

Bridgeport

Brockport

BYU

  • Abby Beeston: definitely not
  • Sadie Miner-Van Tassel: probably not (moved cross-country)

California

Centenary

  • Xian Baumgartner: definitely not (via personal Instagram)M
  • Kendall Knaps: definitely not
  • Kendall Sanders: definitely not

Central Michigan

  • Morgan Tong: definitely not
  • Sierra DeMarinis: probably not

Denver

Eastern Michigan

  • Shannon Gregory: definitely not
  • Carly Kosanovich: probably not
  • Charlotte Reynolds: probably not
  • Kara Roberts: probably not
  • Caitlin Satler: definitely not

Florida

George Washington

Georgia

Hamline 

  • Emily Anderson: definitely 
  • Nikki Johnsen: definitely not
  • Katie Kalland: definitely not
  • Madison Latzke: definitely not
  • Carolina Schlawiedt: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Savannah Tafolla: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Katie Viles: definitely not (via personal Instagram)

Illinois

Illinois State

  • Sofia Iribarren: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Mia Quigg: definitely not

Iowa

  • Alex Greenwold: definitely not (starting graduate school)
  • Lauren Guerin: definitely not (starting chiropractic school)
  • Mackenzie Vance: definitely not (via personal Instagram)

Iowa State

Ithaca

  • Julia O’Sullivan: definitely (via 2023 roster)

Kent State

  • Samantha Henry: definitely not
  • Madison Iannuzzo: definitely not
  • Cami Klein: definitely
  • Kendra Lindway: definitely not
  • Madison Trott: definitely not

Kentucky

Lindenwood

LSU

Maryland

Michigan

Michigan State

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

  • Makayla Curtis: definitely not (named assistant at Greenville University)
  • Kaitlyn Higgins: definitely not
  • Kynsee Roby: definitely not (no sixth year)

North Carolina

N.C. State

Northern Illinois 

Ohio State

Oklahoma 

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Rutgers

  • Mia Betancourt: definitely not (via personal Instagram)

Sacramento State

SEMO

Southern Connecticut State

  • Cassidy Girolamo: probably not
  • Noely Macias: definitely not
  • Hannah Stahlbrodt: definitely 

Southern Utah

Springfield

  • MacKenzie MacLeod: definitely
  • Winter Osborne: definitely

Stanford 

Temple

Texas Woman’s

  • Mackenzie Balderas: definitely not
  • Domi Bonzagni: probably not
  • Isabel Goyco: definitely not (per USAG nationals broadcast and personal Instagram)

Towson

UC Davis

UCLA

Ursinus 

Utah

Utah State

UW-Eau Claire

  • Karley Albers: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Bailey Davidson: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Danielle Malecha: definitely not
  • Tayla Thome: definitely not 

UW-La Crosse

  • Emma Grant: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Megan Hawkins: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Olivia Opheim: definitely not

UW-Oshkosh

Washington

West Chester

  • Annie Bailey: probably not
  • Sara Bell: definitely not
  • Rose Fanara: probably (added to 2023 roster as GR)
  • Brashlyn Johnson: definitely not
  • McKenna Kissinger: definitely

Western Michigan

  • Carissa Ludwig: definitely not

West Virginia

William & Mary

  • Chloe Campbell: definitely not
  • Caileigh Gulotta: definitely not

Winona State

  • Hailey Bryant: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Katie Curtis: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Hannah Matuszak: definitely not (via personal Instagram)
  • Kaitlyn West: definitely not

*Were not honored during senior night activities


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4 comments

  1. When does the super senior offer come off the board for Covid changes? Will 2023 be the last year we see super seniors?

    1. It applies to everyone who was on a roster during the 2021 season, so 2021 freshmen (and sophomores, etc.) have that option, meaning they’ll potentially be taking their COVID year in the 2025 or even 2026 season if they also redshirt due to injury.

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