Margzetta Frazier UCLA

Last Week in College Gym: August 17

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

Fisk Preseason Officially Underway 

The first HBCU varsity gymnastics program kicked off its inaugural season with the first team practice. The team, lead by Fisk’s athletic director and legendary Georgia Gymdog Corinne Wright Tarver, is currently training at Clarksville Elite. 

Frazier Announces Fifth Year

UCLA’s Margzetta Frazier announced she will be returning to the Bruins to compete for a fifth season. Despite a head coaching change and sitting out most of last season with injury, Frazier should make an impact on the Bruins’ outlook in 2023.

Other Newsworthy Items

  • Denver announced the contract extension of head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart through 2027. Her former athlete Mia Sundstrom was also named to her staff as a volunteer assistant.
  • Arizona added former New Hampshire gymnast Kylie Kratchwell to its coaching staff as a volunteer assistant.
  • Utah senior Maile O’Keefe was featured on a podcast for SHIFT where she reflects on her career, both elite and NCAA.

NIL Brand Deals

  • Rising Denver junior Jessica Hutchinson was named an ambassador for Clutch Lifestyle brands.

Training Updates

  • Denver’s weekly Instagram update spotlighted sixth-year Lynnzee Brown working transitions on bars after a second Achilles injury last season. Rising junior Abbie Thompson is working a Maloney transition on the same event, and incoming freshman Ava Mabanta is training a gainer pike dismount off beam.
  • LSU junior Haleigh Bryant is training a front handspring to front double tuck half out while teammate Olivia Dunne is working on a double layout. 
  • Rising Iowa State sophomore Hannah Loyim shared a training clip of a switch leap + switch leap + switch side combination on the balance beam.
  • Rising N.C. State senior Emily Shepard shared a training clip to her Instagram story of her doing a side aerial to back one and a half twist dismount off beam.

READ THIS NEXT: Last Week in College Gym: August 8


Article by the editors of College Gym News

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