BYU gymnast Mina Margraf

2023 Freshman Class Rankings

Last fall we released our signing class rankings for the class of 2022, but a lot has changed in the 11 months since. Level 10 signees competed in their senior season while their elite counterparts had national and international appearances. There were also commitment changes, retirements, injuries and new signings that altered the incoming classes. Now that the majority of the freshmen are on campus and training for the upcoming season, it’s time to take another look at the makeup of each team’s newcomer group.

While last year’s signing class rankings were derived solely from data and our recruit ratings system, this new ranking is much more subjective, taking into account senior year performances and training footage.

The Top 10

10. BYU

Class members: Kylie Eaquinto, Madison Raesly-Patton, Emily Wisehart, Jayda Lealaogata, Kauri Hunsaker, Elaina Greco, Morgan Trevor

BYU’s signing class was ranked 22nd last fall, but the Cougars have since added three members in Wisehart, Lealaogata and Hunsaker. Eaquinto, Raesly-Patton and Wisehart all have the potential to be immediate contributors on multiple events, especially considering the high number of routines BYU is losing from last season. Lealaogata will also be a strong competitor on bars, and Hunsaker will add depth on multiple events.

9. Arkansas

Class members: Cally Swaney, Jaime Pratt, Lauren Williams, Reese Drotar, Allie Gard

Arkansas’ signing class was already strong before the late addition of Gard, a former member of the class of 2021 who competes an Omelianchik on vault and is also a possibility to make the floor lineup. Swaney, Pratt and Drotar all excel on bars, an event that could use a refresh after the inconsistencies of last season. Williams is particularly strong on vault, where she scored as high as a 9.900 in level 10, and could also see time on floor.

8. LSU

Class members: Bryce Wilson, Annie Beard, Ashley Cowan

LSU has the smallest class in this top 10 list, but it packs a punch. Wilson closed out her stellar level 10 career by winning the Region 3 all-around, vault and beam titles, followed by a runner-up finish on vault at nationals; she’ll likely be a regular in the vault and floor lineups, as well as add depth on bars and beam. Beard is known for her fantastic execution on beam and floor, though her injury status is currently unknown following shoulder surgery in the offseason. Cowan should immediately make an impact in the bar lineup as a two-time national champion on the event.

7. Michigan State

Class members: Nikki Smith, Olivia Zsarmani, Sage Kellerman, Elle Beaufait, Stephanie Lebster

Smith needs little introduction after winning the Nastia Liukin Cup and having a national title on literally every event; expect her to feature in all four lineups very early in her career. Zsarmani was unrated at the time of her signing but her scores exploded in 2022, culminating in second-place finishes on bars, beam and in the all-around at nationals. She’s likely to challenge for spots in the bars and beam lineups immediately, but she can’t be counted out on the other events either. Kellerman has all-around potential, but her most likely contribution in her freshman year will be on vault thanks to her strong handspring front pike half. Beaufait will also add depth on beam and floor.

6. UCLA

Class members: Selena Harris, Ciena Alipio, Madisyn Anyimi, Clara Wren

Harris has been one of the most anticipated level 10 stars for several years, and she was the highest-rated recruit in the class of 2022. Her training footage from this fall has looked college-ready, so expect her to be an immediate all-arounder for the Bruins. Alipio wrapped up her elite career with possibly her best season ever; her best event is beam, but she is a realistic option on all four events. Anyimi has won regional titles on vault and beam while Wren is a possible contributor on vault and bars.

5. Michigan

Class members: Kaylen Morgan, Paige Thaxton, Lily Clapper, Farah Lipetz

Morgan should be a recognizable name to fans of the US elites, but she should make a bigger name for herself at Michigan, with beautiful execution on all four events that will score very well in college. Thaxton’s senior season was cut short due to injury, but she is a possibility on all four events, particularly standing out on vault and bars. Clapper had a fantastic senior season, topping out at 38.925; she and Lipetz should both be depth options on bars and beam.

4. California

Class members: Miki Aderinto, Casey Brown, eMjae Frazier, Jayden Silvers

Cal lost a large and decorated senior class to graduation, so replacing those routines will be a tall task. This freshman class is certainly up to the challenge, though, with Aderinto, Brown and Frazier all being potential all-arounders. Frazier is the most recognizable name of the bunch following her long elite career, but Aderinto and Brown had very strong level 10 careers. Silvers is joining in January but has the potential to be an immediate contributor on floor.

3. Georgia

Class members: JaFree Scott, Ariel Posen, Naya Howard, Jacquie Moran, Sidney Fitzgerald, Madelynn Crow, Nicole King, Eryn Williams

Georgia’s freshman class oozes potential but also caution, as several of its top members have missed multiple seasons due to injuries. However, preseason training footage has abated some of those concerns. Scott was a late addition to this class, switching her commitment from Florida after injuries kept her out of elite competition. She is an exciting prospect at the college level, particularly on bars and beam. Posen is another former elite with a history of injuries, but she competed level 10 in 2022 as a bars and beam specialist, so it is likely we will see her on those events at UGA as well. Howard is a former level 10 national champion on bars as well as a runner-up on beam, but she could make the other lineups. Moran has not competed since 2019, when she won a national title on bars, but she has been featured in preseason footage, so it appears she may finally be healthy. As for the leg events, Fitzgerald, King and Williams will add plenty of depth.

2. Alabama

Class members: Gabby Gladieux, Karis German, Lauren Little, Rachel Rybicki, Zoe Gravier, Lillian Lewis

Alabama’s class features a mix of former elites and level 10 stars. Gladieux is a very realistic all-around threat, even with the Crimson Tide’s deep roster. German is recovering from an injury but should be featured deep in the bars and floor lineups once healthy. Fellow former elite Little excels on bars while Lewis is a national champion on beam. Gravier adds depth on all four events, and Rybicki could be a standout on floor. Overall, this is a large and deep class that will form a significant portion of Alabama’s lineups for the next four years.

1. Stanford

Class members: Anna Roberts, Taralyn Nguyen, Claire Dean, Ashley Carter, Ava Sorrento, Porsche Trinidad

What was already a stellar signing class became even more impressive with the late additions of Sorrento and Trinidad. Canadian elite Sorrento is a potential all-arounder but especially shines on bars while Trinidad is known for her beautiful beam work. Roberts has won an all-around national title in level 10, and Stanford fans should be particularly excited to see her in the vault and floor lineups. Nguyen also excels in the leg events and could be a new crowd favorite with her Yurchenko double twist. Dean and Carter balance out the class as excellent prospects on bars and beam.

The Full Rankings

RankTeamClass Members
1StanfordAnna Roberts, Taralyn Nguyen, Claire Dean, Ashley Carter, Ava Sorrento, Porsche Trinidad
2AlabamaGabby Gladieux, Karis German, Lauren Little, Rachel Rybicki, Zoe Gravier, Lillian Lewis
3GeorgiaJaFree Scott, Ariel Posen, Naya Howard, Jacquie Moran, Sidney Fitzgerald, Madelynn Crow, Nicole King, Eryn Williams
4CaliforniaMiki Aderinto, Casey Brown, eMjae Frazier, Jayden Silvers (joining in January)
5MichiganKaylen Morgan, Paige Thaxton, Lily Clapper, Farah Lipetz
6UCLASelena Harris, Ciena Alipio, Madisyn Anyimi, Clara Wren
7Michigan StateNikki Smith, Olivia Zsarmani, Sage Kellerman, Elle Beaufait, Stephanie Lebster
8LSUBryce Wilson, Annie Beard, Ashley Cowan
9ArkansasCally Swaney, Jaime Pratt, Lauren Williams, Reese Drotar, Allie Gard
10BYUKylie Eaquinto, Madison Raesly-Patton, Emily Wisehart, Jayda Lealaogata, Kauri Hunsaker, Elaina Greco, Morgan Trevor
11Penn StateAva Piedrahita, Amani Herring, Katie Leary, Haleigh Gibble
12Ohio StatePayton Harris, Kaylyn Mintz, Mallory Gregory
13KentuckyBridget Bourque, Samantha Forman, Claire Stippich, Megan Sapp, Logan Lombardi
14MinnesotaSeria Johnson, Brooklyn Rowray, Sarah Moraw, Megan Steensland
15RutgersNailah Adams, Gabrielle Dildy, Rachael Riley, Valentina Lorente-Garcia, Harmony Webster, Renee Figueroa, Innocent Mensah, Lainey Link
16IowaKarina Muñoz, Gianna Masella, Hanna Castillo, Avery Chambers, Emily Erb, Bailey Libby, Kaia Vanney
17North CarolinaGwen Fink, Paige Prejean, Amy Wozniak, Kaya Forbes
18AuburnOlivia Greaves, Hannah Hagle, Hailey John
19Southern UtahTrista Goodman, Olivia Orlando, Kennedi McClain, Kayla Pardue, Ellie Thomson, Megan Locke, Camry Miller, Amelia Rieder
20OklahomaFaith Torrez, Ava Siegfeldt
21DenverKiley Rorich, Mila Brusch, Cecilia Cooley, Ava Mabanta
22West VirginiaMiranda Smith, Emma Wehry, Brooke Irwin, Carlee Nelson, Kaia Bochow, Olivia Pitzer, Ellie Sigman
23Oregon StateSavannah Miller, Jennifer McMillan, Ellie Weaver, Francesca Caso
24FiskMorgan Price, Liberty Mora, Leeiah Davis, Aliyah Reed-Hammon, Hailey Clark, Jordynn Cromartie, Zanna Brewer, Lyndsi Callier, Zyia Coleman, Kaylei McDonald, HyCei White
25UtahMakenna Smith, Sarah Krump

READ THIS NEXT: Joscelyn Roberson Commits to Arkansas for 2025 Season


Article by Jenna King and Mariah Dawson

Like what you see? Consider donating to support our efforts throughout the year!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.