Sierra Brooks does a pose on the floor during her routine

Last Week in College Gym: October 31

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

Utica University Names Danielle Cerminaro Head Coach

Utica University announced that Danielle Cerminaro will be the inaugural coach of the program for the Pioneers. A local gym owner of Valley Gymnastics since 2008, she brings decades of coaching experience.

What our editors are saying…

“Not only does Danielle Cerminaro have years of experience coaching successful club-level gymnasts that have gone on to compete from Division III to Division I, including incoming West Virginia freshman Miranda Smith, she’s also coached high school gymnastics and brought the New Hartford program to recent success as Section III champions just this month—for the ninth straight time. She clearly demonstrates an ability to find success with any program or team. Cerminaro brings a reputation that precedes her in all the right ways, making this an excellent first step for this team. I’m excited for the Pioneers and for New York State to have another college program.” – GEC & NCGA-East Editor, Allison Freeman

Other Newsworthy Items

  • Michigan senior Sierra Brooks recorded an episode with the Voice in Sport podcast. You can listen to it here.
  • The NCAA DI Council is considering reclassifying volunteer coaching positions as full-time, which could allow gymnastics teams to pay a fourth coach. 
  • LSU hosted SEC Nation’s Roman Harper and Jordan Rodgers in a two-man gymnastics competition. The Tigers’ gymnasts scored each routine while Laura Rutledge provided play-by-play and color commentary.  
  • Per Gymnastics Canada, Alabama fifth-year Shallon Olsen withdrew from the 2022 world championships following the unexpected death of her mother. Our thoughts are with Shallon and the Olsen family. 

NIL Brand Deals

  • Utah has partnered with GK Elite to create a Red Rocks Collection featuring leos designed by team members. All 15 designs will be available for purchase all season long, and each leo will be debuted at the Utes’ Red Rocks preview on Dec. 9.
  • Rutgers junior Emily Leese has a partnership with Crocs, per a sponsored post on her Instagram.  

Training Updates

  • Iowa senior JerQuavia Henderson showed a Nabieva in her bar routine at the Hawkeyes’ Halloween intrasquad.
  • Simpson freshman Emma Tolbert is training a front full to front full on floor. 
  • Whitewater senior Faith Mylin is adding to her list of offseason upgrades, showing a Yurchenko full in a recent practice video. After missing last season due to injury, Zoe Jenks was seen back training straddle Jaegers on bars. 
  • Georgia’s Katie Finnegan is training a Ray to Pak connection for her junior season. 
  • Hamline’s first show day of the preseason featured several upgrades, including Elizabeth Schauer’s Gienger + overshoot connection, Sydney Stoenner’s double tuck on floor, Meighan White’s whip half + front full floor connection, Julia Cheely’s blind full + double tuck bar dismount and Cate Zack’s whip + one and a half + front tuck floor connection. 
  • Springfield senior Winter Osborne is working on upgrading her bar dismount to a toe-on front pike half. 
  • Temple shared some vault upgrades during the Halloween intrasquad with freshman Reese Dehaan putting up a Yurchenko one and a half and both junior Mackenzie Aresta and Anna Hill working tucked Yurchenko one and a halves.
  • Winona State’s Izzy Kropiwiec was seen training a FTDT on floor. Teammate Jessi Miley is upgrading her bar dismount to a toe-on front pike half per Instagram Story. 
  • Lindenwood’s Carley Scott was seen training a BHS BHS LOSO series on beam. As Scott did not compete beam last season, this will make for a strong push toward the lineup. 
  • SEMO sophomore Lindsay Ockler was seen training a Yurchenko one and a half on Instagram Story. This would be a huge upgrade for a SEMO team that struggled with competing full difficulty on vault last season. 
  • Florida transfer junior Victoria Nguyen competed a Yurchenko one and a half at the Gators’ recent intrasquad. 

READ THIS NEXT: Last Week in College Gym: October 24


Article by the editors of College Gym News

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